Chanel, Nabokov, Hemingway: why did celebrities live in hotels for years? The great Coco Chanel: the story of life and the creation of style The most famous achievements

A cult fragrance at number five, tweed suits, a little black dress and an abundance of pearls - if the legends lived forever, then on August 19, Gabrielle Chanel would have celebrated her 136th birthday. In honor of the date that is significant for the fashion world, we tell you about fifteen facts from the life of Mademoiselle Coco, which will present you the first woman couturier in a completely different light.

Why Coco and why Chanel?

Everyone knows that the real name of the Frenchwoman is Gabrielle. Yes, and Koko herself never hid this (unlike, by the way, from her age, which a woman always “reduced” by ten years). The future fashion designer from Saumur got her iconic nickname during her part-time jobs at a local cabaret, where every evening she sang the songs Ko Ko Ri Ko and Qui qu'a vu Coco, popular with visitors.

As for the surname, if you scrupulously follow the facts, then it should have sounded not “Chanel”, but “Chansel” - this is how the name of the newborn Gabrielle was recorded in the registration book.

Career aspirations

Although Chanel was connected with the fashion world from an early age (the girl worked as a seamstress and a salesperson in a clothing store in her native Saumur), she did not always seriously want to do costume modeling. In her youth, Koko dreamed of becoming an entertainer and, in search of recognition, even went to work in the elite resorts of Vichy. However, Gabriel soon abandoned the illusion and realized that her meager talents in singing would not make her famous. And being “one of” did not suit her.

From fashionista to couturier

Chanel began her journey into the world of French haute couture small - from the production of hats. She opened her first store immediately after she moved to Paris, in 1910. The store soon moved to Rue Cambon across from the Ritz Hotel, where it remains to this day. The success of Chanel hats was so deafening that soon the woman opened another atelier in Biarritz and Deauville.

Tweed suit

Coco introduced her first tweed suit with a fitted jacket and skirt back in 1925. It was a manifesto of comfort and simplicity, as well as one of the first examples of how things from the men's wardrobe can migrate to the women's. In those days, tweed was not a novelty, but it was allowed to use it exclusively for gentlemen's suits. But for Chanel, as they say, any prohibitions opened up only open spaces for experiments. Subsequently, many things from the closets of her lovers - vests, jackets, trousers and hats - became the main attributes of her corporate identity. And it was a real revolution in fashion.

Chanel No. 5 was created by a perfumer from Moscow

Gabrielle Chanel, like most of her colleagues in the shop, did not create perfume herself, entrusting this difficult mission to a professional perfumer. The author of the cult fragrance was Ernest Eduarodvich Bo, a Russian in exile, a perfumer in the second generation. His father was a Frenchman and worked for the House of Romanovs, so from an early age the young man studied all the intricacies of creating fragrances from Grasse perfumers. In 1921, he invited Koko to choose one of several perfumes he had created. Chanel, as you know, chose bottle number 5, and gave the finished composition her own surname as the name. Thus was born Chanel No. 5, and it was the first time in history that a perfume was named after the brand.

From the monastery to the catwalk: bag 2.55

In the late 1920s, ladies' fashion for handbags was limited exclusively to small reticules, which were supposed to be worn strictly in the hands. Needless to say, for Chanel, who appreciates comfort and simplicity in everything, such models have become the object of hatred No. 1. In 1929, she introduced a revolutionary design in every sense of the word: a leather bag with a gold-plated chain that could be worn on the shoulder. When creating the model, Chanel was inspired by the quilted bales of soldiers from the First World War, as well as her past spent in a convent in Aubazine. The burgundy lining referred to the monastic cassocks of the time, and the gold chain to those that the sisters wore around their waists to hold the keys.

Girls best friends

It is generally accepted that by introducing fashion jewelry made of faux pearls, enamel and semi-precious stones, Chanel opposed expensive jewelry, considering them too pretentious. Well, this approach is not entirely correct, because Mademoiselle Coco still had collections of high jewelry. She presented the first - diamond - in 1932, and it was inspired, oddly enough, by one of the "poorest" periods of the 20th century - the Great Depression. The collection featured constellation decorations that people tend to look up to in hopes of a better future.

