The Real Coco Chanel

by Rose Sgueglia

Overview

The true story behind one of the biggest names in women's fashion.

Coco Chanel lived her life as a romantic heroine.

Fuelled by nineteenth century literature, she built a life that was part myth, part fact.

She was the fashion designer everyone admired. The business woman whose fortunes were impossible to track. She was a performer and the lover of many high profile intellectuals. She was also believed, by many, to have been a Nazi spy.

Her life was impacted heavily by history; the Second World War left an indelible trace. She was also greatly influenced by symbolism and literature, both huge sources of inspiration.

This biography explores the course of her life, from her troubled and poverty stricken upbringing to the opening of her first hat shop. We discover Coco's passions and secrets, uncovering the myths and the facts of her life and examining how they match up, if at all.

There are chapters focussing on the Chanel Maison and the creation of her iconic trademark, as well as her ‘little black dress’ and ‘Chanel No 5’. Three exclusive interviews with individuals who have known Coco and researched her life also feature.

Finally, the biography ends with a reflection on how the myth and legacy of Coco Chanel is represented today in pop culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526761026
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	07/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	184
Sales rank:	595,809
File size:	21 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Rose Sgueglia is a writer and marketing consultant based in Cardiff. She is founder and director of Miss Squiggles, a magazine, marketing agency and online shop. As part of her role at Miss Squiggles, she works with clients on their social media, digital marketing and PR strategies.

Rose is, also, a freelance journalist. Her work has been published in different publications including GQ, La Repubblica, and Yahoo. She holds a BA in Journalism, Film and Media and a Post Graduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Coco Chanel, the Romantic Heroine 1

Chapter 2 Chanel, the Orphan 4

Chapter 3 Coco Chanel 17

Chapter 4 Coco, the Woman 34

Chapter 5 Coco, the Designer 51

Chapter 6 Coco, the Lover 57

Chapter 7 Coco, the Spy 75

Chapter 8 Coco, the Friend 82

Interview: Coco and Gabriella Belli 109

Interview: Coco and Jeffie Pike Durham 113

Chapter 9 Coco, the Only One 113

Chapter 10 Coco, the End 127

Chapter 11 Coco, the Icon, the Rebel, the Myth 139

Interview: Coco and David Lubin 156

Bibliography 164