Entertainment | 08/18/2009 11:00 pm

Remembering Coco Chanel (Photos)

Through the lens of legendary photographer Douglas Kirkland, we remember the iconic fashionista.

Photo Essay

On August 19, 1883, one of the most influential fashion designers of all time was born: Coco Chanel. The French career woman is perhaps best remembered for her classically inspired and feminine styles. From pantsuits to little black dresses, Chanel’s visions continue to inspire the looks of today. Flip through this slide show to enjoy old photographs of Chanel that were shot by famous photographer Douglas Kirkland in Paris in 1962. These images and more are published in the new book Coco Chanel: Three Weeks/1962, of Glitterati Incorporated.

Read more about: Books, Coco Chanel, Douglas Kirkland, Entertainment, Fashion, Style, Travel

21 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

It is true. You may be less than beautiful, but if you know fashion, you will look "striking," which is better, and much more memorable.

By Laura Ward on 08/19/2009 12:30 am

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Back in ‘85 my boyfriend went to England. He brought me Coco Chanel perfume back as a gift and I’ve been wearing it ever since!

By Rain in Minneapolis on 08/19/2009 1:00 am

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Coco Chanel’s statement that "Simplicity is the keynote of all elegance" is true. Her styles enhanced women for decades. Women could wear her clothes with comfort.

By Chris Glass` on 08/19/2009 8:09 am

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Enjoyed the pics yet wonder why you’d include the one with the cigarette hanging from her mouth while adjusting a model’s outfit….not terribly elegant.

By Sarah Powers on 08/19/2009 9:22 am

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She was of an era when smoking was not only a sign of being liberated but also a sign of being terribly elegant. But Coco Chanel had a "common" side and that always, it seems, came out during the shows and I believe there are quite a few of these photos of her with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth while she adjusted an outfit. The habit of a seamstress. Pins and cigarettes simply were more convenient hanging out of the mouth. Apart from that, well, she was elegant. And always will be the symbol of elegance. Far more than anyone else.

By Baby Snooks on 08/19/2009 9:38 am

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Loved seeing these iconic photos of one of fashion’s true icons. Chanel liberated women from so many restrictive fashions that forced their bodies into shapes and angles nature never intended. She made it not only permissable for women to move freely, wear clothing that enhanced their figures, and allowed them to get out into the world less encumbered - she made it chic to do so!

Now her personal life - - - well, that was even more interesting, if possible. The "accommodations" she made after the invasion and occupation of Paris in WWII were exactly the same as those that got a lot of women of France a public humiliation in the town square: head shaved, often stripped naked, and sent away in disgrace for being a "horizontal collaborationist". Sleeping with the enemy allowed Chanel her ability to stay in business and keep her atelier going. But it also led to a self-imposed exile in Switzerland for a number of years post-war, most likely because she knew that her reputation was deeply sullied. When she came back to Paris in the mid-‘50’s and opened the business again, it was mostly the Brits and the Americans who came to her, while the French were more circumspect. Yes … an interesting life.

But what an amazing designer, as Herr Lagerfeld will attest as he carries on her tradition in his own inimitable style.

By Susan Crawford on 08/19/2009 1:40 pm

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Lagerfeld has the ego of Chanel but unfortunately not the elegance. But then, who could? There was only one Chanel.

By Baby Snooks on 08/19/2009 2:01 pm

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Susan Crawford

Are you actually saying that Coco Chanel was a Nazi sympathizer, who sold her soul and body for a few pieces of silver to remain in business? Shocking!

By L. C. on 08/19/2009 5:21 pm

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There were a few men in her life who ponied up money, power and prestige for her, and yes, there was a high-ranking Nazi officer involved. There was a wealthy French playboy named Balsan, a British fellow named "Boy" Capel, and probably others as well. The German officer was Hans von Dincklage. La Coco was a VERY determined woman, indeed. She was a survivor - at any cost. She came up the hard way - dropped unceremoniously at an orphanage; taught to sew; scrounged and clawed at life in every way she could to keep herself fed as a young woman (and often failed to stave off hunger); but she had a vision and she had the drive to achieve it. It’s hard for me to reconcile that genius with the willingness to throw in her lot with the enemy during wartime while so many others lost everything (except maybe their scruples?) and were driven out of house, home and business during the Nazi occupation. Well - - - I guess no-one ever promised that life would be uncomplicated, eh? Shocking? Mais oui. Simple? Jamais! Not where Chanel was concerned.

By Susan Crawford on 08/19/2009 6:40 pm

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I share your sentiments Susan Crawford.

It appears she was concerned only with her survival and to "Hell" with the millions of Jewish, Gypsies, Handicapped and Homosexuals who perished. Her clothing are stained with their blood.

Millions of people murdered, tortured and families destroyed by the Nazi’s.I find it appalling that Coco Chanel the Nazi Sympathizer is celebrated on this website.

I guess for some Fashion trumps Human Life !

By L. C. on 08/20/2009 3:39 am

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It appears she was concerned only with her survival and to "Hell" with the millions of Jewish, Gypsies, Handicapped and Homosexuals who perished. Her clothng are stained with their blood.

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It is a stain carried by many in different ways. Our government did nothing in the beginning. Many in fact supported Hitler. If it makes you feel better to single out Coco Chanel then by all means do. But do not forget that she was not alone in her desire to survive or in her blindness to the reality of Nazi Germany.

By Baby Snooks on 08/31/2009 11:54 am

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Madam Chanel would be in a state of stock if she came back from the grave to see what that wantabe Michael Jackson gloves and all did to her style. One should improve with time, not turn it into a circus. I must give credit where credit is due, Lagerfeld did make some lovely gowns.

By Rose Everett on 08/19/2009 5:03 pm

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Linguists always have fun with madam versus madame particularly with regard to "context" and it really is probably more appropriate to refer to her as Madame Chanel rather than Madam Chanel since she was running a fashion house rather than a bordello. Although some might say she ran both during the war.

By Baby Snooks on 08/19/2009 6:10 pm

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There was a magazine in the 1960’s…McCall’s? One of them. And every issue had Chanel’s maxims in the pages, "Don’t over accessorize," "take the one extra thing off," "buttons should not be decorative but functional." I sucked it all up like it was the holy grail. Is there anyone around these days to lay down the laws of fashion for us? I remember finding back issues of Vogue and Bazaar on dusty shelves in the Smithsonian and reading Diana Vreeland’s "Why Don’t You’s…." as well. Have your black scottie dogs wear bright yellow colors and leashes." "Have nanny wash your children’s hair in flat champagne like they do in France." A lot of her things were built off her wonderful imagination and visual sense." I wish someone was writing a socially amusing "You Should" column these days. Could be a nice tool, as well, to attack those offenders commenting "You Shouldn’t’s" at the same time. Some Millicent Rogers girl with a unique sense of style. Someone with a fashion vision. Someone like…Angelica Huston.

By Washington Cube on 08/20/2009 5:18 am