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Do You Know These 12 Interesting Facts about Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel?
“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury” – Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel (1883 – 1971)
- Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was the daughter of an unwed mother named Eugènie Jeanne Devolle.
- When Gabrielle was only 11 years old her mother died of bronchitis leaving 5 children.
- After her mother’s death, Chanel’s father put her and her sisters in an orphanage.
- Chanel was taught sewing at the convent of Aubazine and her first job was as a seamstress.
- Chanel created her own clothes and hats and wore them to social events. Demand increased for her hats and so in 1910, she opened her first store in Paris selling hats. The hats had such tremendous success, she opened more stores and started creating clothes collections.
- 31 rue Cambon was established as the headquarters of the Chanel fashion house in 1921.
- Chanel abandoned the corset and created clothes for women that were comfortable while remaining elegant. Pant suits, cardigans and dresses without corsets were the new style.
- The ‘little black dress’ is often described as one of Chanel’s contributions to fashion together with her iconic quilted leather handbag. The outside stitched quilted design is said to have been influenced by the jackets worn by jockeys.
- The Chanel couture business enterprise by 1935 was employing 4,000 people.
- Chanel died on 10 January 1971, aged 87 years old, at the Hotel Ritz where she had lived for more than 30 years.
- Chanel once declared “The Ritz is my home”. She lived in suite No. 302 after moving in during 1937. She remained living in the suite until her death.
- Suite 302 has been renamed the Coco Chanel Suite in her honour. It has been refurbished and relocated down a floor to give its guests a better view of the stunning Place Vendôme.
Official CHANEL Website
Enter the world of CHANEL and discover the latest in Fashion & Accessories, Eyewear, Fragrance, Skincare & Makeup, Fine Jewellery & Watches at the CHANEL Official Website.
French Afternoon Tea at Salon Proust, Ritz Hotel Paris
The Ritz Hotel Paris has a history of famous people gracing its halls and staying within its luxury rooms and Coco Chanel and Marcel Proust are just two. Taking champagne in the garden and enjoying a French afternoon tea at Salon Proust at the Ritz is an experience not to be missed.
Read my full post on my afternoon teas at the Ritz with lots of photos of the salons and garden Ritz Hotel Paris and A French Afternoon Tea
Other French Fun Fact Posts to Read
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