Chanel

This illustrated biography offers unprecedented insight into Coco Chanel’s complex and enigmatic life through new research and analysis of the designer by an expert historian. Chanel expert Isabelle Fiemeyer offers a rare, deeply personal look into the life of the iconic designer Coco Chanel. This biography draws from exclusive interviews with Chanel’s closest family members and extensive archival research to reveal the designer’s most private world—her love for symbolism and poetry, her romantic relationships, and her enduring bond with her nephew, André Palasse, whom she raised as her own son. His daughter, Gabrielle Palasse-Labrunie—Chanel’s goddaughter and only direct descendant—shares intimate memories and access to her great-aunt’s cherished collection of fashion, jewelry, and art. Divided into five chronological sections, the book immerses readers in Chanel’s life, unveiling rarely seen personal artifacts: gifts from her great love, Boy Capel, as well as her furniture, favorite jewelry, talismans, garments, family photos, and correspondence. This new text expands upon Fiemeyer’s research from her previous books on the designer and includes the compelling chapter “Alias Coco,” which explores newly uncovered documents from French Secret Service archives, shedding light on Chanel’s clandestine activities during World War II and her connections to the Resistance. Isabelle Fiemeyer’s sensitive literary style along with the insights and recollections of Palasse-Labrunie reveal the hidden depths of Chanel’s character, exploring a side of “Auntie Coco” far removed from her public image. This handsome book—with three-quarter binding and cloth spine—is an essential read for those who seek to understand the complex and enigmatic woman behind the legendary brand.