Coco Chanel the legend…

Glo Fashion Accessories specializes in handcrafted custom jewelry. Historically, it wasn’t always acceptable to wear this type of jewelry. Gabrielle Chanel, also known as “Coco” Chanel, was the one that replaced the expensive jewelry that only a few could afford, for more affordable accessories that every women could have. This is the inspiring biography of a woman who transformed the fashion world, and eventually became a legend.

Gabrielle Channel, Also known as “Coco” Chanel was born the 19th of August 1883, in Sammur, France. Her mother worked in the poorhouse where Coco was born and died when she was only six. His father was left with five children and eventually abandoned them.

It was in 1910 that Coco opened her first store in the basement of an apartment that was frequented by the Parisian elite. At this time she only sold hats. There Coco started networking and soon met Arthur “boy” Capel who saw a business woman in her and helped her acquire her new location at 31 Rue de Cambon. He was Channel’s real love. He died in a car accident in 1919. Eventually, she also expanded to Biarritz in 1913.

It was between 1909 and 1920 that Chanel become one of the premier fashion designers in Paris. She detested the uncomfortable elaborate fashion that women wore at the time, so she decided to get rid of the corset and use more comfortable fabrics like jersey. Her fashion themes included simple suits and dresses, women's trousers, costume jewelry, perfume and textiles

In 1922 Chanel introduced a perfume, Chanel No. 5. In 1925 she introduced her signature cardigan jacket and signature "little black dress" in 1926.

During World War I Chanel designed nurse uniforms. When World War II began in 1939, Coco Chanel retired and moved into the Hôtel Ritz Paris with her new lover, Nazi officer Hans Gunther von Dincklage. Only her perfumes and accessories were sold in her existing boutiques.

Coco was arrested immediately after the liberation of France and charged with abetting the Germans, but Churchill intervened on her behalf and she was released. The French despised any person who had been associated with helping the Germans during the invasion, so Coco was without a doubt was a target after living in the Ritz with her German lover. She eventually decided to move to Switzerland.

Chanel returned to Paris in 1953 to find that fashion designer Christian Dior now dominated the couture market. Chanel re-introduced the "Chanel suit"and introduced the Chanel chain handled quilted leather handbags in February 1957, and her first eau de toilette for men, Pour Monsieur. Chanel and her spring collection received the Fashion Oscar at the 1957 Fashion Awards in Dallas. Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel died on January 10, 1971 at the age of 87. She was still "designing, still working" at the time of her death

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