Written by Colleen Tsoukalas (Treasure Seeker Colleen)
The front cover of this book is classic Chanel: black and white with tinges of subtle colors and features Chanel at three stages of her life, always in pearls and with dramatic eyebrows and red lips. The back cover is a drawing of her wearing her classic suit, pearls, and straw boater hat with a black ribbon. Loved all of the drawings by Karl Lagerfeld but would have liked more comments on them. The last drawing has this question and answer: Coco Chanel: "Are you not tired of Chanel?" Karl Lagerfeld: "No, only by the question." Published in 2011, this is the most recent writing I could find, not only about Chanel's life, but also about her ability to market, brand and expand all of her designs and products. Through great economic and cultural changes, she managed to stay current and profitable. How did she do this? She found beauty where ever she went and used it in her designs. She brought the exotic and romantic into her clothing and perfumes. She brought fashion to working women, not just the very rich. She produced a lot rather than a select few. As she said, "I make fashions women can live in, breathe in, feel comfortable in and look young in." So out with the heavy, corseted, stiff and confining costumes and into lighter, sporty, feminine but freeing designs.These were outfits for active women, working women, women who were independent rather than encumbered. She believed in hiring a highly qualified workforce, training them to work together and paying them for their work and their loyalty.
Coco Chanel was very observant, an avid listener but also a great conversationalist and had enormous capacity for making connections. She had many lovers and always seemed to stay friends with them although she never married. She collaborated with artists, dancers, politicians, perfumers, designers and many more, always involved in creating in her own community as well as the world at large. Surrounded by people, she was lonely. Her mind was seldom at rest; she took morphine to sleep. From humble beginnings, she made her way into a rich and famous life, yet kept her style simple and classic. Her perfumes, suits, jewelry, hats, and her collection - everything exists today. Marilyn Monroe really helped the sales of Chanel No. 5 by claiming that all she wore to bed was that perfume and both her popularity and the perfume endure.
I learned so much about Coco Chanel by reading this book, and could go further by following up with the extensive list of research sources used by Justine Picardie. I think Chanel's marketing and business strategies are significant enough that they should be highlighted and summarized at the end of each chapter. This would be a useful guide for up and coming entrepreneurs and for fashion program students. My last comment has to do with omitting rumors and inuendo about such an accomplished woman. If there is no specific proof, then why mention it. I'd like to think that a well written biography is at a higher standard than a gossip sheet. We don't need sensationalism to read on. We just need more about Coco.
The front cover of this book is classic Chanel: black and white with tinges of subtle colors and features Chanel at three stages of her life, always in pearls and with dramatic eyebrows and red lips. The back cover is a drawing of her wearing her classic suit, pearls, and straw boater hat with a black ribbon. Loved all of the drawings by Karl Lagerfeld but would have liked more comments on them. The last drawing has this question and answer: Coco Chanel: "Are you not tired of Chanel?" Karl Lagerfeld: "No, only by the question." Published in 2011, this is the most recent writing I could find, not only about Chanel's life, but also about her ability to market, brand and expand all of her designs and products. Through great economic and cultural changes, she managed to stay current and profitable. How did she do this? She found beauty where ever she went and used it in her designs. She brought the exotic and romantic into her clothing and perfumes. She brought fashion to working women, not just the very rich. She produced a lot rather than a select few. As she said, "I make fashions women can live in, breathe in, feel comfortable in and look young in." So out with the heavy, corseted, stiff and confining costumes and into lighter, sporty, feminine but freeing designs.These were outfits for active women, working women, women who were independent rather than encumbered. She believed in hiring a highly qualified workforce, training them to work together and paying them for their work and their loyalty.
Coco Chanel was very observant, an avid listener but also a great conversationalist and had enormous capacity for making connections. She had many lovers and always seemed to stay friends with them although she never married. She collaborated with artists, dancers, politicians, perfumers, designers and many more, always involved in creating in her own community as well as the world at large. Surrounded by people, she was lonely. Her mind was seldom at rest; she took morphine to sleep. From humble beginnings, she made her way into a rich and famous life, yet kept her style simple and classic. Her perfumes, suits, jewelry, hats, and her collection - everything exists today. Marilyn Monroe really helped the sales of Chanel No. 5 by claiming that all she wore to bed was that perfume and both her popularity and the perfume endure.
I learned so much about Coco Chanel by reading this book, and could go further by following up with the extensive list of research sources used by Justine Picardie. I think Chanel's marketing and business strategies are significant enough that they should be highlighted and summarized at the end of each chapter. This would be a useful guide for up and coming entrepreneurs and for fashion program students. My last comment has to do with omitting rumors and inuendo about such an accomplished woman. If there is no specific proof, then why mention it. I'd like to think that a well written biography is at a higher standard than a gossip sheet. We don't need sensationalism to read on. We just need more about Coco.
No comments:
Post a Comment