This collection was a sensation, and, most importantly, no one expected this from Koko, who previously hated jewelry. But Chanel was quick to explain. “The argument that initially led me to invent artificial jewelry was that I found them devoid of snobbery, and this in an era when luxury was too easy to get. This consideration disappeared during the financial crisis, when everything contributed to the resurrection of the instinctive desire for naturalness, which will restore its true price to a funny trifle, ”the couturier wrote in the catalog for diamond jewelry.

Small black dress

In terms of versatility, the little black dress was somehow compared to a Ford car. Indeed, Chanel conceived it as a basic item available to every woman and helping her out in any situation: during the day it worked great with simple pumps, and in the evening with pearl accessories.

This dress has become a legend in the fashion world, loudly declaring that black has nothing to do with mourning. Meanwhile, some still believe that his original appointment was just the same "traditional": they say, Chanel came up with it in order to honor the memory of her beloved Arthur Capel, who died in a car accident.

The only designer on Time's "Top 100" list

The 20th century was rich in design debuts, but only Coco Chanel managed to change history with her style. At least, this is what the influential American magazine Time considered when compiling its next list of the best, summarizing the last century. Chanel is the only one of the world's couturiers included in the list, joining such pillars of 20th century art as Louis Armstrong, Pablo Picasso, Igor Stravinsky and so on.

Hollywood dreams

In 1921, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, a cousin of Tsar Nicholas II, introduced Koko to Samuel Goldwyn, who was then running the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio. The patriarch of Hollywood was so impressed with Chanel's personality and work that he suddenly offered her a million dollars (now this amount would be 75 million) for her to dress movie stars. The couturier gladly agreed, but soon the studio refused to cooperate with the Frenchwoman, as they considered that her outfits, which were too simple, according to Hollywood concepts, did not look good on the screen. Since then, Chanel has considered the American Film District "the capital of bad taste."

Supported Russian art

In 1913, Coco quite by accident joined her friend at an event at the Champs d'Elisee theater in Paris, where the premiere of another Russian ballet took place. Then Diaghilev's "Russian Seasons" were just coming into fashion, much of Russian art seemed wild and unusual to the refined European public, but that day, Coco fell in love - with intermittent movements, with strange costumes and with the bewitching music of Igor Stravinsky.

They will meet the composer personally only seven years later, and this friendship will be so strong that Chanel will shelter him and his impoverished family at home, and then make a small donation to his performances and even sew several outfits for Russian ballerinas.

Could be Queen of Great Britain

The higher Chanel's fame as a couturier was, the wider her circle of acquaintances became. At some point, it expanded to include members of the British aristocracy. In 1923, Coco was introduced to such figures as Winston Churchill, Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor (with great-great-great-grandfather

Inspired by men's fashion and expensive simplicity, Gabriel- went down in history as a great Coco- forever turned the world of high fashion and entered the list of the hundred most influential people of the 20th century according to Time magazine. It is difficult to overestimate the contribution that this Frenchwoman has made to world fashion and the wardrobe of every single woman. AiF.ru remembered the iconic inventions of Chanel.

1. Perfume Chanel No. 5

The first thing that comes to mind when you mention the name Coco Chanel, this is, of course, . A fragrance invented in 1921 by a native of the Russian Empire Ernest Bo(on the account of this perfumer, the famous perfume of the Empress "Catherine's Bouquet"), became a real revolution in the history of perfume art and the most popular perfume in the world. By the way, Chanel No. 5, as Ernest Bo later said, was inspired by memories of Russia.

What was the uniqueness of the fragrance for that time? Prior to the advent of Chanel No. 5, perfumes were made primarily from natural ingredients of plant or animal origin through empirical mixing. The emergence of synthetic ingredients that enhanced the durability of the smell and made it "vibrate" turned the perfume market upside down.

Coco suggested that Bo create an artificial fragrance, and the perfumer, who experimented with aldehydes, offered her a whole series of fragrances. Of these, the great Chanel chose fragrance No. 5.

The global triumph of Chanel No. 5 was ensured by the novelty of the fragrance, which did not evoke associations with any of the familiar colors, and a simple bottle in the shape of a parallelepiped, as opposed to the then fashionable fantasy bubbles.

2. Little black dress

The history of the creation of the little black dress is covered with many legends. Gabriel's biographers write that the trendsetter, who loves simplicity and asceticism, was annoyed by the abundance of bright and lush creations. Paul Poiret. She called overly elegant ladies “mummers” and decided to dress everyone in black.

