COCO CHANEL
Born: Aug. 19, 1883 in Saumur, France
Died: Jan. 10, 1971 in Paris, France
The Lifetime channel is bringing Coco Chanel to the small screen.
The three-hour movie about legendary French couturier, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, stars Shirley Maclaine as Chanel in her golden years. It is a much anticipated show … by me. There are so many questions I have about the iconic fashion designer — that a chic spy wants to know — like how she rose from her humble beginnings as an orphan to own a millinery shop, how she become linked to a Nazi officer, how she lost favour with her beloved Parisians, and how she closed her couture house for more than a decade, and eventually becomes a highly revered and influential fashion designer of the 20th Century.
Random thought: Maybe the post-war drama ignited an interest in menswear among women (Coco Chanel introduced pea coats and bell bottoms in the 1950s). During WWII, women took lead roles supporting their families while the men were away. When the men returned from war, women could resume their “feminine” roles, which they did with vigor but with the knowledge that they could do anything.
Do you think Chanel fashions played a role in the women’s movement post WWII?
Check out this video …
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3uoMKlSqS4]
Did you know …
- Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel started using the name Coco while working as a cafe singer. (thebiographychannel.co.uk)
- Chanel’s little black dress premiered in the third edition (ever) of Playboy magazine. (wikipedia.org)
- Chanel no. 5 debuted 5/5/1921. (fragrancefragrances.com)
- The famous double ‘C’ log was not of Coco Chanel’s design, it was given to her by the owner of Chateau de Cremat. (wikipedia.org)
- Coco Chanel was a nurse during World War II. (thebiographychannel.co.uk)
Photo credit: Chanel portrait ca. 1950s, thecityreview.com.
Chicly Yours,
The Chic Spy
