The fashionable personal universe of Gabrielle Chanel was timeless. Her iconic style was one that can be considered simple, minimalistic, and devotees continue to emulate her personal choices in fashion today.

There are many varied stories about Chanel’s early life (stories that she often fabricated herself), abandoned by her father, raised in an orphanage run by nuns, inspired by their simple black and white habits, singer in a nightclub earning her nickname “Coco”, her first shop “Chanel Modes” at 21 rue Cambone selling fashionable ladies hats, the list goes on and the stories are great.  The woman herself never told the same story twice, but what we do know is that she was always true to her own unique style.

The 2009 movie, “Coco, before Chanel” starring Audrey Tautou is an entertaining look into her early life.

Chanel named her inspiration for the “Little Black Dress” the Ford in an advertisement for a 1926 issue of Vogue magazine.  She declared that just as every family needed a Model T Ford, every woman needed a little black dress! Since 1926 the designs of Chanel’s LBD have varied, adapting to the styles and trends of the decades, and is still a fashion staple today! And just like the Model-T, where we all depend on cars for transportation, we all can depend on a LBD to outfit us properly for any occasion.

Chanel’s Little Black Dress in Paris!

The newly renamed Palais Galliera in Paris is one of the latest fashion museums dedicated to showing the history of fashion from various designer’s perspectives.  Celebrating their first exhibit, “The Chanel Manifesto” the museum showcases mementos from every stage of the designers life.  

Palais Galliera in Paris