Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History By Rhonda K. Garelick

What you wear is who you are.

Insights :

Early happiness handicaps people. I do not regret having been profoundly unhappy. —COCO CHANEL

💡 Chanel used her fashion brand as a way to transform her difficult childhood experiences into something more positive and graceful. It is difficult to know exactly how she felt about her past or how she expressed these feelings, as it is impossible to determine her tone of voice or other nonverbal cues from written text.. It is also possible that Chanel had complex feelings about her past and that her perspective on it may have changed over time.

The remark reveals the final lessons Chanel absorbed from her father: that even the greatest emotional pain was unworthy of consideration, and that inflictors of such pain might still be worthy of admiration and imitation. Via such lessons, wounded children can grow up to be deeply wounding adults.

💡Chanel’s childhood experiences, including her father’s abandonment and her mother’s death, may have contributed to feelings of abandonment and a desire for success. People who have experienced trauma or challenging circumstances in their childhood often develop coping mechanisms and goals to feel more in control and secure. These experiences may have also affected Chanel’s relationships with her family members and caused a sense of distance. However, everyone is unique, and their responses to challenges may vary.

Woe to anyone who dared make any smart remark to Chanel about nuns,” recalled Edmonde Charles-Roux. “She always retained immense gratitude toward them—thanks to them she learned to sew.

💡Gabrielle Chanel’s time at the Aubazine convent may have influenced her views on gender roles and independence. The nuns at the convent showed her a model of womanhood that was self-sufficient and not dependent on men, which may have been one of her first experiences of seeing women as independent individuals. This could have shaped her perspective on societal norms of the time.

💭 Many people believe that André, Gabrielle Chanel’s nephew, is her son. Personally, I think he may have reminded her of her childhood in some ways. Both his mother and Gabrielle’s mother passed away, leaving them alone. This shared experience may have created a connection between them.

Coco had finely honed her observational skills. Like a good diplomat, she carefully watched for cultural cues, and was adept at fitting into new environments quickly.

💡Chanel had a unique ability to quickly learn and adapt to new environments, which is something many adults forget how to do. For example, when she was in Russia, she could adapt to the culture and create new designs. She also demonstrated this ability in the United States. (This is similar to what Rihanna does.)

she began slipping bottles (she’d brought back hundreds from Grasse) to wellborn women of her acquaintance, as gifts—inciting the kind of word-of-mouth buzz that strengthened her clients’ sense of belonging to a knowing elite.

💡A marketing genius who used strategies such known as influencer marketing today . She also used different strategies to make her brand stand out . Even after she was rumored to retire, she made a successful return to the industry by creating a sense of mystery around her launch. By making herself unavailable and building anticipation, she was able to generate interest and make a triumphant return to the industry.

💭”I find it challenging to understand exactly why Coco Chanel decided to become a spy during the war. Some potential motivations could include self-preservation and greed. Chanel did express a desire to be remembered through history, which might have influenced her decision.

Memorable quotes :

Certain lives are at once so exceptional and so in step with their historical moment that they illuminate cultural forces far beyond the scope of a single person.

The child I was remains with me today.… I have satisfied her needs,” Chanel told Louise de Vilmorin.

For an observant and imaginative girl, who had watched family life destroy her mother, these bonnes soeurs, in their impressive starched white headdresses and flowing black pleated skirts (Chanel’s future trademark colors), all taking orders from their mother superior—a female boss—might have struck a deep chord.

Coco was a natural commander, a leader of women, someone with no difficulty communicating her high standards for quality and low tolerance for error.

One does not wear jewelry to appear rich, one wears it to be adorned. When costume jewelry is well made, it is meant to demolish real jewelry,” observed Chanel.

Lie if you must, but never in detail, or to yourself. True generosity is to accept ingratitude. Elegance is not the opposite of poverty. It is the opposite of vulgarity—and negligence.

Book Review 3.5 Stars

Erika Funny