3.7 out of 4 stars.
Although one of the items that Chanel is famous for is her quilted bag which is on the softer side, her personality is the exact opposite. I believe this is the reasons why I like her.
Coco Chanel born Gabrielle was raised in poverty to a father that didn’t see the need for children. He quickly sent her and her two sisters to an orphanage where Chanel was introduced to stern and strict women that guided her to what she can aspire to in life. It was also there that she learned she had a knack for sewing. When she was at the age of 18 that she outgrew and was gently ushered out of the church to leave room for other orphans to come in, Chanel had a choice to make. She could either become a nun or get married, and neither of these appealed to her. Instead Chanel decided to head to the city and take a stab at life on her own. This was the first of many that Coco looked fear in the eyes and said “let’s do this”. Who doesn’t love that? A true rags to riches story because Chanel was not handed one thing. She had to sew and prick her fingers to the top.
Although there are men sprinkled throughout the pages of C.W. Gortner’s accurate take on Chanel’s life, they were just there to ease the loneliness. She makes very clear through her decisions that she is only looking to become a successful business woman that can stand on her own two feet. Marriage and commitment were not high on the priority list and she only looked at them as a distraction. Anyone that knows fashion, already knows that Chanel’s dream came true and her fragrances, hats, and her minimalist items became a sensation.
Overall this is a book perfect for those that love historical tales and getting to know a superstar but don’t want to weigh through boring biographies that get lost in rambling detail. C.W. Gortner tells a romantic story that is apparently very spot on of Chanel’s life but he does so in a way that is less nitty gritty and more easy to take on. This is one of the reasons I personally love historical fiction. This book was an absolute delight to read and I can’t wait to discuss it in my company’s book club at the end of the month. If you have read it already- please let me know what you think! 