Making Tribute to Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, an inspirational iconic lady who started from zero and manged to build a legendary name, brand and an international empire in the fashion industry.
***Photograph: Gabrielle and Gigot,
her Pet at "La Pausa" ...
The introduction to Arthur Edward Capel changed her life completely, his thirst for business, entrepreneurial, political, intellectual background saw a unique side of determination and ambition in Gabrielle to create her own business. They became friends, lovers, co-workers and the amazing journey began of Arthur being the sponsor and Gabrielle the creator. Gabrielle began decorating hats, then eventually led to creating garments of which she designed for herself, then wore them and strongly encouraged other women to liberate themselves for new needs, desires on a daily lifestyle, regarding comfort, movement, constraints free, textures and colours of fabrics. Her astrological sign of Leo, influenced her personal life, her designs of garments, headpieces and jewellery.
In early May 1921, Chanel No 5 was launched of which marks the first lady fashion brand that introduces a perfume and a first unique fragrance with rather complex ingredients. Gabrielle, apparently at the time wanted to create her own unique perfume, had to be an exclusive fragrance, her main vision and olfactory intention was to invent "like liberation of women, a fragrance like a women, similar to freshly scrubbed skin" . The Perfumer, Mr Ernest Beaux had a great challenge ahead, it took him several weeks of trials and errors to try and physically create Gabrielle's vision.
In the end, Gabrielle chose a particular fragrance where he personally did not like as there was another mistake of extra added compositions in the main ingredients.
Gabrielle's Launch of Perfumes, Fragrances, their names and dates of release are as follows:
* Chanel No 5, in 1921
* Chanel No 22, in 1922
* Gardénia, in 1925
* Cuir de Russie, in 1927
* Bois des îles, in 1928
* Pour Monsieur, in 1955
* Chanel No 19, in 1970
In early 1925, The Duke of Westminster was introduced to Gabriel, at an after party in Monte Carlo. Their friendship, eventual love affair began and lasted for several years.
The Duke of Westminster directly and or indirectly, contributed to the fashion industry.
They new couple, spent a great deal of time together, specially summers in Scotland where Gabrielle was exposed to other type of life style, garments, outfits and fabrics like jersey. These new experiences inspired and led Gabriel to create new fashion with tweed collections based on the Duke’s fishing, hunting, outdoor activities.
In the late 1920's, Gabrielle acquired her first owned villa, she named it "La Pausa", it was apparently a gift from The Duke of Westminster. The villa, situated in Roquebrune overlooking Cap-Martin at the French Riviera. Gabrielle, travelled from Paris to the villa taking Gigot, a gentle great dane dalmatian, to enjoy a relaxing time, ambience along with its marvellous natural surroundings. She kept the house for many years where friends and family were invited for several gatherings and social events.
All eventually however started to drastically change as the early signs and beginning of the second World War II. Where Gabrielle physically left Paris and decided to close all her boutiques.
As from 1945, Gabrielle lived for many years in Ouchy, Canton de Vaud, Switzerland. Firstly, she had a suite at "Hotel Beau Rivage Palace" of which is in front of and has a panoramic view of Lake Léman and mountains. Later years, Gabrielle purchased a villa not a far distance from the Hotel. Chanel years later, returned to Paris for a grand return to work on new creations, she was criticised by some due to her older age however her come back to "Haute Couture" was highly recognised internationally thus her return became a success.
Chanel, demise on Sunday 10th January 1971 at Hotel Ritz in Paris, her body was transferred and buried in cemetery named "Bois-de-Vaux" in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is on her grave that we see a tall, white, rectangular shaped tomb stone, it has across along the top, five (her lucky and symbolic number) heads of Lions (Leo, her astrological sign) and just under the lions in the middle there is a cross (symbolism of her religion) , the tomb stone duly designed by Gabriel. Her, last pet was also buried near by at Pet cemetery.
Gabrielle Chanel, shall remain an Iconic lady, who empowers women to be and become more freely independent, liberate them from restrictive life style as she strongly set an example to others...
"If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing ...
You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty and irresistible for the rest or your life" Gabrielle Chanel ...
*** Our inspired Vintage products ...
*** Herewith an exclusive interview of Gabrielle Chanel in Paris, 1959...
*** Second footage below, several exclusive fashion collections ...
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