Coco Chanel

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was born in 1883 to poor parents in rural France. Chanel's early life was marked by hardship. Her mother died when she was 12, and her father abandoned her to an orphanage. Tough start.

But Chanel had grit. And talent. At the orphanage, she learned to sew. This skill would become her ticket out of poverty.

"Poverty was the soil that nurtured my determination," Chanel once said.

In her early 20s, Chanel got a job as a seamstress. She moonlighted as a cabaret singer. It was here she earned her nickname "Coco" - possibly from a song she often performed.

Chanel's big break came through her relationships with wealthy men. They provided the capital and connections for her to open her first shop in Paris in 1910. She started with hats.

Her designs were different. Simple. Practical. A stark contrast to the ornate styles of the time. Women loved them.

"Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance," Chanel declared.

But building a fashion empire wasn't easy. Chanel faced skepticism as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Her unconventional designs were sometimes mocked. She struggled to secure loans and expand her business.

Chanel persevered. She worked long hours. Made tough decisions. Took risks.

World War I changed everything. As men went off to fight, women entered the workforce en masse. They needed practical, comfortable clothing. Chanel delivered.

She introduced jersey fabric - previously used only for men's underwear - into women's fashion. Scandalous. But revolutionary. Her designs allowed women to move freely.

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous," Chanel said.

By the 1920s, Chanel had built a fashion empire. Her brand expanded beyond clothing to perfume, jewelry, and accessories. Chanel No. 5, launched in 1921, became the world's best-selling perfume.

Chanel's success was staggering. By 1935, she employed 4,000 people. Her personal wealth was estimated at $15 million - over $290 million in today's dollars.

"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different," Chanel said.

But Chanel's journey wasn't over. World War II forced her to close her fashion house. She lived in exile for years, her reputation tarnished by allegations of Nazi collaboration.

At 70, when most would retire, Chanel staged a comeback. She reopened her fashion house in 1954. Against all odds, she succeeded again. Her designs, including the iconic Chanel suit, became symbols of modern elegance.

Chanel worked until her death in 1971, at 87. She left behind a fashion empire that continues to thrive today. In 2021, Chanel reported revenue of $15.6 billion.

Chanel's legacy extends beyond fashion. She helped liberate women from restrictive clothing. She proved that a woman from humble beginnings could build a global business empire.

"My life didn't please me, so I created my life," Chanel once said.

Lessons

Lesson 1: Have a clear vision. Chanel had a distinct idea of what fashion should be: simple, elegant, functional. This vision guided all her decisions. "Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance," she said. Know what you stand for. Let it guide you.

Lesson 2: Just don’t stop. Chanel worked until her death at 87. She never stopped creating, innovating, building. "My life didn't please me, so I created my life," she said. Success isn't a destination. It's a continual process. Keep working, keep creating.

Lesson 3: Network across social classes. Chanel moved effortlessly between aristocrats and artists. She befriended both wealthy patrons and avant-garde creatives. This diverse network fueled her success. Don't limit yourself to one social circle.

Coco Chanel Quotes

On branding: "I don't do fashion, I am fashion."

On luxury: "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury."

On timing: "Dress like you are going to meet your worst enemy today."

On focus: "Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door."

On authenticity: "The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud."

On style: "Fashion changes, but style endures."

On success: "Success is most often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable."

Speeches and Interviews

• Coco Chanel 1959 interview

Book Recommendations

• Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life by Justine Picardie
• Chanel and Her World by Edmonde Charles-Roux
• Living with Coco Chanel by Caroline Young

Further Readings

• Coco Chanel Biography (Biography.com)
• Coco Chanel (Britannica)
• The true story of Coco Chanel's childhood (BBC Travel)
• Coco Chanel (Wikipedia)