Reading Reflection No. 3

Assignment 27A

The reading I decided to do for this final reflection is Coco Chanel by Lisa Chaney. I chose this as the very last reading because I wanted to make my final one the most enjoyable and most fun to read, considering I know a lot about Coco Chanel's story and the history of the brand. I have always been into designer fashion, and Chanel has remained as one of the most luxurious and high-end brands in the designer market for years. There have been many documentaries detailing her life and tremulous past, and every one I have watched have been equaling as inspiring as they were motivating. She is continuously admired for her iconic stand in the fashion world, and the brand continues to set forth the pavement for fashion. After reading the book, a few things did surprise me. First, it was her unconventional upbringing. Her mother passed away when she was only 12 years old, and she lived at an orphanage for girls until she was 18 years old. This helped forge her into the powerful and headstrong woman that she is today Another thing that surprised me is that she told the story of her past in more glamorous ways, which took away from the true struggles she endured. I admire her for wanting to be recognized for more than just her past, but for her talent as well. Like mentioned previously, she certainly encountered adversity, primarily through her mother passing and her being placed in an orphanage, where she was severely disciplined.

In order to become successful, Chanel (Chasnel) had to jump over many obstacles that can still be observed today. For example, she had to break the gender gap in fashion and introduced a fluid approach to gendered fashion. This allowed her to stand out among the rest, and therefore permitted her to step foot into the arduous industry of fashion.

Something I disliked heavily about the book was the author's inclusion of Chanel's affairs. Although the book was recounting much of her life, the inclusion of such events in her life seemed rather unnecessary, as it had the potential to put her in a negative life professionally. In the fashion industry, reputation is everything, and a tainted mark on one's journey can severely hurt an artist.

My two questions for Coco Chanel are:

If you were alive today and able to see the magnum differences in fashion, what would you criticize about it?

What other factors (beside war, sailor attire, etc.) fueled your designs?

I believe Coco Chanel was able to take a horrible situation (especially with war) and turned it into a story of her own, ultimately creating a world of her that she could manage and control, since as a little girl she lacked so little control of her situation.