16 October 2011

Well Said: Coco Chanel

French couturière Coco Chanel pinning a sleeve in 1962.


"The opposite of luxury is not poverty because in the houses of the poor you can smell a good pot au feu. The opposite is not simplicity for there is beauty in the corn-stall and barn, often great simplicity in luxury, but there is nothing in vulgarity, its complete opposite."

So Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (1883—1971) told photographer Cecil Beaton in 1966.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

That gets printed out and goes into bold view!

Brilliant is what that is!

And....I must say , I enjoyed today the gossipy tidbit that when Marella Agnelli toured the Sid and Mercedes Bass apartment full of "period French furniture" ; Marella said ,"It will take her another lifetime to understand wicker!"

Now, that is good.

Heather Robinson said...

Love her or hate her, her wisdom on certain subjects is undeniable. Merci for this quote--it is one to think on--as all of your posts are, actually.

MJH Design Arts said...

I love her! and she was spot on with this observation. Super post. Mary

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous foto dahhling!

the modern sybarite ™ said...

Terriblement bien dit Mme Chanel!!!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely my favorite designer of all time. Classic Chic will never go out of style anymore than her designs will.
Your post was a reminder of this fact.

Anonymous said...

by far Chanel will always be my favorite designer of the standard of classic & timeless fashion. Love the photo!

Hels said...

Interesting stuff, thanks. Have you read Sleeping With The Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War, which written by Hal Vaughan. It has just been published.

Coco Chanel's history is a bit hard to pin down, so it will be fascinating to see what sort of reception Vaughan's book receives.

Anonymous said...

Love this!! She speaks with such authority, and an authority she always will be!
xo E + J

Unknown said...

She had simply class! With heart and mind and style! A rare combination!

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