Alex Madsen brings to life Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the queen of fashion who revolutionized women's styles forever.
Anonymous
Posted October 11, 2007
This biography follows Gabrielle Chanel from birth through the legacy that followed her death. It shows her struggles starting as a kid when she was orphaned, her mother dying at a very young age and her father fleeing. It shares her life starting as a kid with love, and her deep passion for a man known as Boy Capel, and her denial towards his unfaithfulness. But most importantly, it follows her success as a fashion legend, how she got started, her ideas and thoughts, and the creations that made her who she is. I really enjoyed this book and would greatly recommend it to anyone interested in the fashion industry, or even just the success of an amazing woman. Coco Chanel went through many hard times in her life. Reading about how she overcame her hardships shows that any person can accomplish their dreams. Itâ¿¿s very encouraging and easy to get through. However it doesnâ¿¿t try to make Gabrielle Chanel perfect, it shows her as a real person. It talks about how she was ashamed of her orphaned past, and all the ways she tries to cover it up to keep her dignity. It just makes you realize that even the biggest people have their hard times, and if Coco Chanel could get through them so can we. Itâ¿¿s amazing that she created the things she did, while dealing with what she was through her personal life.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 30, 2003
This was an interesting look back at the life of Chanel. Her influence on fashion, her affairs and her friendships. It reinforced some of the stereotypes about her, but in the long run showed a hard-working woman who wouldn't take anything from anyone. The read can be tedious with all the french names and words, but the story never gets lost.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 13, 2012
The name of the autobiography I read was Coco Chanel: A Woman of Her Own by Axel Madsen. The novel depicts the designer’s early life, her rise to stardom, and the empire she left behind after her death. The author’s purpose for writing the book was not necessarily to persuade the audience with a particular opinion of the late designer, but to inform them of her life and her ways in a way that the readers can conjure their own opinion based on the facts provided.
The novel was written chronologically, and from what I read, the information on Coco was plentiful and accurate. Madsen begins the story with details on Coco’s early life beginning in a French orphanage, and then onto her life of poverty. The focus then gradually rotates from her life of struggle, to when she first laid eyes on a sewing machine then slowly began the creation of her fashion empire.
This book was very helpful in the process of finding information on Coco. I learned the series of steps she took and decisions she made in order to become successful in the fashion industry. She not only was able to come out of a life of poverty, but she created a fashion empire in her name out of nothing that is still extremely popular today. From what I read in the story, I inferred that Coco was a bit mad, she took risks, and she didn’t care what anyone thought of her. She did whatever she wanted and most importantly, took many fashion risks that the industry is thankful for today.
I would say that this autobiography definitely paints a “full-length” picture of the subject. It not only gives the readers information about Coco Chanel’s personal and professional life, but it gives the audience important tools needed become successful in the industry. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who would like a clear understanding of an individual’s life who has been an influential and successful person in the fashion industry.
---------There are plenty of big, glossy picture books about Chanel that are heavy with photos but light on research and insight. These are fine to put on the coffee table and have a quick glance, but they don't satisfy like Madsen's "Chanel". The glossies tend to focus exclusively on Coco's contribution to the fashion industry. Stupendous as that contribution was, it falls far short. The story of Coco's life is so much more fascinating than her invention of sportswear. She was decades before her time not just in fashion, but in business, love and life. --------- She was the first celebrity fashion designer. She invented the concept of "styling" movie stars. She was one of the first independent business women who owned and ran her own empire solo. Remaining single and childless all her life, she invented the idea of being "married to one's work", coldly discarding anyone who interfered with her career. These included family, friends, and lovers. ----------- She pioneered celebrity interior design. No longer were interior designers and fashion designers considered "tradespeople", relegated to the lower classes. Before Coco a lady would never acknowledge one's seamstress in the street, much less invite her to a ball. Coco changed all that. -------- Although Madsen handles it very soberly, "Chanel" has a good bit of name dropping. Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Grand Duke Dmitri, Picasso, Cocteau, Njinski, Gloria Swanson, Cecil B. Demille, Samuel Goldwyn, just to name a few. When one's subject is Coco Chanel one can't help it, really. ----------------- Before we get to the juicy names, though, there is the equally fascinating story of Chanel's sad childhood in rural France. She was born, out of wedlock, with the name Gabrielle. Her nickname Coco would come later and I will not spoil the delightful tale by revealing it here. Her extended family was poor and more often than not eschewed matrimony. Gabrielle watched her mother and sister have baby after baby with their common law husbands, living from hand to mouth, toiling endlessly. Both died young, worn out before their time. This lead to Gabrielle's being shipped off to a quasi orphanage to be raised by nuns. --------------------- Chanel's rise, reign, fall and redemption is even more fascinating since it's intertwined with the story of post-imperial Europe. The rise of bolshevism, communism, socialism, the two world wars, the invention of the automobile, the atom bomb, and everything in between. Madsen takes us on a thrilling tour of the history of 20th century through Coco's life. It's a wild ride. One that I enjoyed immensely.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 11, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 26, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted December 17, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted January 28, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted August 13, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted November 19, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted March 5, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted November 28, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Alex Madsen brings to life Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the queen of fashion who revolutionized women's styles forever.