Coco Chanel

(https://sites.google.com/a/lposd.org/lilinieman/de ())

Coco Chanel's Influence On the Modern World

"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud"(Staff). Chanel believed that everyone should always speak for themselves, no matter their opinion. Chanel took this to heart, and used this as a life motto. Gabrielle ¨Coco¨ Chanel was born in a small area in France to a poor family. Her mother passed away when she was twelve, and her father then abandoned her and her six siblings. Chanel grew up in many different orphanages in France. When Chanel realized her potential, she left to become something successful. A true hero must have many important qualities, including  the ability to be fearless and hardworking. A hero that is fearless is able to make great decisions without the worry of being criticized. They also must always be willing to take risks, and see their faults. In order for a hero to be hardworking, they must want to become, and produce something great.  A hardworking hero must also be willing to improve, and make comebacks when they face a setback. Coco Chanel modernized women's fashion, and built a and fashion empire that still lives today. Coco Chanel exemplifies a hero by being fearless and hardworking throughout her difficult life.

(http://www.sheramag.com/12-coco-chanel-quotes-ever ())

Chanel shows that she was fearless by taking risks, that others were afraid to make. Chanel was always doing things unpredictable for the world, and improving her life. Chanel stood her ground throughout hard times like World War One. She also saw the struggles women were facing and designed things that would have never been produced by other designers. Chanel never cared about what others would think of her, and this gave her the real ability to become the fearless women she was."Where other designers imposed, Chanel implied. Where other designers foisted their fantasies or demanded constraints, Chanel offered liberation, firm in her conviction that women could be free"("The Enduring Allure.").Chanel was never one to think small, she created things that were big and creative. She showed that ability of being fearless and creative, by being the first to come out with unpredictable designs.When she knew that others copied her work, she didn't take that negatively, because she knew she pioneered the designs. It did not matter how well some of her clothing lines sold in the fashion industry, she was always open to new possibilities and always kept that in mind. She always had a plan, but was always open to change it for the better. With being fearless, comes a great responsibility of challenging yourself. Chanel was able to challenge herself by building herself into a great designer, with no big influences. She knew the influence of her peers growing up, and wanted to change into something different than what they all were.When times were rough, she held on to hope for the Chanel company. "Other couturiers left the country, but Chanel endured the war in Paris, her future uncertain"(Krick). Chanel shows her fearless personality by accepting the fact that a future can be uncertain and frightening. She stood her ground in one of the hardest times our world has faced. She did not believe in giving in, and always had trust in the future. When hard times came, she stayed in France, to keep building the Chanel empire. Coco Chanel is an inspiration to the world by teaching that one must always be fearless and trustful.

( http://www.fashionedbylove.co.uk/2011/05/biograph ())

Chanel worked hard every day to improve her company and life. Chanel endured most of her design career during World War one. Although she could have left, she remained where her career started.

"The designer faced challenges in this endeavor: securing finances, assembling a new staff, seeking out new fabrics, competing at age seventy against a new generation of designers"(Krick). Not only was Chanel facing the hardships of the era, She also had to compete with other designers. Because she had very little money and had the struggle of the war, Chanel's age also affected her. Most designers of the time were young, and knew what was popular for the French. While in her older years, producing something that would be timeless was a struggle, but with hard work she accomplished that. Hard working people have success and failure. Chanel showed this by not letting others' opinion's affect her work. She was able to do this throughout her life. "Although it was given poor reviews by the French press for being updated versions of earlier pieces, her new line was very well received in the United States. Chanel's career was revived, and in 1957 she won the Neiman Marcus Fashion Oscar for "most influential designer of the twentieth century"(Aronson). Chanel clothing is now highly favored all around the world, but from the beginning it was not. Once Chanel put original designs out, she normally added changes, to make her clothing popular with the working woman. This work ethic was not popular in France in the fifties, but was highly prefered by the American women. Chanel was the most acclaimed designer in the twentieth century, and she earned this title. Chanel's hard work has payed off, and the Chanel company is now worth billions of dollars. Chanel's headquarters are still working and producing great things. Chanel is a hero who was proved that hard work will always lead to success. Chanel was a very successful women who changed the world with her dedication.  

Chanel stands out to many for being one of the women that have influenced this world. Not only was she a world renowned designer, she proved that with hard work, one can always be successful. She came from a torn family, orphanages, and worked hard enough to become the women she was. We can learn to always trust in the future, and to never give up. Chanel is a hero to many because of her fearlessness and her motivation of being hardworking. Chanel inspires me because she never gave up. When she was rejected, she always kept going. She was a confident women who didn't see failure as an option, and worked to get herself out of a impoverished life. Chanel can inspire all to work towards their dreams.  "A girl should be two things: who and what she wants"(Staff). Chanel still motivates women to become something great and to achieve amazing things.

Works Cited

Aronson, Jamie. "Coco Chanel." Coco Chanel, Jan. 2009, p. 1. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=36212795&site=brc-live.

Krick, Jessa. "Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) and the House of Chanel." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art

History. New York: The Metropolitan

Museum of Art, 2000-. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chnl/hd_chnl.htm (October 2004)

Staff, Bio. "Coco Chanel In Her Own Words." Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 11 Jan. 2017,
www.biography.com/news/coco-chanel-quotes. Accessed 10 May 2017.

"The Enduring Allure." Biography, vol. 2, no. 11, Nov. 1998, p. 67. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=1381611&site=brc-live.