Coco Chanel

"Gripping. . . . In the deftest prose, Picardie plots one of the most extraordinary lives of the twentieth Century. . . . Lavishly illustrated." —Mail on Sunday

Coco Chanel was an extraordinary inventor, conjuring up the little black dress, bobbed hair, trousers for women, contemporary chic, bestselling perfumes, and the most successful fashion brand of all time. But she also invented herself, fashioning the myth of her own life with the same dexterity as her couture; and what lies beneath her own glossy surface is darker, more mysterious, and far more intriguing.

Uncovering remarkable new details about Gabrielle Chanel's humble early years, Justine Picardie picks up the legend Chanel where it began—in orphanhood and poverty. Throwing new light on her passionate and, at times, dark relationships and providing profound insights into her connections with Cocteau, Diaghilev, Picasso, and Dali, this beautifully constructed portrait gives a fresh and penetrating look at what made Coco Chanel the strong-spirited and powerful presence she became. An authoritative account, based on personal observations and interviews with Chanel's last surviving friends, employees, and relatives, the book also unravels her coded language and symbols and tracks the influence of her formative years on her legendary style.

This special new edition has been extensively revised and updated and offers a uniquely authoritative account of the world's greatest designer. Adding fresh new insights and discoveries, it comes complete with a compelling array of previously unseen images from the Chanel archives.

"Fascinating." —Edwina Ings-Chambers, Sunday Times

"Picardie's . . . book does a great job of depicting a difficult and compelling 20th-century icon." ——Kate Betts, The Week

"Elegant." —Frances Wilson, Daily Telegraph