Coco+Chanel+(designer)

Priscilla De Jesus pd. 7
**Gabrielle Chanel** was born on August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France. She grew up in the cities of France, with her family not having money. Living in a poor house on a narrow street. The Chanel's did not live in a big modern city, but but living in the big cities of France brought them about to the modern life. At the age of 12 her father dissapeared and her mother had passed away. She had two brothers that went to a farm and became laborers and she and her sisters went to an orphanage which she stood in for 6 years. In the orphanage she was raised by nuns who taught her how to sew. She recieved her nickname from her recent career in singing. She in performeed in clubs where she was being called "Coco where some say the nickname came from one of the songs she used to sing. Chanel said i was a shortened name for "Cocotte". A French word that ment "kept women". Living in a poor enviorment, she escaped from her poor circumstances and created women's revolutionary clothes. She was a pretty and fierce girl who knew she was different and unique from others.

 Coco was a woman of elegance. She borrowed her ides from men's clothes. She opened her first shp in Paris in 191 where she sold hats and garments. She started using much of her fabrics with jersey which was unusual and commonly used in men's underwear. Because of the war time circumstances, she began to use jersey fabric as courture fabric. Also, with her financial problems, jerseys were a low cost for her. This fasion broke out elegance for women with the Chanel suits fitted in people's lifestyles. "I make fashion women can live in, breath in, feel comfortable in and look younger in." said Coco Chanel. Her fashion and suits were prevalent when World War 1 broke out in 1914. Her fashion fled through customers in Paris. her shortened skirts led women leaving their corsettes behind. At the age of 32 she had a huge success. She created the fashion of "the little black dress." She favored the colors black, white, palette, and shades of beige. her boyish and slim figure inspired her fashion, as did her cropped her, tanned skin, and active lifestyle.



 In 1920 Chanel launched her first perfume "No.5". It became very popular and Chanel said "it is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory fashion ... that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure." In 1923 Chanel met the wealthy duke of Westminister and had a long relationship, which led to his proposal. The economic depression of the 1930s was her downfall. France declared war on Germany in 1936, which caused Chanel to close her store. during the German occupation of France, Chanel got involved with a German officer name Hanz Gunther von Dinklage, after the war ended which got involved with her engagement. But, she was not charged as a collaborater. She suffered a court opinion, but was not officially charged. Some people viewed her relationship with the Nazi officer as betrayel of her country.This made her leave Paris and she spent some years in Switzerland. Christian Dior came out with the "new look" that came out in the postwar period. Many admired Diors feminime wear, Chanel felt her fashion was not suitable for the women who had survived another war and taking a role in society. Following World War 1, she set out to change women's fashion. In 1953, Chanel had many struggls financially. She came out with the comeback of courture. Coco Chanel worked until her death in 1971 at the age off 88 years old. Karl Lagerfield has been her chief designer since her passing and contributes to her major change in fashion for our years.



= = =**__Time line of "Coco Chanel"__**=
 * **__ ﻿1883 __** - The birth of Gabrielle "coco" Chanel.
 * __** 1906 **__ - First fashion courture store founded in Paris
 * __** 1910 **__ - The nickname "Coco" was made for Gabrielle Chanel. Set up a lady's wear and hat store in Paris.
 * __** 1921 **__ - Coco Chanels best perfume came out "No.5" on May 5.
 * __** 1954 **__ - the second world war broke out. She fell in love with the nzi officer from Switzerland. Bell bottoms, short thick wool coats, were the works of the post war period.
 * __** 1955 **__ - created the famous Chanel bags in February.
 * __** 1971 **__ - January 11, Coco Chanel died peacefully on a Sunday in her Paris apartment.