Did you know that Coco Chanel began to design hats as a hobby? Her hats quickly caught the attention of the female Parisian elite. In 1909, with the help of Balsan and Arthur “Boy” Capel, another rich lover, Coco was able to open her own millinery, or hat shop called ”Chanel Modes.” It was located at 31 rue Cambon in Paris.
It seems amazing to think that she was born in 1883 and, that she rose to such social heights, that she was the only fashion designer to appear on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most #influential people of the 20th century. She was born to a single mother, Eugénie “Jeanne” Devolle, a laundrywoman, in the charity hospital run by the Sisters of Providence in France. Her father, Alfred Chanel, was a nomadic sales man, selling work clothes and under garments. Her mother passed away when she was 12 resulting in Chanel being sent to live at a convent.
Soon after she left the convent Chanel acquired her name “Coco” from her time singing as a military entertainer and a star was born. She then met wealthy business man and textile heir Étienne Balsan who introduced her to the social set of the day. Extremely rare as a woman entrepreneur, by 1927 she owned 5 buildings along rue Cambon.
Coco Chanel is credited with the fashion forward move of releasing women (literally) from their corsets. At the time her designs were seen as quite scandalous, with body hugging materials that skimmed the willowy silhouettes they were intended for. Her entry into the British Aristocracy was assured when she met Vera Bate Lombardi who was reputed to be the illegitimate daughter of the Marquess of Cambridge. This set evolved around The Duke of Westminster, Winston Churchill and indeed even the Prince of Wales, Edward VIII. A woman who was a trailblazer that embraced life, she had a 10 year affair with the Duke of Westminster, apparently refusing to marry him because “there have been several Duchesses of Westminster but there is only one Chanel”.
Chanel’s business community spirit was very prolific throughout her life, as she became a patron to many artists and crafters throughout her career. Her behaviour throughout the German occupation of France however, continues to be the source of scandal. Her highly competitive and opportunistic streak led to some of her life choices being questioned. Today the Chanel empire spans across the globe and is headed up by Karl Lagerfield (who also works for Fendi).
One of my favourite quotes from her goes as follows: “I am not young but I feel young, the day I feel old, I will go to bed and stay there. J’aime la vie! I feel that to live is a wonderful thing”. What an inspirational #female entrepreneur she is. A woman 100 years ahead of her time.
