-By Justine Picardie
-International Bestseller
A Non-fiction Publication
Coco Chanel is a big name and a big story. Chanel is one of the most top iconic brands in the fashion industry based in epic Paris. Even the person who couldn’t care less about fashion knows Chanel. When everybody can easily recognize your work, whether they want it or not, is a big deal. That’s the definition of iconic to me. This is what the international Chanel Fashion House represents.
In this book, Coco Chanel THE LEGEND AND THE LIFE, author Justine Picardie goes into great detail of this fierce fashion craft master. It’s a lot of book. Picardie did a super job of collecting these fascinating stories about the lady and brand of Chanel. It’s PRETTY GOOD.
Spring is in the air and I’m feeling light-minded. I thought this was a good time to have some down time. So this won’t be heavy to read but an easy delight. (We will get back to the good heavier stuff later; I wouldn’t want our inner fashion game getting soft.) We’ve been working hard and I can tell.
Here are a few starter eye catchers from the book—
First off, Coco Chanel is a Leo, like me…
Chanel was born on August 19, 1883. I was born on August 8, 1983. A hundred years apart almost to the day. All this time that I’ve been a fan of this fashion goddess and always drawn to her powerhouse, I never knew how connected we were. I couldn’t believe it -she was a lion too. My love for her was meant to be.
- Do you have a cool connection to someone or something you’ve always admired? Tell me about it under the Coo-coo for Coco (Chanel) post.
Chanel’s thought and business process was not only genius it was also poetic…
Chanel would say, ‘A dress is neither a tragedy, nor a painting; it is a charming and ephemeral (meaning lasting one day) creation, not an everlasting work of art. Fashion should die and die quickly, in order that commerce (meaning the exchange of business) may survive… The more transient (meaning passing through) fashion is the more perfect it is. You can’t protect what is already dead.’
- This speaks to why House of Chanel creates new styles and fresh ideas from season to season; but because the brand always includes its recognizable symbols (like the double Cs, the chains and pearls or the buttons on the clothing) in each collection is what keeps the brand -Chanel, alive and legend.
Childhood was not cookies & cream for Chanel…
Chanel had issues with family growing up -I say, no matter where you come from you can always go anywhere. Chanel once told a friend, ‘I don’t like the family.’ And, ‘Childhood – you speak of it when you’re tired, because it’s a time when you had hopes, expectations.’
- Wow, who knew that COCO CHANEL didn’t have the time of her life when she was young… She turned out to be such an amazing figure and a way of hope and attitude for women and girls.
To be continued next Wednesday – 12:30.