The DARK TRUTH about Coco Chanel: How She Really Built Her Fashion Empire

[@adeladevere2013]

It's hard not to judge her for the things she did, but who knows what struggles she went through and it wasn't my life to live.

[@finn3237]

So, you want to give her a pass for being naturally horrid? Whatevs

[@savvyblueberry]

Thank you for your comment! What aspect of Coco Chanel's life intrigued you the most?

[@finn3237]

@@savvyblueberry You deleted my comments. I hope I never see another one of your videos in my feed.

[@savvyblueberry]

Hello @finn3237, I do not delete comments. It was probably deleted by KZbin. Your comment dating back to 2 weeks ago is still there.

[@lapislazuli7876]

I wish people would do their research. Jackie Kennedy’s raspberry bouclé suit was not a Chanel. It was a Chez Ninon line-by-line design made from the fabric, trim and buttons of Chanel collections based on an approved custom service but was assembled in America. So it’s a “Chanel” in terms of the design and fabrication but not strictly speaking a true Chanel, made in France. The First Lady couldn’t be seen to be wearing French fashions in public. She had to wear American designs. Oleg Cassini designed most of her wardrobe, otherwise. So much of what Jackie wore was like stage clothes: various adapted designs based on European collections and reinterpreted for her as an American First Lady by Oleg Cassini or Chez Ninon. It’s what gave her clothes a certain reduced simplicity and chic, and made them rather like fashion drawings.

[@savvyblueberry]

You are absolutely right! Jackie Kennedy's iconic raspberry bouclé suit was indeed a Chez Ninon line-by-line design, not a true Chanel. It's fascinating how her wardrobe was carefully curated to balance American and European influences. What aspect of Chanel's life or career do you find most intriguing or surprising?

[@lapislazuli7876]

@@savvyblueberry nothing surprises me or shocks me about Chanel because I have followed her since my early teens a long time ago, and I tend to accept history as it unfolded and I don’t agree with how millenials and Z’ers now want to cancel people. People are what they are and history judges them. I may not agree with what Chanel did - how she had an affair with Schellenburg (SS officer) - that is scandalous and she shouldn’t have done that and it was so bad and wrong - but in terms of her actual fashion, as opposed to her personal life: I personally really love the relaxed tweed suiting that she did even in the 50s - which the French hated but I like them. I just find them very chic because they had a modernity to them which was the opposite of what Dior was doing at the time. The drapey soft cardigan jackets with their silk linings and classic skirts to me are the epitome of the Chanel style. I’m not a big fan of her little black dresses because I think that she was trying to get revenge on high society by designing them and in effect what every woman wears now is that: those depressing servant’s dresses in black. They’re uniforms and they both democratised and oppressed women at the same time… weirdly. Because it made everyone the same. But just because they were so successful doesn’t mean I have to like them. She kind of ruined fashion in that respect in that now everyone wears black dresses and they’re rather sad and depressing. Black was traditionally reserved for death and mourning but Chanel depressingly forced women to be in permanent mourning just because she was: over the death of Boy Capel. She was mean and narcissistic that way. But her soft tweed men’s inspired “tailleurs” with their coordinating blouses and costume jewellery remain one of the wonders of modern fashion. The whole construction: the high, tight, long sleeve, the cardigan front, the military buttons, the artisanally-produced brands and froggings, the way they make woman look elegant and lady-like yet not fussy or prissy, they are eternally chic. Even though sometimes they can be a bit dowdy if worn incorrectly, but the essence of them, especially when in white or out balcony trim - is truly magnificent. Somehow Coco’s tweed reads as jersey on a catwalk: she made those bouclés look soft and drapey and not hard or boiled.

[@kathieswan3830]

I shall never again wear a Chanel product. What a sad, wicked woman.

[@savvyblueberry]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Coco Chanel's life and career certainly evoke strong emotions. Out of curiosity, which aspect of her story do you find most surprising?

[@lapislazuli7876]

@@kathieswan3830 listen honey; you have to get over yourself! Yes … she was wicked for having an affair with schellenburg, but her genius was undeniable. If you have that attitude then you’d better not drive a Ford car, listen to any Michael Jackson music, or PDiddy, or Kanye West, never again watch Ellen Degenres on TV, or buy anything luxury ever again. Most of the products and services of this world are designed and owned by wicked, greedy, racist, sexist, evil people who did bad things. No point in being holier-then-thou or you’ll be a miserable wretch. Buy or don’t but, no one cares, but just don’t be a holier-than-thou hypocrite. You’re probably wearing something right now - as I type - that was designed by someone greedy, immoral or downright wicked.