Coco Chanel

by Zena Alkayat, Nina Cosford (Illustrator)

Gabrielle Coco Chanel's signature style and revolutionary approach to design changed women's fashion forever. Featuring handwritten text paired with sweet illustrations this ebook sheds new light on the woman behind some of the last century's most iconic designs--from her impoverished childhood in an orphanage to her dreams of becoming a singer and her tumultuous love affairs with Europe's elite. Brimming with excerpts from Chanel's own letters and diaries, these pages reveal the passion and vision of one of the most celebrated fashion designers of all time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Fashion, Biography Memoir, Graphic Novels, Picture Books, History

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

Zena Alkayat is a journalist, author, and editor based in London.

Reviews

[Katya]

A pequeníssima série Library of Luminaries conta com quatro títulos de encher o olho, quatro biografias desafetadas e elegantes de quatro mulheres realmente espantosas: Woolf, Austen, Chanel e Kahlo.
Direcionadas para um público mais jovem (e, dada a delicadeza das edições, arriscaria feminino), as quatro acabam por formar uma série organizada de forma quase orgânica, mais pela atratividade de as verter em modelos de uma feminilidade rebelde do que por qualquer outra lógica de agrupamento. Mesmo assim, vão fazendo sentido no seu alinhamento. E a vez de Coco Chanel não desapontou.
Sublinhando a origem humilde de Coco (então ainda Gabrielle) a biografia abre com a sua orfandade de mãe e o seu abandono pelo pai:

Gabrielle's young brothers were given to a peasant family to provide farm labor in return for basic keep.
Gabrielle and her two sisters were sent to a convent orphanage in the rural village of Aubazine.

Criada num convento, Gabrielle liberta-se ao fazer 18 anos. A partir daí conhece uma série de métiers, trabalhando num alfaiate e em lojas de tecidos. Com uma personalidade calorosa e efusiva, junta-se aos palcos de Moulin (uma espécie de casa de variedades, como o afamado Moulin Rouge) onde preenche o tempo morto entre as atuações de dançarinas e cantoras pagas, e onde, segundo reza a lenda:

She would sing revue standards 'Ko ko ri ko' and 'Qui qu'a vu Coco?' According to legend, the name "Coco'' stuck.

As suas liaisons levam-na daí a mundos mais aristocráticos onde Coco se destaca pela figura de maria-rapaz e pelos cortes de roupa simples. Não tarda, estará a capitalizar a sua diferença. Com a instalação de um atelier no apartamento cedido por um amante, começava a sua vida de costureira das celebridades. Entre vários desgostos sentimentais (um deles, verdadeiramente sentido), a custódia do sobrinho e a morte da irmã, a ascensão de Coco Chanel é surpreendente. Funcional, elegante e minimalista, o seu estilo descomprometido agradou:

"Over-embellishment had stifled the body's architecture.''

Depois disto, o resto é história:

Coco went on to fund Sergei Diaghilev's revival of "The rite of spring'' by the radical Ballets Russes in 1920.
She also designed costumes for Jean Cocteau's play "Antigone'' (1922) and the ballet "Le train bleu'' (1924).



Com uma vida social invejável, Coco viveu, durante décadas, o papel de socialite, ocultando, na realidade, uma faceta desligada do mundo dos ricos e famosos:

Alone at night, she would inject a morphine sedative to help her sleep.

Ainda assim, seguir-se-iam décadas de sucesso: dos vestidos ao perfume, Chanel era uma mulher imparável. A sua vida decorria entre salões, cafés, e retiros de caça (onde, ao lado de Churchill e do Duque de Westminster) se inspirava para futuras coleções.
A sua postura ambígua durante a ocupação na Segunda Guerra Mundial não lhe granjeou muitos amigos, mas, mesmo a isto, Chanel sobreviveu, continuando a trabalhar apesar da artrite e do reumatismo que, perto dos oitenta anos, já a começavam a molestar.

On January 10, 1971, Coco complained of feeling suffocated as she lay on her bed. Her maid helped her inject her last vial of morphine. She was eighty-seven.

