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.


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11 comments:

  1. Anonymous16 October, 2011 21:27

    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.

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  2. Heather Robinson17 October, 2011 14:42

    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.

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  3. MJH Design Arts17 October, 2011 22:40

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

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  4. Anonymous19 October, 2011 10:51

    Absolutely gorgeous foto dahhling!

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  5. the modern sybarite ™19 October, 2011 10:54

    Terriblement bien dit Mme Chanel!!!

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  6. Anonymous23 October, 2011 00:08

    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.

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  7. Anonymous01 November, 2011 11:08

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

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  8. Hels05 November, 2011 04:44

    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.

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  9. Anonymous08 November, 2011 22:39

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

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  10. Unknown11 November, 2011 00:42

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

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  11. Anonymous26 November, 2011 03:11

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    ReplyDelete

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