Friday 55 Flash Fiction, Famous Women (one for the ladies)
"I'm an influential, innovative, fashion designer, don't you know???
With pearls, perfume, and a little black dress.........
I've defined women's clothing - with timeless suits, shoes, and purses.
Embraced by Hollywood Starlets.........
Many lovers have passed my way;
Cigarettes we've shared - with alcohol now and again.
Health warnings ignored, 90yrs of life lived to the full".....
Coco Chanel
(Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel - August 19th, 1883 - January 10, 1971).
From her first millinery shop, opened in 1912, to the 1920s, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel rose to become one of the premier fashion designers in Paris. Replacing the corset with comfort and casual elegance, her fashion themes included simple suits and dresses, women's trousers, costume jewellery, perfume and textiles.
She claimed a birth date of 1893 and a birthplace of Auvergne; she was actually born in 1883 in Saumur (as if a woman wold lie about her age)!!!
Her mother worked in the poorhouse where Gabrielle was born, and died when Gabrielle was only six, leaving her father with five children whom he promptly abandoned to the care of relatives. Who with equal speed, promptly placed them in an orphanage.
(Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel - August 19th, 1883 - January 10, 1971).
From her first millinery shop, opened in 1912, to the 1920s, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel rose to become one of the premier fashion designers in Paris. Replacing the corset with comfort and casual elegance, her fashion themes included simple suits and dresses, women's trousers, costume jewellery, perfume and textiles.
She claimed a birth date of 1893 and a birthplace of Auvergne; she was actually born in 1883 in Saumur (as if a woman wold lie about her age)!!!
Her mother worked in the poorhouse where Gabrielle was born, and died when Gabrielle was only six, leaving her father with five children whom he promptly abandoned to the care of relatives. Who with equal speed, promptly placed them in an orphanage.
She adopted the name Coco during a brief career as a cafe and concert singer during 1905-1908.
First a mistress of a wealthy military officer then of an English industrialist, she drew on the resources of these patrons in setting up a millinery shop in Paris in 1910, expanding to Deauville and Biarritz. The two men also helped her find customers among women of society, and her simple hats became popular.
Soon she was expanding to couture, working in jersey, a first in the French fashion world. By the 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably, and her chemise set a fashion trend with its "little boy" look.
Soon she was expanding to couture, working in jersey, a first in the French fashion world. By the 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably, and her chemise set a fashion trend with its "little boy" look.
Her relaxed fashions, short skirts, and casual look were in sharp contrast to the corset fashions popular in the previous decades. Chanel herself dressed in mannish clothes, and adapted these more comfortable fashions which other women also found liberating.
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In 1922 Chanel introduced a perfume, Chanel No. 5 (I prefer the Coco), which became and remained popular, and remains a profitable product of Chanel's company. Pierre Wertheimer became her partner in the perfume business in 1924, and perhaps also her lover. Wertheimer owned 70% of the company; Coco Chanel received 10% and her friend Bader 20%. The Wertheimers continue to control the perfume company today.
Coco Chanel introduced her signature cardigan jacket in 1925 and signature "little black dress" in 1926. Most of her fashions had a staying power, and didn't change much from year to year -- or even generation to generation.
She briefly served as a nurse in World War I. Nazi occupation meant the fashion business in Paris was cut off for some years; Chanel's affair during World War II with a Nazi officer also resulted in some years of diminished popularity and an exile of sorts to Switzerland.
In 1954 her comeback restored her to the first ranks of haute couture. Her natural, casual clothing including the Chanel suit once again caught the eye -- and purses -- of women. She introduced pea jackets and bell bottom pants for women.
In addition to her work with high fashion, she also designed stage costumes for such plays as Cocteau's Antigone (1923) and Oedipus Rex (1937) and film costumes for several movies, including Renoir's La Regle de Jeu.
Katharine Hepburn starred in the 1969 Broadway musical 'Coco' based on the life of Coco Chanel.
She was still working in 1971 when she died. Karl Largerfeld has been chief designer of Chanel's fashion house since 1983.
She was still working in 1971 when she died. Karl Largerfeld has been chief designer of Chanel's fashion house since 1983.
That has made me feel like some retail therapy this weekend. Whatever you plans - to do enjoy yourselves. X
Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part, pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.
Add a drop of that....
Serve it thus....
And what do you get????
I have been neglectful of late in posting about my theatre visits. For the last three Tuesdays we have been going to the theatre to watch The Classic Thriller Season, and we have two more to go. The first was 'Holmes and the Ripper', if you have never read it, seen it, do it, discover is it truth, or fiction??????
Saturday, Math and I are going with Nat to Milton Keynes "Red Hot World Buffet" for a meal. I will have a chance to view my sons design work, without the media and large crowds that were there on the opening night. Also to take my own pics to share with you (he never forwarded the opening night pics, busy boy). So you see I am a moaning whining person, I have so much to look forward to and enjoy, mark my words I will........
