Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner

Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner- 416 pages

Guest Review by Carly Margolin

Book Blurb:

Born into rural poverty, Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to orphanage after their mother’s death. The sisters nurture Gabrielle’s exceptional sewing skills, a talent that will propel the willful young woman into a life far removed from the drudgery of her childhood. Transforming herself into Coco—a seamstress and sometime torch singer—the petite brunette burns with ambition, an incandescence that draws a wealthy gentleman who will become the love of her life. She immerses herself in his world of money and luxury, discovering a freedom that sparks her creativity. But it is only when her lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny.
Rejecting the frilly, corseted silhouette of the past, her sleek, minimalist styles reflect the youthful ease and confidence of the 1920s modern woman. As Coco’s reputation spreads, her couturier business explodes, taking her into rarefied society circles and bohemian salons. But her fame and fortune cannot save her from heartbreak as the years pass. And when Paris falls to the Nazis, Coco is forced to make choices that will haunt her.

My Review: 4 stars

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Mademoiselle Chanel is an inside look into the transformation of orphaned Gabrielle Chanel into world-renowned fashion designer Coco Chanel. Chanel’s sheer determination to make something of herself, by herself, is astounding. In a time when women were bound by their “social rank” and the clothes they wore, Coco revolutionized the modern woman of the early 20^th century.

The story of the self-made Chanel is enthralling. Working as a seamstress by day and a singer at a nightclub during the evenings, Chanel enraptures the attention of wealthy Etienne Balsan, and later on Arthur “Boy” Capel. Both men introduce Coco to the fashion world with their connections and money, but it is, she, who single handedly makes the decisions and carves her own path to success.

Navigating through two wars, countless competitors, dishonest contracts and ultimate heartbreak at the death of her partner, Coco Chanel builds an international empire on her own terms. I do wish however, that I learned more about her association with the Nazi’s and any known truths as to her motives and why she stayed in France during WW2.

Quotes I liked:

What we do not earn ourselves is never truly ours. It can always be taken away. But even if we lose everything we work for, the achievement is ours forever.”

“Simplicity is true elegance. A woman is closest to being naked when she is well dressed. Her clothing should be seen only after she herself is.”