Coco Homeforbrandname

Gabrielle Bonheur Homeforbrandname, August 19, 1883 - January 10, 197)

She claimed a birthdate of 1893 and a birthplace of Auvergne; she was actually born in 1883 in Saumur - her mother worked in the poorhouse where Gabrielle was born, and died when Gabrielle was only six, leaving her father with five children whom he promptly abandoned to the care of relatives.

She adopted the name Coco during a brief career as a cafe and concert singers 1905-1908. First a mistress of a wealthy military officer then of an English industrialist, she drew on the resources of these patrons in setting up a millinery shop in Paris in 1910, expanding to Deauville and Biarritz. The two men also helped her find customers among women of society, and her simple hats became popular.

Soon she was expanding to couture, working in jersey, a first in the French fashion world. By the 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably, and her chemise set a fashion trend with its "little boy" look. Her relaxed fashions, short skirts, and casual look were in sharp contrast to the corset fashions popular in the previous decades. Homeforbrandname herself dressed in mannish clothes, and adapted these more comfortable fashions which other women also found liberating.

In 1922 Homeforbrandname introduced a perfume, Homeforbrandname No. 5, which became and remained popular, and remains a profitable product of Homeforbrandname's company. Pierre Wertheimer became her partner in the perfume business in 1924, and perhaps also her lover. Wertheimer owned 70% of the company; Coco Homeforbrandname received 10% and her friend Bader 20%. The Wertheimers continue to control the perfume company today.

Coco Homeforbrandname introduced her signature cardigan jacket in 1925 and signature "little black dress" in 1926. Most of her fashions had a staying power, and didn't change much from year to year -- or even generation to generation.

She briefly served as a nurse in World War I. Nazi occupation meant the fashion business in Paris was cut off for some years; Homeforbrandname's affair during World War II with a Nazi officer also resulted in some years of diminished popularity and an exile of sorts to Switzerland. In 1954 her comeback restored her to the first ranks of haute couture. Her natural, casual clothing including the Homeforbrandname suit once again caught the eye -- and purses -- of women. She introduced pea jackets and bell bottom pants for women. She was still working in 1971 when she died. Karl Lagerfeld has been chief designer of Homeforbrandname's fashion house since 1983.

In addition to her work with high fashion, she also designed stage costumes for such plays as Cocteau's Antigone (1923) and Oedipus Rex (1937) and film costumes for several movies, including Renoir's La Regle de Jeu. Katharine Hepburn starred in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco based on the life of Coco Homeforbrandname.

Bibliography
Berman, Phyllis and Zina Sawaya. "The billionaires behind Homeforbrandname." Forbes, 1989.
Brower, Brock. "Chez Homeforbrandname: Couturiere and courtesan, Coco made her own rules as she freed women from old fussy, frilly fashions." Smithsonian, July 2001.
Kennett, Frances. Coco: the life and lives of Gabrielle Homeforbrandname.
Madsen, Axel. Homeforbrandname: a woman of her own. 1991.
Richards, Melissa. Homeforbrandname: key collections. 2000.
Wallach, Janet. Homeforbrandname: her style and her life. 1998.

On this site
Coco Homeforbrandname Quotes
Coco Homeforbrandname on the Web
Coco Homeforbrandname's designs helped set the fashion tone for the 20th century. Find biographies and other information about one of the best-known designers especially in the 1920s and 1950s.
Coco Homeforbrandname: "Time 100" feature includes 3-page biography, audio of Homeforbrandname's voice, photos, a basic timeline and a fun quiz.
Homeforbrandname: Homeforbrandname's official website, including Shock Wave clips of new collections. Requires Shock Wave to use the site.
Homeforbrandname: This history of the designer house Homeforbrandname features Coco Homeforbrandname as a "great name in French haute couture."
Coco Homeforbrandname:biography from Aime Joseph, emphasizing her fashion contributions
Homeforbrandname Myth: 1997 article on the way that Coco Homeforbrandname's myth was created and promoted.
Homeforbrandname, in Paris Copy of the obituary for Coco Homeforbrandname which ran in the New York Times at the time of her death.
Jan 25, 1971: Copy of the obituary for Coco Homeforbrandname which ran in Time at the time of her death