Rags to Riches

Apr 8

Fashion has shaped so much of the world, and created so much art that satisfies the eye. The designer behind each piece of fabric is the mastermind of every piece of clothing that they create. Each detail is a part of their beautiful story that shines through their work. Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel is one of these magnificent designers who chose to create and recreate and share and express herself through fashion. Born in Saumur, France in 1883, Gabrielle did not grow up with the expected lifestyle of a wealthy and glamorous fashion designer.

Her father was a peddler, and after her mother’s death, she was placed in an orphanage. As sad as it was that this twelve-year-old girl was placed here, it was the spark that ignited her future career in clothes design. She was raised by nuns who took the time to teach her how to sew. She had different occupations as she went about life, such as being a singer in various clubs in France. She got her name, “Coco” when she performed at these clubs, as it is a shortened version of “kept woman” in French.

Coco went on to date men and she got older, and wealthy men at that. She opened her first shop in 1910, where she started out by selling hats. She eventually began adding stores in Deauville and Biarritz and this is where she began making clothes. One of her first-ever creations was a dress that she made out of an old jersey on a cold day. Many people asked about where she got the dress, and she was able to tell them that she had made it herself. Once she said, “My fortune is built on that old jersey that I’d put on because it was cold in Deauville.” This was a memorable moment in her fashion career because people started to notice her work

and they liked it.

She became a very well-known person throughout the literary and artistic worlds, and this was because she designed costumes for plays and was friends with Pablo Picasso himself. Having connections is always a perfect way to be seen. In the 1920s, Coco launched her very first perfume. This was named, “Chanel No. 5,” which was brilliant because it featured her name. Many others backed her on this and sold her perfume throughout their stores. This only brought her more clientele and spread her name further into the fashion industry.

In 1925, Coco showed the world one of her most iconic designs- The legendary Chanel suit with no collar and well-fitted skirt. Women loved her design because majority of women’s fashion during this time was very restricting. This gave women a sense of freedom. Another design Coco gave to the people in the 1920s, was the little black dress. Black was originally geared more toward gloom and grief. Coco showed everyone that you could wear blackout for the evening without associating it with something tragic.

Eventually, the outbreak of World War ll forced Coco to shut down her shops. She decided to settle down in one of her old homes for a while. When she turned seventy years old, she came back to the fashion world. While some were her greatest critics, she continued to create and design. People saw her in her work, and began to love her designs just as they once had.

Coco was not born into wealth or fame, but she worked hard to create her own. Her life shows us how dedication and ambition can take you as far as you allow it to. Her story goes against the idea that you have to be given something to achieve anything. She grew up without her mother, without her father, and without any title to her name. She had to meet people, step outside of her comfort zone, and learn to take risks that would eventually put her name in

fashion history. The Chanel brand sells so many beautiful and luxurious items to this day, and we would not have it without Coco Chanel.

Let this be a testament to anyone who wants to chase their dreams, but is starting out with very little. A 12-year-old orphan turned some fabric into one of the most well-known clothing brands. She once said, “Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” Coco Chanel will forever be one of the greatest designers not only because of her creations but because of all that it took for her to create them.

Strike Out.

Written by: Jade Pierce

Edited by: Jane Dodge

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