According to another version, Chanel created a simple mourning dress in memory of her lover who died in a car accident. Boe Keipele. Introduced in 1926, the little black dress "settled" forever in women's wardrobes.

A narrow, straight piece of crepe de chine with carefully fitted sleeves, the American Vogue dubbed "Ford" among dresses.

Koko picked up this idea: "I create Fords, not Rolls-Royces." Even a lady with a modest income could afford a little black dress.

3. Bag 2.55

The cult bag 2.55 was released in February 1955 - the date of "birth" and gave the name to this accessory. Its popularity, despite the inaccessibility and high price, is growing year by year, and even French boutiques do not sell more than one handbag 2.55 in one hand per month.

Before her appearance, ladies had to carry various reticules in their hands, which caused a lot of inconvenience. Coco Chanel saved women from these problems by giving them a small quilted bag in the shape of a rectangle on a long chain.

Model 2.55 could be comfortably carried on the shoulder. Initially, Chanel came up with a handbag in her favorite black color, but later other versions appeared - a variety of shades and textures.

4. Tweed suit

Tweed and jersey were considered coarse fabrics suitable only for tailoring men's suits. But Chanel destroyed this stereotype and created a women's tweed suit, which became the epitome of luxury and elegance.

The "stars" of cinema and the stage, and even the wives of presidents, for example, put on it with pleasure. Jackie Kennedy is a well-known trendsetter. By the way, the idea to sew women's suits from coarse fabric came to Koko thanks to the same Boyu Capelu, which interested her in "English style".

Despite the unconditional popularity, the tweed suit of a fitted jacket and a tight skirt, which Coco presented in 1923 in the salon on the Rue Cambon, was extremely coldly received by journalists. He experienced his second birth in 1954 - women liked the simplicity of the cut and the elegance of the lines.

5. Two tone shoes

Gabrielle Chanel was involved not only in the creation of iconic clothing. Thanks to her impeccable taste, such a trend as two-tone shoes appeared, which became another sign of the corporate style of the French fashion house.

Mademoiselle preferred comfortable shoes with small heels, and considered the combination of beige and black to be one of the most successful. Shoes with a beige base and a black patent leather cape solved two problems: they attracted attention and visually reduced the length of the foot and lengthened the legs.

Today, designers around the world are actively using this idea, offering their bold and original color combinations. But beige sandals with a black cape and an elastic band around the heel remain a timeless classic from Chanel.

6. Accessories and pearls

Chanel hated frilly and bright outfits, preferring simplicity and austerity. But accessories, which, according to Koko, should be as much as possible, were her real passion.

The great Mademoiselle herself always wore them in large numbers, from a string of pearls to headdresses. So, a laconic string of pearls can complement both a little black dress and a tweed suit, as well as a sailor's vest.

She made pearls democratic and fashionable, although earlier they were considered the property of only the highest circle. Moreover, Koko showed how to combine jewelry and costume jewelry, which before her was considered a cheap fake, without damaging the reputation. The merits of costume jewelry - affordability and the ability to wear with everyday outfits - quickly made Coco's idea popular.

7. Short haircuts

Coco Chanel, as she writes in her biographical book Henri Guidel, "stubbornly planting short hair." Before Chanel, women did not wear haircuts, and at the magical wave of her hand, French women begin to mercilessly cut their lush hair. At the one who settled on the same famous Rue Cambon cuafeur Antoine, the creator of the “a la garcon” hairstyle, there was a constant full house.

New trends in women's hairstyles have led to the emergence of a new style of hats in the form of a bell. This headdress was pulled down to the very eyebrows, the front edge covered the eyes. So Coco herself wore a hat and numerous fans of this style.

Coco Chanel is perhaps one of the brightest personalities of the last century, who was able to change fashion in the direction of convenience and elegance. Emerging into the high society from a plight, she became an example for many people, showing that the origin can mean absolutely nothing if there is a clear goal. The French still associate the phrase "The Art of Living" with Chanel.

• Real name: Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel
• Years of life: 08/19/1883 - 01/10/1971
• Zodiac sign: Leo
• Height: 169 centimeters
• Weight: 54 kilograms
• Waist and hips: 67 and 99 centimeters
• Shoe size: 35.5 (EUR)
• Eye and hair color: Brown, brunette.

Koko was born in an orphanage in the city of Symora. His workers gave the girl the name Gabriel, in honor of one of those who delivered the baby. Coco Chanel's mother was Eugenie Jeanne Devol, a carpenter's daughter, and her father was Albert Chanel, an ordinary market trader. Parents were not married then, lived in poverty.

