WOTM: Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel: The Woman Who Will Never Go Out of Style

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”

 Coco Chanel is undoubtedly one of the most famous women of all time. She is living proof that hard work and determination pays off, and her success is one worth sharing to young ladies. For this reason, she has been featured as this issue’s Woman of the Month. 

Coco Chanel is the epitome of high fashion who pioneered visionary designs and a liberated mindset for women of her time. She had a free spirit of determination to overcome obstacles thrown at her. Despite the fame and fortune inspired by her today, many may not know that Coco Chanel was actually born into a hard life of poverty. She was born to an unmarried mother, Eugénie Jeanne Devolle who worked as a laundrywoman in a charity hospital. Throughout her early years, Chanel and her family lived crowded in a one-room lodging which she would recall as ‘not the comfiest’. 

Chanel struggled even more at the age of 11 when her mother died of bronchitis. Because of this, she was sent out to the Corrèze in central France, to the convent of Aubazine, along with her two sisters. Their new home was founded to care for the poor, rejected, abandoned and orphaned girls. It was a stark, challenging life, but Chanel kept herself motivated to work hard nevertheless. “Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable”. During her six years in Aubazine, Chanel learned the art of sewing which later on sparked her passion for making clothing. However, she did not get her big break so easily and instantly. Chanel juggled her work as a cafe performer, seamstress and a singer in her early adulthood before blossoming into an iconic woman as we know her today.

Once Coco had established herself and got more well known, she started making hats, - many of which were different and ahead of her time. She later moved on to casual wear influenced by the ordinary fashion of sailors and the working class citizens. Coco had established many of the fashion world’s iconic designs, including the Chanel Suit, Little Black Dress, the designer Chanel Bag and the perennial favourite, Chanel No.5 perfume. “Fashion is architecture; it is a matter of proportions”. Chanel expressed her passion for elegance onto clothing, making it easier for all to obtain this style. “Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future”. She changed the world of fashion with her creative and bold designs, proving to everyone that being different is beautiful. 

Of course, some drama revolved around her with many romantic liaisons, yet still she was a true lady of her time, navigating the subtle nuances of a man’s world. Her love and effort in her work made her stand out in the best ways possible. Up to this day, her legacy continues on as Coco Chanel, the high fashion brand. She has become the hallmark of understated elegance of an underprivileged beginning for all women.

Viva la Coco!