“Less is better, simple & clean is more to win!”
Have you ever thought about what is your clothing say about you? They might be contemplating that they are in the unhappy state or might be arguing why you put that shirt with not matching pants or skirt. I believe that if you think of the ways to make your clothing happy and content, you can probably find the way to your own sense of style.
I tend to stick to my own quote which is "less is better, simple & clean is more to win!". What I mean by that is that simple black dress might be definitely a "winning look" among other pieces in my closet. It is easy to create a "clothing mess" but not easy to pull off the look of that "little black dress" like Coco Chanel once said. Nothing can replace simple black dress and it will never go out of style. I think Angelina Jolie will agree with me since she has worn this beautiful black gown which has a resemblance to Madame Gautreau's "Madame X" in her portrait by American painter John Singer Sargent.
My Introduction to Coco Chanel
Just to start, I want to talk a little bit about myself. I have developed my sense of style mainly from my mother who is an extreme devotee of Coco Chanel and her successor Karl Lagerfeld. She introduced me to the world of classic handbags, CC jewelry and extraordinary clothing patterns & designs of her tailored suits. How can we forget about Coco Chanel’s “little black dress” & what it meant for the world of couture fashion. My first Chanel introduction was a small black quilted pouch which was given to me at the age of 16. To this day, I wear it as an evening bag, how can you beat that!
In my opinion, every individual has an idea of what they like to buy, what fits them best, what is on their list of ‘must haves of the season” regardless of the current fashions but we should all agree, there are some classic pieces in your closet that are priceless, chic & irreplaceable. I always thought that classic, simple look will beat the trendy & so-called “quick departure” style of the season. That is why keeping that “black dress” in your closet and mixing it up with seasonal fashions can be a “win/win” situation for your daily wardrobe.
If you look in your closet, do you consider yourself a classy/chic, funky/casual or more sexy/outbeat? What makes you choose the clothes that you do, did you ever think of that? I believe its the influence that you get from the surroundings and the people that are close to you... Who or what do you think was influence on your fashion sense? Who was your fashion guru? Please share it with us.
Biography of The One & Only Coco Chanel
Brief Biography of Coco Chanel
From her first millinery shop, opened in 1912, to the 1920s, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel rose to become one of the premier fashion designers in Paris, France. Replacing the corset with comfort and casual elegance, her fashion themes included simple suits and dresses, women's trousers, costume jewelry, perfume and textiles.
Coco Chanel claimed a birthdate of 1893 and a birthplace of Auvergne; she was actually born in 1883 in Saumur. According to her version of her life story, her mother worked in the poorhouse where Gabrielle was born, and died when Gabrielle was only six, leaving her father with five children whom he promptly abandoned to the care of relatives.
She adopted the name Coco during a brief career as a cafe and concert singer 1905-1908. First a mistress of a wealthy military officer then of an English industrialist, Coco Chanel drew on the resources of these patrons in setting up a millinery shop in Paris in 1910, expanding to Deauville and Biarritz. The two men also helped her find customers among women of society, and her simple hats became popular.
Soon Coco Chanel was expanding to couture, working in jersey, a first in the French fashion world. By the 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably, and her chemise set a fashion trend with its "little boy" look. Her relaxed fashions, short skirts, and casual look were in sharp contrast to the corset fashions popular in the previous decades. Chanel herself dressed in mannish clothes, and adapted these more comfortable fashions which other women also found liberating.
In 1922 Coco Chanel introduced a perfume, Chanel No. 5, which became and remained popular, and remains a profitable product of Chanel's company. Pierre Wertheimer became her partner in the perfume business in 1924, and perhaps also her lover. Wertheimer owned 70% of the company; Coco Chanel received 10% and her friend Bader 20%. The Wertheimers continue to control the perfume company today.
Coco Chanel introduced her signature cardigan jacket in 1925 and signature "little black dress" in 1926. Most of her fashions had a staying power, and didn't change much from year to year -- or even generation to generation.
Coco Chanel briefly served as a nurse in World War I. Nazi occupation meant the fashion business in Paris was cut off for some years; Chanel's affair during World War II with a Nazi officer also resulted in some years of diminished popularity and an exile of sorts to Switzerland. In 1954 her comeback restored her to the first ranks of haute couture. Her natural, casual clothing including the Chanel suit once again caught the eye -- and purses -- of women. She introduced pea jackets and bell bottom pants for women. She was still working in 1971 when she died. Karl Lagerfeld has been chief designer of Chanel's fashion house since 1983.
In addition to her work with high fashion, Coco Chanel also designed stage costumes for such plays as Cocteau's Antigone (1923) and Oedipus Rex (1937) and film costumes for several movies, including Renoir's La Regle de Jeu. Katharine Hepburn starred in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco based on the life of Coco Chanel.
