Ordinary birth for a woman who will never be ordinary. Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel born in Samur to Albert and Jeanne Chanel. Her mum dies when Gabrielle is only 12. Her dad, a peddler, leaves her to make his fortune in the US. She is taken in by the Aubazine convent together with her two sisters. In this Cistercian house of prayer she escapes from boredom through needlework. Young  black-robed Chanel faces austerity and loneliness.

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Gabrielle becomes Coco. The music-hall singer is admired by hordes of wealthy young people. Her lovely silhouette seduces Etienne Balsan, a man of the world who will introduce her to his world where she meets Boy Capel, more beautiful and intelligent than the others. He becomes her lover. Boy Capel immediately realizes she wants to use all her skills to gain her independence.

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In Paris Coco turns Etienne Balsan’s flat into an atelier. She designs some stylish hats which are against fashion of the time. Her story begins from Royallieu castle where her hats, designed for herself, attract the socialites moving in that place. Without any technical training and production tools she buys her hat shapes at department stores. Coco sells them after decorating them.

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The milliner lives at 21 rue Cambon. She expands her product range. The sobriety of her tailleur she is wearing in Longchamp provokes great interest in people, she launches her new haute couture line.

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Opening of her first fashion boutique in Deauville, the holiday resort  the stylish people of that time prefer.

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Opening of a branch in Biarritz where she dresses the rich Spanish.

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The lack of fabric and workforce because of First World War determine women’s new needs. Chanel catches them and buys some jersey items used as underwear at that time. By using manswear style and imposing jersey she changes fashion world.  Her first dress was published in Harper’s Bazaar. Her success enables her to pay off Boy Capel and get the desired goal of economic independence.

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In a few years she expands her boutique at 27,28,31 rue Cambon, the legendary address of Coco Chanel fashion house. “Mademoiselle”, as she is called, said: “A woman without a perfume is a woman without future”, she gives women destiny more than a perfume. The famous N°5 becomes a legend because Marilyn Monroe said that in bed she wore only some drops of Chanel N°5. N°22 (1922), le Gardénia (1925), Bois des îles (1926), Cuir de Russie (1927), Sycomore, Une idée (1930) and Jasmin (1932) come after. Chanel perfumes company was founded in 1924 to produce and sell perfumes and cosmetics.

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The “little black dress” becomes an essential item in women’s wardrobe.

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A new love interest in her life was the Duke of Westminister. She is inspired by their frequent trips to Scotland and makes the classic tweed a chic item. She goes far by embellishing her dresses with fake but blazing jewels.

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She opened a new accessories boutique. After the great depression Coco Chanel creates more feminine clothes for women, she also collaborates with theatre and cinema, in particular on the plays Le Train Bleu (1924), Tonight or Never (1931) and many movies such as La Règle du Jeu (Jean Renoir, 1939).

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Launch of a high-level jewellery, an original and simple line made of diamonds and flexible platimum.

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Creation of a jewellery atelier. Supported by the earl Etienne Beaumont and the Duke Fulco di Verdura and their talent, “Mademoiselle” sets daring mixing of color gems and long golden metal necklaces.

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Coco Chanel is at the height of her popularity. She employs 4000 workers and sells nearly 28000 items each year all over the world.

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The beginning of the second World War marks the closing of Chanel Fashion House. She says: “ I think no more dress is going to be made”. Only her parfums and accessories are sold in her existing boutique at 31 rue Cambon. It’s the end of an era but is it the end of Coco Chanel reign?

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Reopening of Coco Chanel fashion House after 15 years of inactivity, “Mademoiselle” is 71 years old. Her new collection starting with N°5 jersey tailleur is welcomed enthusiastically by the international fashion world. This femminine tailleur is the answer to Christian Dior new look and is part of women’s wardrobe. Roland Barthes defines it “...like the oblion of the body which is sheltered and absorbed in the dress social distinction” The tailleur becomes popular, even if it is copied, its originality will have no equal.

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Chanel introduces the chain handled quilted leather handbag, this is an important event in the Fashion world. This handbag becomes so famous she has to cope with growing request which cannot be satisfied by her ateliers."Pour Monsieur", the first eau de toilette for men comes out that year. 1955 is also the year of her triumph:  Coco Chanel receives the Fashion Oscar with Oscar with these words “ The most powerful creator of 20th century"

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Chanel N°5 is exhibeted at  New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

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The new fragrance N° 19 comes out, Chanel’s date of birthday. 

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Coco Chanel dies at Ritz hotel on Sunday morning when her fashion house is closed, it’s the end of a revoluntionary era. Her posthumous collection is a great success. Coco Chanel freed women by her constricted clothes searching for free motion. She didn’t design her dresses but she put them together on her customers bodies to feel the body moving. “Chanel look”  is always a source of inspiration for fashion designers of today and tomorrow.

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