“Following this week’s worldwide launch of HTC’s most beautifully designed phone yet, the HTC One (m8), we continue our evolution of style series by tracing the career of Coco Chanel.”
1909 was an important year for fashion as it marked the date Gabrielle Chanel opened a millinery shop at 160 Boulevard Malesherbes.
When the first World War began, Gabrielle opened a large dress shop at 31 rue Cambon, near the Ritz hotel in Paris.Harper’s Bazaar announced that the lines created by the House of Chanel were “on the list of every buyer” in Europe’s clothing factories.
In 1921, Coco Chanel commissioned Ernest Beaux to create a perfume for the House of Chanel and so Chanel No.5 was born, named after the number of the sample Coco liked best.
After the war, came further success including collaborations with jeweller Robert Goosens; he designed jewellery (bijouterie and gemstone) to complement the fashions of the House of Chanel.
It is thought Gabrielle earned the name Coco from singing the French songs Ko Ko Ri Ko and Qui qu’a vu Coco.
Statement pieces included long-strand necklaces of black pearls and of white pearls, the high contrast softened the severe design of the knitted-wool Chanel Suit (skirt and cardigan jacket).
Coco once said, “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance” and this view translated to her designs.
At this time, the House of Chanel also presented leather handbags with either gold-colour chains or metal-and-leather chains, which allowed carrying the handbag from the shoulder or in hand.
It is thought that the chain strap was a way of remembering Coco’s years spent in an orphanage, as the caretakers used to wear waist chains to hold their heavy keys.
The burgundy red lining on the interior of the bags was the same colour as the uniform Coco wore attending a convent school.
Coco wore jewellery to complement her clothes
Coco Chanel died on 10 January 1971, at the age of 87.
Although she had several romances, she never married, having once said “I never wanted to weigh more heavily on a man than a bird.”
“This article was brought to you in association with HTC, designers of the HTC One m8, with beautiful design inside and outside, the HTC One m8 is an evolution of the HTC One, the world’s most awarded phone in 2013”