Funcional, elegante e minimalista, como o estilo de Coco Chanel, esta biografia é outra bem conseguida leitura do que é a vida de uma mulher impressionante, destilada q.b para um público (possivelmente) mais sensível a uma vida cheia de associações amorosas, ligações com elementos nazi e substâncias aditivas. No entanto, em vez de optar pelo branqueamento, Zena Alkayat opta por usar da sensibilidade ao abordar estas questões, tornando-as, ao mesmo tempo, elementos cruciais da biografia, sim, mas livres de julgamentos de valor - uma abordagem não muitas vezes tomada em literatura, para jovens ou não. Que interessante deverá ser debater um destes livros com o seu público-alvo!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

''I'm not a heroine. But I have chosen the person I wanted to be.'' Coco Chanel

Heartbreaking to start with. But yes, life changed after all the drill. And she made it big.
She searched for fame and fortune; life was and was not kind to her. She chose her own life.
Amazingly written and illustrated.

[Prashasti · Rating 5 out of 5]

''I'm not a heroine. But I have chosen the person I wanted to be.''

Tragic, inspiring, and raw! It's more of a summarization than a biography, nevertheless a truly astonishing read...strange how, I have always admired her as the Fashion Designer Coco Chanel, producer of Chanel brand, and the inventor of Chanel No. 5, but I knew nothing about her life. I have always wanted to read Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life and this book just acted as a precursor.

Off to read the next book in the row!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A minimalistic biography of Gabrielle Chanel, beautifully crafted, witty, concise, elegant, just like Coco.

[R.K. Ryde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I loved how it was written so simply, yet covered Chanel's life. The artwork was gorgeous and together with the text, it makes the perfect little book. Excellent for a gift or just to keep as a collectable.

[Sabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved getting to know about the Fashion Legend. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Flybyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I lived a modern life, I shared the habits, the tastes and the needs of those whom I dressed.”

One of the unique examples of the Life Portrait series introduces us to Coco Chanel, an inspirational fashion diva whose unconventional business and personal life still strike attention. This little series of books filled with elegant and colorful drawings is a great way to acquaint your children with important figures, including Frida Kahlo, Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf. This well-prepared, adequately detailed, interesting biography series will surely spark light and inspiration for youngsters.

[fer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprei por causa da artista que ilustrou (Nina Cosford) pq gosto muito do trabalho dela. O livro é curtinho e as ilustraçoes sao mt fofas

[xenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

rags-to-riches "feminist" entrepreneur turns her back on her class to hang out with artists, imperialists, and nazis

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Library of Luminaries is a charming series of small, illustrated biographies of artistic women including Jane Austen, Virginia Wolff and Frida Kahlo, as well as this volume on Coco Chanel. In brief and succinct prose, along with whimsical illustrations, Mlle Chanel's life is told and her accomplishments rendered. This would make a great little gift for a fashion conscious friend and can be read in less than an hour. I received a copy of this book from the Library Thing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an hones review.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This concise biography of Coco Chanel is a good introduction to the life of the famous designer. It gives basic facts, but doesn’t have the depth of some of the other biographies of Coco Chanel. However, it’s still an interesting read.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 5 out of 5]

This unique illustrated biography of Coco Chanel, tells of her new ideas in fashion in 1914. Her childhood and dreams of singing in public, plus many love affairs of the European elite.
She was one of the mot celebrated clothing designers.

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and highly recommend the Library of Luminaries series of graphic biographies. Like the others, a quick informative read. This little nugget shares many stories about Coco Charnel, and successfully places her influence within the changing context of the many eras she lived in-- e.g. Belle Époque, WWI, WWII, and post war periods.

[María Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con este libro acabo la colección. Lo compré el último porque era el personaje que menos me llamaba de los cuatro, pero sigue siendo un libro muy bonito con muchos datos (los dos que no están confirmados están marcados como rumores o leyendas) como el resto de compañeros de la colección. La vida de Coco Chanel es bastante deprimente, pero me gustó cómo va hilando su vida con lo que va diseñando.

[Laure]

Een fijn, lief boekje met vooral prachtige illustraties!

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful quick read with lovely illustrations that really does tell you a great deal about Coco Chanel and her life in a very short story I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it very interesting

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute. The illustrations are delightful. Super quick read.