When Gabrielle was eleven, her mother died, and her father left the girl with her sister and two brothers alone. The Chanel children went to an orphanage at the convent, where Gabrielle stayed until she came of age. Coco Chanel was already aware of her position as a child, but despite everything, she did not stop dreaming of a good life.

The beginning of the ascent

At the monastery, Coco Chanel was given a recommendation that helped her get a job as an assistant to a linen merchant in a small store. At the same time, she sang and danced in a cabaret, tried out in the theater, but did not succeed in this. In one of the cafes, the nickname Coco stuck to her, because the girl loved to sing the songs “Kui Kua Wu Koko” and “Ko Ko Ri Ko”.

Despite the lack of particular success, the cabaret made it possible for Coco Chanel to get closer to the life she dreamed of: it was there that the wealthy retired officer Etienne Balzan saw her, who was so fascinated by the girl that he took her to his house, which turned out to be a real castle.

Coco took a long time to get used to the role of an officer's mistress, she always lacked something. One day she realized that she wanted to be a fashionista. Etienne only laughed at this, but brought her together with Arthur Capel, an English industrialist, who agreed to support Chanel's ideas, despite her lack of the necessary experience.

Close people of Arthur called him Boy. Despite his youth, he was a successful entrepreneur who knew how to move things forward. In addition, he was also interested in fashion, and with his help, Coco Chanel was able to open her first hat shop for Parisians. The case turned out to be successful. Three years passed, and she opened a second store, already in the city of Deauville.

Path to high society

Success liberated many talents in Coco Chanel. Lacking entrepreneurial experience, she managed to quickly not only promote her business, but also keep it afloat even during the First World War. In addition, she herself came up with the design of all the things that she sold, and everything that came out from under her hands carried a genuine elegance and convenience.

Gabrielle's dream came true: she became a famous milliner, she was talked about in high circles. The most famous ladies of Paris came to her, they talked about Coco Chanel, recommended her to each other, and soon she became the first cutter in history who managed to gain access to aristocratic circles not as a servant, but as an equal member of society. Her name became a phenomenon, it thundered all over the world.

Coco Chanel attracted the attention of high-born persons even in other countries, she knew the Grand Russian Duke Dmitry, became close to the English Duke of Westminster, she began to be surrounded by composers, choreographers, and people of art.

Coco Chanel reached the pinnacle of her fame by the age of fifty. Despite the fact that this age is already considered quite old, it was by her fiftieth birthday that she really blossomed, reached perfection both in appearance and in the image that she had been creating all this time.

Decline and new breakthrough

When the Second World War began, the woman had to close all her salons and shops. She accepted the fact that no one cares about fashion at a time like this. Her prosperous years left her with many connections, which she had to use to rescue one person from her inner circle from German captivity. To do this, Koko had to turn to a German officer, and when this became known, she was arrested. The conclusion lasted only a few hours - Coco was released on the condition that she leave France, and the woman settled in Switzerland for almost ten years.

After the war, Coco Chanel had many competitors in her favorite business. Some of the most successful were Dior and Balenciaga. Power in the world of fashion from women's hands passed into men's, but not for long. When Coco Chanel turned seventy, she returned to Paris and reopened the salon. The critics smashed it. But Coco didn't seem to care. Three years later, she not only regained her former glory, but, perhaps, even multiplied it. The woman explained this by the fact that she lived the full life of her time and gave the costumes freedom of movement, which was the real elegance.

Chanel Coco died at the age of eighty-seven. It happened at the Ritz Hotel due to a heart attack. The last refuge of the famous milliner was the Swiss Lausanne, and the last decoration was five lions on a tombstone.

Most Famous Achievements

The name Coco Chanel is associated with the emergence of a fashion for tanning. Once a woman went on a cruise and in this voyage she got very tanned. When she arrived in Cannes, she did not hide her tan, and people followed her example.

The world-famous perfume, which received the name Coco, Chanel began to use and sell after Ernest Beaux, a perfumer who immigrated to Russia for court service, offered her a choice of five fragrances. The woman settled on the last of them, the fifth, because it was artificially synthesized and did not resemble a single flower. This is how the fragrance "Chanel No. 5" was born.

