Coco Chanel
By: Carly Massey
Coco’s Childhood
When Coco was a child she had a pretty hard life. She
grew up in an orphanage, raised by the nuns of the
Catholic church from ages 11-18. Her mother died with
TB and her father was always on the run from his
family. Coco and her 2 other sisters were left alone and
then were sent to the orphanage.
Coco’s Education
Coco was in an orphanage and was taught six days a
week. She only learned how to become a basic
seamstress at this school. & she learned more
technique from family such as her aunts.
Becoming Famous
Coco was born August 19, 1883 as Gabrielle Bonheur
Chanel in France and died January 10th, 1971. Her
mother died when she was very young. Her father,
unable to care for her and her five siblings, gave the
children over to relatives whom raised them. When
Gabrielle was about 20, she became a café singer. She
later became a mistress to several wealthy men & had
the power. She was then able to start up her own
designer shop in France and purse her career as a
designer.
How She Got The Name
Coco’s actual name was Gabrielle Bonheur, when she
started her first career as a signer, everyone called her
Coco. She got that name from one of the song’s that
she sang.
First Company
In 1913, she opened her first shop in Paris, followed by
another in the resort town of Deauville. Her line was
hats and a limited line of garments for women. Most of
the clothing Coco designed was made of jersey, at the
time, it was inexpensive, yet it wore well and suited her
designs. Coco had set out to design simple, practical
and easy to wear clothing for the woman of the era
Coco’s First Business
In 1910, Coco opened her first business selling hats
and lady’s wear on 21 rue Cambon. She became
famous and premiered in fashion magazines. She
didn’t have the money to start it herself so her friend,
Arthur Capel, loaned her the money to start her
business.
Was Coco Successful?
Coco was a very successful person. She started her
business in 1910 & it is still strong today. Women all
over the world dream about having Chanel hand bags
and clothes. Chanel started her business after she was
turned down at becoming a singer. Before she opened
her business she made the outfits for the artists to
perform in. She was very successful at what she did.e
did.
Chanel Products
More modern hand
bag.
1900s handbag.
Older handbag from the
1990s.
Todays Chanel
Perfume.
1900s Chanel hat.
Chanel Logo
The Chanel logo is two C’s crossed together to
represent her initials.
Chanel Quote
In Order to be irreplaceable, one must be
different
How Much was she Worth?
When Coco died she was work 4.5 billion
dollars!
Coco’s Death
Coco Died January 10, 1971 at the age of 89 in
her hotel room.
1883-1971
Interesting Extras
In 1921 along with the great perfumer, Ernest Beaux
created this mythical perfume, Chanel No. 5. Coco met
this designer through her then Russian beau, Grand
Duke Dmitri. Ernest Beaux actually made more than 20
fragrances for her and it was the fifth one that Coco
liked. In 1924, she took on a partner in the perfume
business. Chanel No. 5 remains today as the most
famous perfume ever made and the top most selling
perfume in the world
More Interesting Facts
Not only was Coco having a war time affair with a
German aristocrat and spy, but that she herself was
also an agent of Germany's Abwehr military intelligence
organization and a rabid anti-Semite. Also known as a
Nazi spy.
http://www.biography.com/people/cocochanel-9244165?page=2