COCO'S PALACE: PART 2

It is significant to note that Gabrielle Chanel, as a true modern women of her time, reflected the feminist mentality, and the ultimate rags to riches story. By exploring her apartment, I felt her spirit still lingering, surrounded by both her most prized possessions, works of art, and well preserved furnishings. Each piece of her apartment, tells not only a story reflective in her designs, but more importantly, about her personal journey. Come explore with me.... 

Two statues have been featured in Coco Chanel's apartment to "greet" guests and say "goodbye". I think these status on a deeper level, speak for her lack of comfort for having people in her apartment. They serve as the gateways in. 

These two chairs in particular have been so well maintained by the Chanel archival team it's amazing. The first, is a chair that Mademoiselle Chanel always sat on for her fittings. She was extremely involved. The second, was a Satin chair she was often photographed in. A couple of years ago, the house of Chanel, bought this chair back at an auction. 

Through out the entire apartment, Coco Chanel featured Chinese screens that she utilized as paneling for her walls. That being said, she was extremely forward for her time. Although this idea is not new to us and the design world now, her unconventional approach to the world of aesthetics would soon become known. 

Despite the fact that Coco Chanel slept at the Ritz, the elements of her apartments are extremely revealing and reflective of what she believed in, and represented. In this photo, we see deers, mirrors, and wheat, all recurring themes in her apartment. Gabrielle truly had a love for animals and has featured deers (the watchers), lions (the fierce kings), and so on in each room. But even more so, is this idea of wheat. For her, wheat symbolized abundance, health, wealth, and prosperity, something she did not always have in her life. Connected to this idea, are the mirrors. I believe that she was an extremely self reflective women, always searching and striving for answers. The mirrors represent her never ending quest for satisfaction, perseverance, and quest to question. 

 

One of the grandest rooms that Chanel was often found in was the living room. The couch is worth noting. For one, this is seen as another example of how Coco thought in such new ways. That couch, as well as the pillows were custom made for her, in suede. Looking at it in today's context it is something we could pick out from a catalog of Crate and Barrel, but back than, truly avant garde. Her apartment also became the source of her collections. The couch for example, inspired the classic quilted handbag which is always featured in a Chanel season. 

The table of Crystal balls, and ornaments reflect her superstitious nature. She always had these mementos through out the house. (maybe a way to deal with her vastly troubling upbringing, and then fate of fortune?) 

Another design inspiration: The chandelier features significant symbols : 5, ccs. Both later become heavily used in her collections. Particularly, Chanel No. 5 (the name of her infamous perfume) and the interlocked ccs which have been the symbol of the house as well as the hardware on her bags. 

Although Gabrielle Coco Chanel was noted as a cold, and isolating women, her toughness, agility, and ability to conquer is a lot to note for not just a women of her time, but as a business leader.

Today, as luxury brands continue to feel the wrath, the loss of loyalty of the all mighty dollar, the greats are truly worth celebrating in this time of branded clutter! Lots more on the house of Chanel in the posts a head...