Women praise Coco Chanel for introducing the little black dress. It could be worn all day and evening without changing clothes, and depending on the need, simply change accessories to better match the environment. According to legend, she came up with it when her friend, the same Arthur with the nickname Boy, died. Wearing mourning for those who were not a spouse was considered reprehensible at that time, and this dress became a kind of expression of her attitude to what happened.

Another very important merit of Coco Chanel is the introduction of handbags on long chains that could be worn on the shoulder. According to the woman herself, she constantly forgot about reticules, left them everywhere, and besides, it was hard to carry them in her hands. Handbags thrown over the shoulder did not cause such inconvenience.

Coco Chanel's personal life

Despite the huge success, Coco Chanel was not too happy. Her personal life is full of twists and turns and deep drama. You should start with the fact that with an abundance of admirers, she was never married, in addition, Coco could not have children, because she turned out to be barren.

The name Chanel Coco achieved such wide popularity not only thanks to her undoubted talents, but also with the help of bed. Her projects required large investments, and she did not hesitate to ask her lovers for them. Because of this, she was known as an eternal kept woman, and the first who took her for maintenance was the already mentioned Etienne Balzan.

After that, Coco Chanel had a love affair with Arthur Capel, who helped her start the business. They were together for a long time, but not all this time Chanel was happy. The fact is that Arthur, nicknamed Boy, was still a womanizer. At first, he restrained himself, as if he had settled down, but over time, old habits took over, and he began to cheat on his beloved milliner. Chanel's love was so strong that she turned a blind eye to it, they say she even forgave Arthur for leaving her for another socialite and choosing her as his wife. According to rumors, Coco even had to sew a wedding dress for Boy's new chosen one. She admitted that she loved this man more than anyone else. The death of Boy in an accident severely crippled her, she was depressed for a long time.

Only a year later, she again started an affair, this time with Prince Dmitry Romanov. Coco Chanel was older than him by more than seven years, but this did not prevent their stormy relationship. This union turned out to be very fruitful: the prince gave Chanel the idea to make beautiful girls fashion models, he sponsored her projects and introduced her to the imperial perfumer, who created the famous perfume for Coco. The relationship lasted a year when the prince left for America to marry a wealthy girl.

Coco did not have to stay alone for long. She began an affair with the Duke of Westminster, and this relationship was truly royal beauty. When things were already moving towards the wedding, it turned out that the duke wanted children from Chanel. Again, children became a stumbling block in Coco's relationship. The affair with the duke lasted fourteen years, but the couple still broke up. Chanel herself loved children and wanted them, but after numerous abortions in her youth, she could no longer have them.

During World War II, Coco Chanel met a German diplomat named Hans Günther von Dinklage. It was because of him that she was drawn into spy games, with his help she rescued her nephew from captivity and ended up in a bad standing with the French authorities, it was because of him that she was forced to leave for Switzerland. As a result, this union also broke up, Coco Chanel and Hans Gunther von Dinklage not only quarreled a lot, but even fought.

This was her last novel. After him, she completely went into the fashion business, collaborated with Hollywood, changed all ideas about clothes and style. The children of Coco Chanel could inherit all the achievements of this outstanding woman and all her fortune, but Karl Lagerfeld had to revive her fashion house. He was able to preserve the great legacy of the great fashion designer and did not let the abyss that made Coco, the talented Chanel one of the most amazing women of the twentieth century.

Coco Chanel removed the corset from women, gave black color and revolutionary perfume. We will tell you about the biography of this legendary woman and give some of her quotes.

"Everything is in our hands, so they can not be omitted!"

The charm of Coco Chanel lay in her special beauty, original, subtle mind and outstanding character, where the love of freedom was combined with an incessant craving for loneliness ...

Coco Chanel became famous not only for her activities in the fashion world, but also for her stormy romances with representatives of high society, of which there are many in her biography, as well as arrogance towards the people around her - she humiliated those to whom she did good. It was said about her that her gifts were like slaps in the face. Koko's statements about people were murderous, and her rudeness smacked of arrogance. She was amazingly efficient, energetic and despised people.

“I don't care what you think of me. I do not think about you at all."

“I love when fashion goes outside, but I don’t allow it to come from there.”

