Coco Chanel Research Papers

By merely glimpsing a picture of Coco Chanel, grace, and luxury radiates off her glamorous smile. Her life however, was less glamorous than her smile would have you believe. From being abandoned by her father, to the death of her lover, to the Great Depression and the devastation of World War Two, she pushed through with an air of elegance and determination in her step. Coco Chanel was an icon in fashion, feminism, and charm, and significantly benefitted the world of fashion by breaking domestic precedents through implementing comfortable luxury, relinquishing suppressive fashions, and empowering women to step out of the shadows of men.
Gabrielle, "Coco" Chanel was more than just a pretty face in a glamorous world, and her world was not always
very glamorous. Her life seemed to be series of unfortunate events from the day she entered the world. On August 19, 1883, in the Loire Valley of Saumur, France a jet-black haired baby girl was born to an impoverished French family. Her birthname was Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, however as she stepped into adulthood, she sang in nightclubs and earned herself the nickname, "Coco", the name by which today she is affectionately known by thousands. After her mother's death of tuberculosis, Chanel's father, a lowly peddler, orphaned Chanel and her three sisters to a Catholic institution when she was seven, where she learned to sew. Her strong willed nature was not a learned trait, rather, she fought for her way against the nun's strict discipline. Coco Chanel's childhood was far removed from the luxury she designed as an adult; from her humble birth, to life as an orphan, Chanel's upbringing was anything but glamourous.
Coco Chanel famously said, "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury", during the era of petticoats and corsets, fashion was anything but comfortable. Chanel lived by this statement, and brought women fashion that was comfortable, yet didn't compromise class or refinement. Her inspiration for boyish, modern fashion came from her sportsman of a lover, Arthur, "Boy" Capel, and her longing for women to embrace the casual sophistication of menswear. Because of her determination to destroy the restrictive styles of mainstream haute couture, Chanel found inspiration in menswear. Borrowing soft fabrics such as jersey, which was typically used exclusively in men's underwear, Coco Chanel built an empire on the interests of uncomfortable women. This gave rise to her iconic boucle, tweed sportscoat. A boxy cut allowed full range of motion, foreign to most women. Through this iconic Chanel jacket, she created a new way for women to look elegantly refined and feminine, while wearing clothing that wouldn't squish their internal organs.
The comfort in loving your skin is more of a comfort than any garment could provide, and Coco Chanel showed women this by bringing back the suntan. Snow white skin was the upper class' iconic staple. A faultlessly porcelain complexion indicated wealth and status and, unless born with such luck, was incredibly difficult to achieve. After accidentally burning while on vacation, Coco Chanel showed women that tanned skin was beautiful, and it became a classic look in the world of high fashion. Chanel's approach to design changed the game, trading bulky petticoats for breathable jersey, and stiff corsets for boyish silhouettes; comfort was a luxury Chanel was ready to fight for.
Through implementing the idea of comfortable luxury, Chanel also worked toward implementing restrictive feminine designs from haute couture.
Coco Chanel chopped her hair to her chin for reason of simple upkeep, however the effect of it caused a formerly male cut to become a particularly stylish, feminine one. By simply trimming a few inches, Chanel brought ease to women struggling with long locks. At the time, long hair was the only style socially acceptable, and was difficult to keep looking polished. When asked about the designs of an up and coming designer, Christian Dior, Chanel bluntly replied, "Look how ridiculous these women are, wearing clothes by a man that doesn't know women, never had one, and dreams of being one". ("Coco"). By simply bashing the corsets so coveted by high fashion, Chanel influenced women to throw away the restrictive garments. Chanel suits were designed with both comfort and elegance in mind; for women out and about, making their way in the world. Her iconic suits were a business woman's staple. They boasted special pockets to hold cigarettes, and a certain powerful flair that allowed for women to feel powerful in a world dominated by the men. By chopping her long curls to a boyish bob, and taking a masculine fashion and fitting it to give a feminine élan, Chanel spit in the face of traditional fashion.
While simultaneously implementing comfort to haute couture, and relinquishing confining garments popular at the time, Chanel empowered women by challenging everything women had ever worn. Coco Chanel curated clothing that challenged the precedents of female fashion all throughout history, and empowered women to challenge the "man's world" (Chong). She brought pants, suits, and boxy dresses to high fashion; something that had never been done before. Suddenly, women were turning trousers and suits into street style, giving rise to the era of the business
woman.
Chanel was quite the business woman herself, and she knew exactly what she wanted, and did anything to get it, including the manipulation of her suitors. Coco Chanel showed women that they did not have to wait for the right opportunity to fall into their hands, at the mercy of their husbands. Chanel herself, went out into the fashion industry with everything she had, and created an empire. She proved women too could have successful careers; and do it themselves. After the death of her beloved Boy Capel, Chanel began, through her mourning, experimenting with black cloth. She found chic refinement in a color only used in mourning at the time, and through her efforts came the LBD, the little black dress. Boy Capel died in the years of World War Two, while thousands of other women's lovers and husbands were dying in warfare. Chanel took this opportunity through her own grief, to create beautiful designs from black fabric in order to give women the comfort of fabulous attire through their heartache. Coco Chanel empowered women to question their world and make changes they wanted to see, because she did just that in her world of fashion. She challenged the social precedents that confined women for centuries, and in effect inspired women around the globe to do the same.
Coco Chanel came out of the womb with her head set strong on her shoulders. From a young age she defied the Nuns at the orphanage she lived in, and pushed for what she wanted, often with good outcome. Coco Chanel's decision for success is to forget failure is a possibility. Chanel took daring steps in all her designs; from creating trousers to fitting jackets, she never took the safe route. Chanel showed the world that a little French girl from Saumur could do spectacular things, despite the odds.
With all points considered, Coco Chanel was a remarkable woman who changed the name of fashion for all time. She grew against all odds and faced the harsh realities of life as a 20th century woman with a stern glare. Through introducing comfortable clothing, relinquishing constrictive garments, and empowering women through her high fashion couture, Chanel made a bang that will be heard for centuries to come.