[Karine Mon coin lecture · Rating 4 out of 5]

MAgnifique objet-livre!
http://moncoinlecture.com/2017/05/coc...

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and fascinating glimpse into the life of Coco Chanel, especially for those not familiar with her life or work. Hopefully this book will inspire unfamiliar readers to explore a longer biography that expands on her many loves (human and aesthetic), and to view her fashions that sought to free the female figure from tight hourglass figures and the trappings of costume. The illustrations are appealing, but the lack of any photographs whatsoever strikes me as an odd choice for a book, however brief, that focuses on such an icon of fashion.

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know much about this woman, and the little I knew were phrases that I considered unethical...
Reading her story, I realize how much we are wrong judging without knowing!
Reading about her has inspired me as a woman; strong, fighter, and with discipline for what she wanted.
Just another amazing woman of our story.

Easy to read you can read It in One hour!

Now I want to read more about she so bad !! 😍

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exquisite small in format with brief biographical facts about Coco Channel. The overall artistic design of the book is so appropriate as Coco was a renowned designer. The type of item one might display in their dressing area.

[disastrino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated, the life of Coco becomes even more of a piece of rare art.

[Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, but more importantly, beautiful, this would make an excellent present.

[tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many interesting things I didn't know about Coco's life. This book is so charming, just as it should be.

[Bonnie Lambourn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see this as a gift book, designed to take advantage of the interest in Coco Chanel, that offers a quick overview into the life she led with highlights. I read this book in less than 15 minutes. Not quite an art book, definitely not a graphic novel It is small format, hard back, uses a font that looks handwritten, easy to be read size, although most is in all caps, which might throw certain readers at first. There are illustrations to capture the feel of her life mostly in vignettes, but also full pages of "text as art".I was not impressed with the writing style, it feels like a list of facts, a sub-reporting from prior writers. The art is appropriate to the style but did not move me - very design oriented. I assume the intention of design for a book on a designer was intentional. However, there are details of her life in this book that are awful, and while in themselves they hit some high point, are shock level perhaps for some few, it was difficult to feel for the person Coco here except to leave one wondering... a sadness for the hidden woman hinted about. Hence the 3, not a 2.

If you are an adult, you can stop reading here. But if you are thinking of sharing this with a younger person, some as young as 12 might be okay with the details in this book... but I'd read it first and know the reader well. This is NOT the book to quite inspire a young person who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Although parts of her life were very inspiring, like many famous figures the tale herein includes infidelity, tragic events, multiple affairs, hints of sadness, depression, and use of drugs.

If you are seeking an inspirational book for a younger person, I recommend he picture book ALONG CAME COCO by Eva Byrne.

[Lady Riviera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and simple biography. As someone who admires Coco Chanel, I really enjoyed learning more about her life through this beautifully illustrated book. The facts are presented in a clear and accessible way, with a note at the end acknowledging which parts may lean more into belief or legend—which I appreciated.

The illustrations are charming, and the quotes included are genuinely inspiring. It’s a lovely little read, especially for fans of Chanel or those looking for an easy introduction to her life and philosophy.

[Dragana J.]

Simpatična knjižica sa puno predivnih ilustarcija.

'I would say to myself over and over, money is the key to freedom.'
Coco Chanel

[Dewi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seri biografi dengan ilustrasi dari Zena Alkayat nampak seperti buku anak-anak, namun sebetulnya materi buku-buku ini tidak cocok untuk anak. Cuma biografi Jane Austen saja yg nampak ramah anak, selain itu biografi Frida Kahlo dan Coco Channel penuh dengan hidup yang ruwet (dan tak lazim).
Sekali lagi pembaca disuguhi ilustrasi Nina Cosford yang memanjakan mata.

[Maude · Rating 5 out of 5]

magnifique... j'ai tout aimé; le format, les illustrations, le choix de la police d'écriture et bien évidemment le propos du livre. bien que bref, le livre décrit la vie de la couturière d'une façon accrocheuse... toute la collection de portraits de zena et nina est réservée.

[Alisa Cupcakeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of books is just too good, sadly I have only one left to read now. I feel like I want to know more about Coco Chanel now, and I deeply appreciate that the author admitted which episodes of Coco's biography are still unclear.