Coco Chanel was born on August 19, 1883 in Saumur, although she said that she was born 10 years later in Auvergne. Her mother died when Gabrielle was only six years old, and her father later died, leaving five children orphans. They were at that time in the care of relatives and for some time were in an orphanage. At the age of 18, Gabrielle began working as a saleswoman in a clothing store, and in her free time she performed in a cabaret. The girl's favorite songs were "Ko Ko Ri Ko" and "Qui qua vu Coco", for which she received the nickname - Coco. Gabrielle did not shine as a singer, but during one of her performances she liked the officer Etienne Balzan and soon moved to live with him in Paris. After some time, she went to the English businessman Arthur Capel. After relationships with generous and wealthy lovers, she was able to open her own shop in Paris.

“To be irreplaceable, you need to change all the time.”

Once she spent a whole year in a country mansion. During the day she was engaged in horseback riding, in the evenings she attended secular receptions. Coco decided that a dress was a very uncomfortable thing to ride a horse, showed up to the tailor with trousers that she took from the jockey.

Sew me the same!

But, madam, it is not customary for a woman to walk in men's trousers!

Koko resolutely repeated her request and left the workshop.

The ladies who came to visit her were at first extremely surprised to see Gabrielle on a horse in men's pants. But later, at dinner, they admitted that trousers and a woman are a very good combination. In one day, Chanel turned into a trendsetter for the residents of nearby estates.

It is interesting that she always had a large number of novels and intrigues, but none of them ended in something serious. Proposals were made to her quite often. Once the Duke of Westminster asked her hand in marriage, to which she replied with her characteristic irony: "There are thousands of duchesses in the world, but only one Coco Chanel." This answer is not surprising, because her work was for her the only meaning of life.

In 1910 she opened a hat shop.

Already in 1912, Coco created her first fashion house in Deauville, but the First World War temporarily interfered with her plans. In 1919, Chanel opens a fashion house in Paris. At this time, Chanel already had clients all over the world. People loved her blazers, skirts, long jersey sweaters, sailor suits and the famous suit (skirt + jacket). Koko herself made herself a short haircut, loved to wear small hats and sunglasses.

1921 Coco introduces a fur coat and a new brand of perfume "Chanel No. 5"

“- Where to apply perfume?
“Where do you want to be kissed?”

“Fashion is what goes out of fashion.”

…Gabrielle saw the pile of twisted metal that had only recently been a machine, lightly ran her hand over the glass. There was blood everywhere - the blood of Arthur Capel, the man she loved. She sat down on the side of the road and wept. And when she returned home, she repainted the walls black and turned into mourning. Gabrielle Chanel was already very famous - and thousands of imitators instantly followed her example. This is how black came into fashion.

In 1926, she created her famous little black dress, which became a multifunctional item outside of fashion, thus establishing the concept of minimalism in modeling.

Despite the enormous success of his clothes, in 1939 Coco closes all the shops and the fashion house, the Second World War begins. Many designers left the country, but Coco remains in Paris and only after the end of the war leaves for Switzerland.

In 1954, at the age of 71, Gabrielle returned to the world of fashion and presented her new collection. But she achieved her former glory and reverence only a few years later. Coco changed her classic outfits to a more modern style, and the richest and most famous women in the world began to attend her presentations. The "Chanel" suit was a statement of the new generation's status: crafted from tweed, fitted with a fitted skirt, collarless jacket covered with braid, gold buttons and patch pockets. Chanel also again showed the public women's handbags, jewelry and shoes, which had a terrific success.

“They say that women dress for women, that they are spurred on by the spirit of competition.

It's true. But if there were no more men left in the world, women would stop dressing.”

“Jewellery is a whole science! Beauty is a formidable weapon! Modesty is the height of elegance!”

Between the 1950s and 1960s, Coco worked with many Hollywood studios and stars like Audrey Hepburn and Liz Taylor. In 1969, actress Katharine Hepburn played the role of Chanel in the Broadway musical Coco.

“If you were born without wings, don't try to prevent them from growing.”

"There is a time to work, and there is a time to love. There is no other time left.”

On January 10, 1971, at the age of 87, the great Koko died. They buried her in Lausanne - in a grave surrounded by five stone lions. Since 1983, Karl Lagerfeld has been managing the Chanel fashion house and is its chief designer.

“Every woman has the age she deserves.”

Every day, Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel began to live anew. She scrupulously got rid of the burden of the past. Each new day, she removed from her memory the whole burden of the day yesterday. Childhood and the period of her youth are shrouded in mystery. She created her legend with her own hands, adding facts, confusing biographers. Gabrielle discarded 10 years of her life like unnecessary trash and, realizing this, felt that she now has much more time. She began to think more fruitfully, less tired. With her fate, she proved that the future does not follow from the past, at any moment you can start your own career and build it anew.

