A new film explores Gabrielle Chanel's relationship with literature
As a child, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel devoured serialised novels and dreamed of becoming a heroine herself, details a new film exploring the legendary designer's relationship with literature.
Throughout her life and career, literature continued to play a key role in shaping her creativity and identity - whether through the great texts recommended to her by her great love, Boy Capel; via her celebration of the work of her friends, including Cocteau, Collette and Paul Morand; by consuming the books of authors she admired, to learn, draw inner strength and feed her imagination; or simply through reading for pleasure in her garden at La Pausa, at the Ritz, or at home in the Rue Cambon. She also took great joy in binding her books as if she were dressing them, in her palette of tawny, beige, black, red and gold, and filling her apartment with them, the video goes on to explain.
Interestingly, though, for such a voracious reader, Chanel refused to write her own biography, instead preferring to produce shorter maxims, like lessons in style and elegance. When it came to penning her life story, she entrusted this to a couple of her dearest writer friends.
Since her death, more than 150 works of fiction, biographies, and art books have been dedicated to her, translated into every language.
The short film is part of the Inside Chanel series, a collection of films exploring the history and legacy of the storied fashion house, and the key figures associated with it - from Gabrielle Chanel's relationship with dance, the arts and cinema; to Marilyn Monroe's love of the Chanel No 5 fragrance; or the meaning behind key codes and pieces, such as the camellia, the lion, and the little tweed jacket.
Watch the full film above to discover more about Gabrielle Chanel's relationship with literature.
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