Coco Chanel - A Profile Analysis

 

Famous fashion designer Coco Chanel was originally born as Gabriella Bonheur Chanel on August 19, 1883 in Saumur France.

Known today as a famous fashion and style icon, Coco’s childhood was anything but glamorous.

She grew up in an orphanage raised by nuns who taught her how to sew, which little did she know at the time, that it would become her greatest asset to her life’s work.

Chanel opened her first shop in Paris’s Rue Cambon in 1910 to sell hats; she later added stores in Deauville and Biarritz and began making clothes (Biography, 2014).

In the 1920’s she launched her first perfume, Chanel No.5; Chanel believed that perfume is a living and breathing accessory of fashion because others can experience it even after having met the person. In 1925 Coco introduced ladies suits, a couple years later in 1930 the International economic depression had a negative impact on her company but it was only after the outbreak of World War II that lead to Coco Chanel to close down her company. However near the age of 70 Coco Chanel made a comeback, venturing into fragrances for men. Her first fragrance for men was named ‘Pour Monsieur’ which remains the number one selling men’s fragrance today. In 1957 Chanel made a triumphant return to the fashion world and received a Fashion Oscar Award at the Fashion Awards in Dallas and was pronounced “the most influential designer of the 20th century.” Her feminine designs were won over by women all over the world. She became a legacy and her fascinating life story became the inspiration for the Broadway musical Coco (Biography, 2014). Coco Chanel died on January 10th 1971; however her legacy and brand ‘Coco Chanel’ still lives on.

 

Chanel’s hard work and passion as a women especially in that era; make her a true inspiration to women all around the world today.

She proves that gender is immiscible and that anyone can achieve their dreams and live their passion if they work hard enough.

Known for her sophistication, pearls, elegance and class, the picture that can be seen above is a representation of Coco Chanel in her earlier days.

Coco once said, “Luxury must be comfortable; otherwise it is not luxury” another one of her famous quotes states that women must be two things, “classy and fabulous.”

This can be seen in the image of Coco, the image posits her iconic look with several stands of pearls, but in this case, represented as her famous words and her high fashion can also be seen in this image (Biography, 2014).

The cigarette in her hand can be a demonstration of sophistication because only the wealthy kinds of women with a certain class use to smoke in that era; it was seen as classy and sophisticated. It can also be seen as risky and dangerous just like fashion. Fashion is risky and daring and one has to be take chances with fashion in order to be considered iconic or to make a statement, just as Coco Chanel did. She also took risks as a women opening businesses and got rewarded in the process by succeeding even after failure.

Coco Chanel is and can be held as an inspiration to all women, and can be seen as the face of someone who worked hard to achieve success and did not give up, even at the age of 70. Chanel’s hard work and passion as a women especially in that era; truly makes her an inspiration to women all around the world today.