Chanel considered any obstacle in her path as a sign of a new path.

Coco Chanel made a paradox thanks to her lifestyle and the driving force of her bright talent, because her biography is so rich in bright facts.

“We need beauty to be loved by men; and stupidity so that we love men.”

External beauty in a woman was considered by her as a component of success, otherwise it is impossible to convince anyone of anything in life. The older the lady, the more important beauty is for her. Chanel said: “At 20, nature gives you your face, at 30, life sculpts it, but at 50 you have to take care of it yourself ... Nothing ages like trying to look younger. After 50, no one is young anymore. But I know 50 -year-olds, more attractive than three-quarters of poorly groomed young women." Chanel herself was like an eternal joyful teenager. She looked after herself very much and weighed as much all her life as she did at the age of 20.

For 87 years of her life, the great Coco gave her name to a whole style of clothing, costume, fashion house and perfume. A constant inventor, Chanel created a lot of new products, but above all ... the image of a woman that no one before her could have imagined

Today, in Chanel's Parisian apartment on rue Cambon, everything is arranged in the same way as during the life of the couturier.

Chanel herself called her Parisian home nothing more than "home." Luxurious apartment overlooking the Place Vendôme and the Ritz gardens, consists of two bedrooms, a living room and two bathrooms. Unlike the extremely laconic clothes that Chanel created, the interior of her home can hardly be called minimalist.

Coromandel lacquered furniture, baroque mirrors and rock crystal. The fashion designer lived in luxurious decorations for 37 years, until her death in 1971. The Coco Chanel Suite is still available for booking for approximately €4,500 per night.

Ernest Hemingway lived at the Ambos Mundos Hotel, Havana

Room 511, where Hemingway spent seven years, still looks like the writer went out for a while and is about to return: a modest mahogany bed, ascetic furniture, a Remington typewriter and manuscripts scattered on the table. He chose this place for the incredible view from the window of the busy streets of old Havana and the ocean.

Ernest Hemingway and Fidel Castro

It was here, in Ambos Mundos, that Hemingway began writing For Whom the Bell Tolls, and in 1940 he finished it in his own house, 24 kilometers from Havana in the village of San Francesco de Paula. A room at Ambos Mundos is now open to tourists as a Hemingway museum, so the hotel's attention is assured for decades to come.

Joseph Brodsky spent the summer at the First Hotel Reisen, Stockholm

Brodsky stayed at this hotel every summer from 1988 to 1994. “As soon as you leave the hotel, a salmon jumps out of the water and greets you,” he dedicated these lines to First Hotel Reisen for a reason.

The water surrounding the hotel was the poet's favorite element. The corner room, in which Brodsky always settled, was small, but it did not matter, because there was water all around and an amazing view from the window. Tourists can still stay in the famous room where Brodsky wrote The Embankment of the Incurable and several poems.

Mario Quintana stays for a long time at the Majestic Hotel, Porto Alegre

The name of Mario Quintana is almost unknown in Russia, but sacred to every Brazilian. The poet and journalist, who never had children and never married, was known for writing about "simple things" with his own irony and depth. It was he who made the Hotel Majestic in Porto Alegre famous all over the world, where he lived from 1968 to 1980.

Quintana then worked for the newspaper Correio do Povo, but in 1980 it was closed and the poet was evicted from the hotel. Now, within the walls of the Hotel Majestic, a cultural center named after Quintana has been opened, where the poet's niece Elena completely restored the interior of the room in which her relative lived.

Vladimir Nabokov lived at the Fairmont Montreux Palace Hotel, Montreux

The hotel where Richard Strauss and Sarah Bernhardt liked to stay became Vladimir Nabokov's home for sixteen years soon after the publication of Lolita. The fee for the novel allowed the writer to take several rooms in the hotel at once and not deny himself anything. A chic suite overlooking Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains inspired Nabokov to write several new novels, as well as to translate Lolita into Russian.

Now the sixth floor where the master lived is called Nabokov’s Floor, and hotel guests can rent the Nabokov Suite for 750 Swiss francs per day. In addition, guests will receive Laura and Her Original, Nabokov's unfinished novel he worked on in Montreux.