Coco Chanel：A Biography

CocoChanel’sgeniusforfashionmayhavebeendistilledinsimplicity,butherlifewasanextravaganza.Abrilliantarrayofluminariesfellunderherspell–Picasso,Churchill,Cocteau;loversincludedtheGrandDukeDmitri;theEnglishroué,BoyCapel;aFrenchpoet;aGermanspyandtheDukeofWestminster,whoofferedtoleavehiswifeforherpermanently,ifshewouldonlybearhimanheir.Paradoxically,thoughshemighthavebeenregardedinsomelightsasapioneeringfeminist–sacrificingmarriagetoarevolutionarycareerincouture–Chanelwasutterlybaffledbytheideaofwomen’spolitics.Educatedwomen?'Awoman’seducationconsistsoftwolessons:neverleavethehousewithoutstockings,nevergooutwithoutahat.’Chanel’srisefrompennilessorphantomillionairedesigner–‘inventing’sportswear,thelittleblackdressandNo.5–makescompellingreading,notleastbecauseshewasinclinedtodesignherownlifeasdeftlyasshedidherfashions.AxelMadsennegotiatesChanel’ssmokescreenswithskill,bringingthistantalizingwomantolifeinallheralluringcomplexity.