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Coco Chanel was born into an impoverished (made poor) family. At the age of 12, her mother died, and she was sent to live with her father. It was strict and frugal concern for money and food. That is where she learned how to sew and gain a rudimentary knowledge of creating clothes.”

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Gabrielle Bonheur was a fashion designer. She designed woman’s suits, the quilted purse, costume jewelry, and the “little black dress

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Chanel closed all her shops at the start of WW2 because three thousand of her workers lost their jobs. During the war Chanel had a relationship with Hans Gunther Von Dinklage. Several sources claim Chanel served as a spy due to her relationship with a Nazi officer. Her associations with a German diplomat during the Nazi occupation tainted her reputation so she did not return to fashion until 1954.

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“In 1919 I woke up famous. I’d never guessed it. If I’d known I was famous, I’d have stolen away and wept. I was stupid. I was supposed to be intelligent. I was sensitive and very dumb.”

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“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”

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Significant items of clothing Coco Chanel helped pioneer

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Significant items of clothing Coco Chanel helped pioneer

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the collarless cardigan jacket

the bias cut dress – labelled a Ford by one critic because everyone had one.

The shoe string shoulder strap.

The floating evening scarf

The wearing together of junk and real jewels

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early Chanel Casual wear

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“Fashion has become a joke. The designers have forgotten that there are women inside the dresses. Most women dress for men and want to be admired. But they must also be able to move, to get into a car without bursting their seams! Clothes must have a natural shape.”
- Coco Chane

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Ms. Bonheur worked as a seamstress and became associated with several wealthy men. She met a man named Arthur Capel who assisted her financially to open a millinery shop in Paris in 1910. Her designs became successful immediately and in 10 years she was the head of a thriving Parisian Couturier.