Born Gabielle Bonheur Chanel, Coco was born on August 19th 1883in Saumur, France in the workhouse where her mother worked. When Chanel was 6 years old, her mother died and her father sent her to an orphanage called The Catholic Monastery of Aubazine. There she was taught by the nuns how to sew. However, Chanel lied about her childhood to get around the stigma of her unfortunate upbringing.
The nickname "Coco" came from her old performing days where people most likely called her Coco because of the songs that she sang. However Chanel said that it was short for the word "cocotte" which means "kept woman" in French.
Financed by a wealthy Englishman named Arthur Edward 'Boy' Capel, Chanel opened her first shop in Paris's Rue Cambon in 1910. She was romantically involved with Capel and was devastated when he died in a car accident.
"In losing Capel, I lost everything" - Chanel
In her shop she sold hats. but later expanded her stores to Deauville and Biarritz where she began making her clothes including the jersey dress.
During the war, Chanel was involved with a Nazi so she was forced into exile in Switzerland when it was over. She returned to the fashion industry when she was 70. At first people were unwilling to accept her but eventually her extraordinary designs won everyone over.
Chanel died on January 10th, 1971 in her apartment at the Hotel Ritz.
Karl Lagerfeld took over the Chanel label in 1981 and has continued to do so ever since.
Word Count: 233
The nickname "Coco" came from her old performing days where people most likely called her Coco because of the songs that she sang. However Chanel said that it was short for the word "cocotte" which means "kept woman" in French.
Financed by a wealthy Englishman named Arthur Edward 'Boy' Capel, Chanel opened her first shop in Paris's Rue Cambon in 1910. She was romantically involved with Capel and was devastated when he died in a car accident.
"In losing Capel, I lost everything" - Chanel
In her shop she sold hats. but later expanded her stores to Deauville and Biarritz where she began making her clothes including the jersey dress.
During the war, Chanel was involved with a Nazi so she was forced into exile in Switzerland when it was over. She returned to the fashion industry when she was 70. At first people were unwilling to accept her but eventually her extraordinary designs won everyone over.
Chanel died on January 10th, 1971 in her apartment at the Hotel Ritz.
Karl Lagerfeld took over the Chanel label in 1981 and has continued to do so ever since.
Word Count: 233