13A - Reading Reflection No. 1

For this assignment, I read a biography of Gabrielle Chanel, the fashion designer and icon. It is titled Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life.

1.    The most surprising aspect of Coco Chanel’s life was her almost chronic loneliness. It seems logical that someone as dynamic and talented as Chanel was would find a compatible partner who would challenge and better her. Instead, she bounced from man to man, serving as everything from a mistress to a muse to a collaborator. On a related note, I was also surprised by the array of renowned artists Chanel with which was involved in some way. The list includes some of the most well-known artists of all time, including Picasso and Dalí. I most admired Chanel’s ability to create an “image” or “brand” of her style before the age of social media. She is truly one of the original icons who managed to capture the world’s attention. I also admired her determination not to allow a man to indefinitely support her financially. The second she found out her lover, Arthur Capel, was making payments and phone calls to the bank on her behalf, she immediately found ways for her business to become profitable so that she could rely on herself instead. I respect her desire for independence. I least admired Chanel’s pattern of being a mistress to married men. It is not a respectable pattern of behavior in my opinion. Chanel faced adversity virtually her entire life. She lived in an orphanage for years and had a troubled family life. She also struggled in terms of business later on. At 71 years of age, she decided to reopen her couture house, now facing a younger generation with different tastes. Although it took her some time, she eventually overcame these challenges to create timeless pieces of fashion.

2.    Coco Chanel exhibited various competencies that led her to success. Most importantly, her creativity and sense of fashion allowed her to create classic garments and accessories. Her creative mind truly gave her an essence of who she was. Similarly, her innovation and adaptability kept her relevant even through old age when many fashion icons fade away from the spotlight.

3.    One part of the reading that I found confusing was related to the great love of Chanel’s life. Supposedly, Arthur Capel was the greatest love of Chanel’s life. Her other affairs and engagements paled in comparison to this. However, Capel chose to marry a different woman. It is confusing to me how these two facts can coexist with each other.

4.    The first question I would ask Chanel is if she regrets prioritizing her work over everything – even love. In the book, she is quoted saying, “I liked work. I sacrificed everything to it, even love. Work has consumed my life.” I wonder if she regrets this take on her life or if she would say that it was worth it. The second question I would ask her is if she ever imagined that she would become the icon that she is. It seems difficult to imagine such lofty goals as anything more than a dream, but I wonder if Chanel knew she was always destined for something big.

5.    I think Chanel’s opinion of hard work is rooted in passion for what you do – whatever that may be. For her, her passion lied in bringing her creative urges to life through every channel she could find. I agree that passion takes a lot of the hard part out of hard work.