Coco Chanel news and archive

Strong whiff of wartime scandal clings to Coco Chanel

When Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel died in her suite at the Ritz in Paris 50 years ago this week, the world mourned the greatest fashion designer of the century. What no one mentioned was that Chanel had spent World War II in the luxury hotel with her German officer lover working as a spy for both German military intelligence and the SS. After the...

People |BACKGROUND Featured

The Wertheimers: who are the mysterious owners of Chanel?

“Chanel will remain private and independent," stated Philippe Blondiaux, financial director of the Luxury House, when presenting the company's 2018 earnings in June. The announcement softened speculation surrounding a possible change of ownership for the house, something which intensified following the death of Karl Lagerfeld in February. In...

People

Russian ballet debuts paying homage to Coco Chanel

The life and works of fashion legend Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel will be celebrated in a new ballet premiering at Moscow's Bolshoi on Saturday that highlights the designer's love of Russia and starring prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova. The one act performance by choreographer Yuri Possokhov pays tribute to the celebrated founder of the fashion...

Fashion

The new black: Young Spanish designers reclaim traditions

Young Spanish designers are reclaiming their "Spanishness": age-old traditions, religious imagery and even the colour black, which centuries ago was a signature of the country's all-powerful monarchy. That is one of the messages at the "Modus" exhibition currently running in Madrid, which explores the influence of Spanish history and tradition...

Fashion

Paris names its first street after a fashion designer

In a city yet to name a back alley after Coco Chanel, Parisians stepped out Sunday to do their organic shopping at a street market named after fashion designer Sonia Rykiel. Hours earlier the city's mayor Anne Hidalgo -- something of a fashionista herself -- had declared Allee Sonya Rykiel open, with her label staging its Paris fashion week show...

Fashion Featured

Lagerfeld shares his 'perfect trip' on Chanel Airlines at PFW

Crowded airports, long security lines and flight delays. Flying today is not the most pleasant experience, and Karl Lagerfeld thinks those travelling on Chanel Airlines deserve a touch more glamour. The indefatigable 82-year-old fashion legend on Tuesday turned Paris's glass-roofed Grand Palais exhibition hall into a massive departure lounge...