"I was a child in revolt." – Coco Chanel Born Gabrielle Chanel in August, 1883, the woman who would later become known as "Coco" grew up in abject poverty. Her mother, Jeanne, was a laundress who suffered from chronic illnesses, leaving her too fatigued to play. Her father, Albert, was an itinerant, philandering peddler who infrequently visited his three daughters. Gabrielle adored her father nonetheless and forgave him his long absences when he did return for visits. Before she turned twelve, Gabrielle's mother died from tuberculosis. More devastating than the loss of her mother was the abandonment by her father as he left her in the care of nuns at the orphanage in Aubazine. He was never to be seen by his little girl again. She grew up lonely and starved for affection. At age 18, Gabrielle was given the choice of becoming a nun, or continuing her education. She chose the latter, and the sisters sent her as a charity case to Notre Dame, a convent boarding school in Moulins. She quickly noticed the stark contrast between the poor students and the wealthy who paid to be there. She slept in unheated quarters, ate inferior food, dressed in clothes that were plain in style and made from harsh fabrics. She took note of the soft fabrics worn by the rich girls, and longed to gain financial independence to own the same luxuries. The nuns at Notre Dame taught Gabrielle to sew, and she took a job at a tailor's where she mended the uniforms of army officers stationed nearby. She was unafraid to work long hours and took a second job as a shopgirl at a lingerie firm. During breaks from school she would visit with her father’s family nearby. She discovered romance serials from newspapers stored away in her aunt’s attic, and she would steal away for hours, engulfed in the tales of adventure, seduction and vibrant fashion. During these visits, Gabrielle's aunts taught her sewing techniques that had more flair than what she had learned at school, and they taught her to ride horses, spending time galloping through fields bareback. These two skills, sewing and riding, would take her very far as she set off to start her life after graduation.
This color coordinated collection of fashion fabrics was first featured in our Vogue Fabrics By Mail Early Spring 2011 catalog of swatches. Subscribe to receive home delivery of these catalogs every other month.
This color coordinated collection of fashion fabrics was first featured in our Vogue Fabrics By Mail Early Spring 2011 catalog of swatches. Subscribe to receive home delivery of these catalogs every other month.
