Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Lesson #4: Leave A Strong Impression

Coco Chanel Articles
Lesson #4: Leave A Strong Impression

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress,” said Chanel. “Dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Chanel understood the importance of appearance to getting ahead in the business world. Looking her best wasn’t just a matter of wanting to feel feminine or being attractive for Chanel, it was also a way to gain respect.

When Chanel first started her own business, she did so at a time when it was almost unheard of for women to be calling the shots. She had to struggle to break into the male-dominated industry and knew that in order to do so, she would have to present herself as well put together as possible. Chanel believed that it was a simple fact of life – the more beautiful the woman, the more successful she would be. “I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little – if only out of politeness,” said Chanel. “And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”

Chanel didn’t create her products with just beauty in mind; she didn’t want women to be beautiful just so they could leave their houses. She wanted women to be beautiful so that they could leave their houses and become someone, to do something important. Chanel knew all too well that in order to succeed in any industry, it was important to present yourself as the success that you dream of being. And, for her, it was important to feel like a real woman. “The more feminine a woman, the stronger she is,” said Chanel.

She once joked that, “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” Chanel was a staunch believer in the importance of personal appearance as being a contributing factor in one’s professional success. In the 15 seconds it takes for someone to make a first impression, Chanel believed it was important to fill that time with nothing but elegance and class.

Beauty, according to Chanel, was something that was attainable by any woman who put any effort into it. “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty,” said Chanel. “It is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty…a woman has the age she deserves.” Investing in your appearance was an investment in your future, according to Chanel. By presenting yourself as an elegant, youthful and refined woman, she believed that you were communicating success itself. If you dressed the part, you could achieve the part.

Although she spoke mainly of femininity and would never have defined herself as a feminist, Chanel’s contribution to the emancipation of women is indisputable. It was this desire to help women feel beautiful and successful that kept Chanel working in the industry until the day she died. “I love luxury,” she said. “And luxury lies not in richness and ornateness but in the absence of vulgarity. Vulgarity is the ugliest word in our language. I stay in the game to fight it.”





Lesson 4 Leave A Strong Impression

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
Dianne Crampton
Dianne Crampton is an executive leadership coach, team consultant, author and president of TIGERS Success Series, Inc. Dianne has been helping CEO's and Executives connect their employees to their core values and goals for over 20 years using the trademarked TIGERS team culture process, which stands for trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk and success. To download a free white paper on behaviors that build strong teams and behaviors that will predictably tear them down go here. - Visit Dianne Crampton's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

Famous Entrepreneur Video
Coco Chanel Video (French) - Première interview à la télévision de Mademoiselle COCO CHANEL dans son bureau... sur la mode, sa prochaine collection, l'élégance, son don, son style et les imitations. A celle-ci succède une présentation des modèles de la collection 1959 par le mannequin vedette de Chanel, Marie-Hélène ARNAUD, et d'autres mannequins. Phrase finale de Mlle CHANEL dans l'escalier sur la collection présentée:
Famous Entrepreneur Video

Coco Chanel Picture Coco Chanel Newsletter
Get our free newsletter to learn more about Coco Chanel and other famous entrepreneurs!

Name:
Email:





Evan Elite Authors
Leanne Hoagland-Smith  
Cheryl Matthynssens  
Jay Kubassek  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Sale Systems Icon Sale Systems
DCJA Consultancy Case Study Icon DCJA Consultancy Case Study
Relationships and Referrals Icon Relationships and Referrals
Memorandum Template 1 Icon Memorandum Template 1
Non Disclosure Agreement Icon Non Disclosure Agreement
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Top 50 Social Media Blogs
Top 50 Social Media Blogs
Top 50 Social Media Blogs
 
Top 50 SEO Posts of the Year
Top 50 SEO Posts - 2008
Top SEO Posts of the Year
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Lucia R. Kanyasa Mbeya, Tanzania,
Lucia R. Kanyasa
Mbeya, Tanzania
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Dana Zita, > $2.5 Mil in revenues
Dana Zita
> $2.5 Mil in revenues
Gord Hotchkiss, $113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
Gord Hotchkiss
$113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Wolfgang Puck, Wolfgang Puck
Wolfgang Puck
Wolfgang Puck
Madam C.J. Walker, Madam C.J. Walker
Madam C.J. Walker
Madam C.J. Walker
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone
Keith Ferrazzi
Never Eat Alone
Donald J. Trump, Trump University
Donald J. Trump
Trump University
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Why I Exchange Business Cards
By Terry Whalin
     Unspoken Yet Important Rules for Book Proposals
By Terry Whalin
     Need Inspiration? Get A Deadline
By Terry Whalin

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information