Between 1919 and 1939, Paris experienced a cultural and intellectual boom. This blog will feature artists, writers, composers, musicians, and designers. Paris was at its cultural peak.
Born in 1883 as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, Coco Chanel popularized a casual chic style of fashion for women in post-World War I Paris. Her mother was a laundrywoman and her father, an street vendor. Raised in poverty, Gabrielle was sent to a convent orphanage at the age of 12, following the death of her mother. At the convent, she learned to sew, and was able to work as a seamstress. By 23, she was the mistress to a wealthy textile heir, Étienne Balsan, who lavished her with diamonds, dresses, and pearls. An affair with one of Balsan’s friends resulted in the financing of her first shops.
Her first designs were hats only, but in 1913, Chanel opened a boutique in the resort town of Deauville, France, where she introduced deluxe, casual clothes suitable for leisure and sport.
By 1919, Chanel was registered as a couturière and established her maison de couture at 31 rue Cambon, Paris. Eight years later, she owned five buildings on the street. Her No. 5 fragrance was available in department stores, and by 1930, she was a very wealthy woman.
One of her friends at this time was Misia Sert, a member of the “bohemian elite” in Paris, and with whom she shared drug use. By 1935, Coco Chanel was injecting herself with morphine on a daily basis (a habit she maintained until the end of her life in 1971). According to gossip and legend, she was called Coco because of her elaborate cocaine parties.
In 1939, at the beginning of World War II, Chanel closed her shops but maintained her apartment situated above the couture house at 31 Rue de Cambon. She claimed that it was not a time for fashion, and as a result of her action, 3,000 female employees lost their jobs.
“A girl should be two things – classy and fabulous.” ~ Coco Chanel
Martha Reynolds Writes 
M…..by the way; I just noticed you’re 44 on the A-Z sign up list. I knew you were famous!!!
LikeLike
Hmm, in addition to the other things commented on, she didn’t seem to care much about her employees either. I expect she was alright….
LikeLike
Wow. Such fascinating stuff. I never knew she had a drug habit. Morphine? Yikes. I imagine that was tough on the body. I hear we have Coco Channel to thank for costume jewelry. She created replicas of her actual jewelry to wear when she traveled. The idea caught on.
I’m loving this theme, Martha. So interesting!
Fascinating post about a fascinating (and unfortunate) situation. My very best wishes to you, Laura. Hope the A to Z Challenge is lifting your spirits and bringing you to many engaging posts. Thank you so very much for visiting mine. 🙂
Julie #1613 (this week) on the ever-changing A to Z Challenge list
http://www.julievalerie.com/thesaurus-tyrannosaurus-c/
LikeLike
What the heck?! What is that paragraph to Laura doing in my comment to you, Martha? I dunno . . . and I’m so sorry! I must have picked it up when I last copied the Julie #1613 information . . . This A to Z Challenge visiting is starting to feel like a (wonderful) frenzy. 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, and to think I knew so little about this woman, or maybe I suppressed some of the knowledge, given her history. So much turbulence in someone’s life, misunderstanding. Talent and lack of empathy coexist, unfortunately. The bottom picture reveals more of her personality.
LikeLike
Martha,
Add me to the list of others; before I read this, I was thinking what a cool name Coco is. Knowing the truth is sad. The best part of your blog today; I am inclined to do more research on this woman……thanks. Zulu Delta
LikeLike
She lived quite a life! At first I was glad to read of an orphan story with a positive outcome – then I was crushed to learn her nickname was a result of drug use.
I used to wear Chanel Cristalle for years… reminded me of my first trip to Paris.
LikeLike
I put the drug use in perspective, Molly. Her anti-Semitism cannot be justified, in my opinion.
LikeLike
Never used her perfume, but I did have a Chanel suit back in the day. Good post.
LikeLike
Thanks, Denise. A Chanel suit!! Ooh-la-la 😉
LikeLike
I always wondered about her name – I didn’t know about her drug usage. An interesting post.
LikeLike
Thank you, Sally! Following your blog now 💕
LikeLike
I didn’t really know about the cocaine and morphine use. Very interesting about her nickname. We learn so much in the A to Z. Cheers, Denise
LikeLike
Thanks, Denise. She was very complex (also an anti-Semite).
LikeLike
Hi, here from the A-Z and enjoyed your post on Coco Chanel. No 5 is a timeless classic, used by generations in my family.
Best wishes,
Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
LikeLike
Thanks, Nila! I follow your blog, too. 💕💕
LikeLike