Lesson #3: Be Inspired

“Fashion is not simply a matter of clothes,” said Chanel. “Fashion is in the air, born upon the wind. One intuits it. It is in the sky and on the road.” A passionate woman, Chanel found the inspiration for her designs in the simplicities of her everyday life. From the closets of her lovers to the time she spent outdoors on her frequent fly-fishing expeditions, Chanel never stopped seeking out ideas for new product lines.

Chanel’s fame came almost as much from her personal exploits and relationships as it did from her designs. From Picasso to Salvador Dali to Stravinsky to Diaghilev, Chanel became a companion to many of the most powerful and talented men of her time. But, she wasn’t just idling her time away in their company. Instead, Chanel was using them for the inspiration they were providing her.

During the 1930s, Chanel came as close as she ever would to marrying. She was the mistress to the Duke of Westminster, one of Europe’s richest men, and was due to marry him but in classic Chanel style, she changed her mind, explaining, “There have been several Duchesses of Westminster. There is only one Chanel.” But, it was during her time with the Duke that Chanel got her inspiration for her soft-belted coat, tweed jackets and blazers, sailor sweaters and cuff-linked shirts. She had borrowed his wardrobe to create a sense of style all her own.

Chanel also sought inspiration from the natural environment around her. She had an enduring love for the camellia, a large, delicate flower whose leaves are simple and arranged in an alternate pattern. She became infamous for trying to immortalize the flower in fabric and for wearing a white camellia herself on many occasions. The camellia is said to represent radiance and purity and was soon being placed on Chanel bags, belts and jewelry, in addition to clothes. This simple flower would become one of Chanel’s classic trademarks.

Throughout most of her career, Chanel made her home in her beloved Ritz Paris, in which her suite continues to be named after her to this day. Her view overlooked the Place Vendôme, a hexagonal open area in the centre of Paris. It was this shape that inspired many of Chanel’s creations, including numerous watch faces as well as the stopper for the Chanel No.5 perfume bottle.

“A fashion that does not reach the streets is not a fashion,” Chanel once said. Not only did Chanel bring her fashion to the streets, but she was also able to take fashion up from the streets, using the personality of a city and its natural environment to inspire her creations. The simplicity of this approach was a large part of their appeal; a simple flower on the side of a handbag would bring more elegance than a thousand tiny frills and laces. Chanel understood that message and made it the basis of all her creations. She took the beauty from the world around her and transformed it into beautiful products that could sell.



Lesson #3: Be Inspired

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