How does the real name of Coco Chanel sound?

Today it is difficult to name a fashion designer who has had the same huge impact on the world fashion, like Coco Chanel. This woman, who fell to live in the era of great historical upheaval, was able to become famous, creating a new silhouette of women's clothing, as well as several original accessories and fragrances that continue to remain relevant to this day.

The article below will help you to know how the real name of Coco Chanel sounds, and about some of the most dramatic events that have taken place with this great woman.

Gabriel Chanel

In 1883, in a small French town of Saumur, a girl was born, who was later recognized as the queen of world fashion. The baby, who was given the name Gabrielle, was waiting for a hard lot, since she was the second illegitimate daughter of Albert Shanel and Jeanne Devol. Although later her mother gave birth to two more sons to her civil husband, he did not want to formalize relations with her, so the name of the girl, her sister and the two brothers had originally been branded with shame.

When Gabrielle was only 14 years old, her mother died of asthma, hunger and cold. The father got rid of four children, giving the older girls to the monastic shelter, and the sons to the care of relatives.

Gabriel learns how to sew

Although for any child getting into an orphanage is a tragedy, it was there that young Gabriel obtained a profession that allowed her to become one of the most famous women of the 20th century.

The girls, who were in the care of nuns, were trained in sewing, as well as good manners. Both were very useful to Gabrielle when she left the orphanage at the age of 18.

The girl, together with her aunt Adrieno Chanel, with whom they were almost the same age, took a job in a baby clothes store in the town of Moulin. The hosts were satisfied with the work of young seamstresses. However, having saved up some money, Gabriela and Adrienne decided to start their own business.

"Rotunda"

Now that you know what real name Coco Chanel, it's time to tell where her pseudonym came from. So, two young seamstresses worked tirelessly in the town of Moulin. They were left without care of adults early, and no one was telling them how a "decent girl" should behave.

Soon, my niece and aunt got close acquaintance with the officers of the regiment stationed in Mulene and began to visit the local cabaret Rotonda frequently with young people in uniform. One day, during a noisy party, Gabriela performed two songs of Qui qua vu Coco and Ko Ko Ri Ko. Although she did not have a special voice or stage talent, the beauty liked the cabaret's guests, and every time the girl was in this institution, the officers chanted "Coco, Coco!", Inviting once again to sing a song about the chicken. Soon after, a new nickname was firmly entrenched, which weighed on her until the end of her life. Whatever it was, it made everyone forget what the real name was Coco Chanel.

The first novel

For many years the name Coco Chanel was associated with the word "kept woman". Despite the fact that the fashion queen of the twentieth century has always worked hard, it can not be denied that she received money from her men for the realization of her projects from the very youngest years, taking into account the contents of her wallet.

The first lover of seamstress Coco was the officer Etienne Balzan. He was going to resign and decided to settle in a newly acquired castle in Royo, where he planned to breed horses and organize a riding school. Koko herself asked him to "apprentice" and settled with him, forever ruining his reputation.

It was in Royo that she created her first revolutionary women's outfit. The fact is that it was extremely uncomfortable for her to ride horseback riding in an amazon skirt, and she went against all traditions, having ordered men's breeches for herself. She also refused to use a hat with a veil, in such cases, replacing it with a ribbon that she tied her head around.

Romance number two

When the girl realized what is for Etienne just a toy with which he without regret parted immediately, as she tired him, she decided to accept the offer of British industrialist Arthur Capel. Unlike the first lover, he did not even know what the real name was Coco Chanel, and he could tell him different stories about the ruined loving father who nicknamed her chicken, and about his vineyards.

Thanks to Arthur, who was known in the light as a Fight, Gabriela opened her first store in Paris in 1910. A year later he moved to the street Cambon in the house at number 20, where it continues to this day.

Initially, Coco sold the original hats, which made her institution trendy. It was prestigious to wear her headdresses, and she expanded her business, renaming the store in "Atelier Chanel". As assistants, Gabriela was summoned to Paris by Aunt Adrienne and her elder sister. In addition, she woke up real feelings for Arthur Capel, so the young woman felt herself absolutely happy.

Deauville

Soon in Paris, Gabrielle became cramped, and she decided to open a fashion store in one of the most famous resorts in France. Her choice fell on the super prestigious Deauville. By this time, only a few used the real name Coco Chanel, and she herself was not going to tell her respectable clients that she was the illegitimate daughter of a traveling fair merchant. Things went uphill. Moreover, from well-known clients, among whom was Madame Rothschild, there was no release. For some time, Koko even hoped that the adorable Arthur would appreciate her business acumen and legitimize their relationship. However, Capel was not going to make an offer to his longtime mistress.

War

In 1914 Europe became the arena of the struggle of the world's leading powers. The French resorts were deserted, and panic began in the capital. Koko decided to close her business. She was dissuaded by Arthur, who was known for his foresight and business sense.

He was right, and soon Deauville was filled with members of families of aristocrats, bankers and entrepreneurs who fled their estates and wanted to forget about the horrors of the war. The only active store in the city was the Coco boutique, so there was no hanging from the visitors.

In addition, the war did not disguise, and everyone quickly appreciated the advantage of Chanel's clothing models, among which short skirts and loose-fitting blouses predominated. Koko made money in the war without staving. So, when many ladies became nurses in hospitals, she began selling elegant white robes. She also owns the main merit in the promotion of short haircuts. After all, many hairdressers were taken to the front, accordingly, there was no one to do complex hairstyles, so the girls and women began to cut the braids and cut their hair like Madame Coco.

By the end of the war, the foreigners who had returned to Paris did not recognize the French women who looked and were not dressed in the same way as the female half of the inhabitants of the rest of Europe. Soon such an emancipated fashion spread all over the world. However, the real name Coco Chanel was not known to anyone, although she was already considered one of the most famous women of the planet.

Between wars

Even at the peak of her fame, only a few knew the full name of Coco Chanel. However, it was enough to see the two crossing letters "C", so that it became clear that this is the creation of the most famous Parisian woman of the first half of the 20th century.

Unfortunately, Gabriel was not happy about anything, since Arthur first married, and later got into a car accident. So Coco lost her beloved.

Romance with the enemy

In the autumn of 1939 Chanel closed her fashion house and boutiques. She hoped to calmly wait for the occupation. However, in June 1940, the Germans captured her nephew Andre Palase. Gabrielle was forced to turn to the attache of the German embassy von Dinklage. As a result, the young man was released. However, the diplomat, fascinated by 56-year-old Chanel, demanded payment from her for her services.

After the war

Today, few can answer if they are asked: "What is the real name of Coco Chanel?" Moreover, for several years almost nothing was known about it. After the liberation of Paris, the French did not forgive Madame Coco her connection with the German, and she left for Switzerland, where she returned home only in 1953. After 4 years, Chanel again achieved recognition by presenting a tweed suit with a jacket without a collar and patch pockets.

Koko-Gabriel died in 1971 at the Ritz Hotel, leaving behind the legend of the orphan, who became the queen of fashion, and a number of cult items that will never lose their relevance.

Now you know what real name is Coco Chanel. You know the biography of a well-known fashion designer. It remains to be surprised at the vicissitudes of the fate of the orphan Gabrielle, who was among the most famous women of the last century under the ridiculous nickname Coco.