Coco Chanel 1 part of 5- The Start

“If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing.” Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel was the woman who literally revolutionized the world of fashion. An extravagant woman with a free and rebellious spirit who, thanks to her countercurrent intuitions and her visionary creativity, was able to change the concept of femininity and to impress her his footprint. She became a source of inspiration, not only for stylists and for creatives, but also for women all over the world, who are still inspired by his concept of elegance and femininity. Here is his story.

Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, aka Coco Chanel was born on August 19, 1883 in a hospice for the poor in Saumur, by Henri-Albert Chanel and Jeanne DeVolle. They conceived her and her sister Julie, a year older, out of wedlock, and they married only the year after his birth. The father was a street vendor and the mother was a laundress. Coco Chanel‘s childhood was itinerant: the family, numerous after the birth of three more children, moved to Issoire. Following his mother’s death, at the age of 32 in 1895, his father Albert took his children to his mother’s residence in Vichy. Since his grandmother could not take care of them, he sent the two brothers to work in a farm , while the three little sisters Chanel, were entrusted to the sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, at the orphanage of Aubazine. Thus began for Coco Chanel and her sisters a very hard life. Although according to some experts, the monastic environment has influenced the style of Coco Chanel, often austere and with predominating black and white.

In 1901, when they became adults, Julie and Gabrielle left the orphanage and moved to Moulin, where they worked in the Maison Grampayre linen and knitwear shop, putting into practice the art of sewing learned by the nuns.

While in the evening Coco Chanel, with her sister, embarks on a short career as a singer at “la Rotonde” (which no longer exists), and “Le Grand Cafè”, two coffee-concert of Mulin, where the garrison officials went for have fun. It seems that the nickname Coco derives from the song “Qui qu’a vu Coco?” that she sang.

Vous n’auriez pas vu Coco?

Coco dans l’Trocadero

Co dans l’Tro

Co dans l’Tro

Coco dans l’Trocadero

Qui qu’a qui qu’a vu Coco?

Moreover it is there, in 1904, that CoCoco Chanel meets Etienne de Balsan, a cavalry officer son of textile entrepreneurs, who becomes his lover, is this meeting that gives a twist to the life of Coco Chanel.

Balsan invites Coco Chanel to move to his castle at Royallieu, in 1908, where she learns to appreciate the equestrian style, and where she meets the friends of Balsan, elite people who appreciate and buy her magnificent and simplicity straw hats. From here, Coco Chanel begins thanks to the help of Balsan who will finance her, to create hats for its elite clientele.

                                                                                                                     Word of mouth…Scilla 

to be continue…

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