Chanel

At last, I made it to the Chanel show at the V&A a few weeks ago. I think of her as a controversial genius, and I was not disappointed. 

I know Chanel as the person who designed trousers for women to wear, who invented the LBD (Little black dress) and the classic Chanel two-piece suit and of course the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume. 

I knew of the history and controversy, battled with it – especially while teaching about her and have always wanted to find some good in her motives. Was dating an SS officer during WWII, a means to help with information for Britain, or a way of surviving and saving her nephew in an abhorrent war? The small section which showed some letters to Churchill helped… I read before that he visited Pompidou to suggest that France still have an elaborate, if not state funeral for her when she died, after there were suggestions, it should be cancelled. As the very helpful and insightful V&A staff member said to me in the gift shop ‘I try not to judge anyone who lived through a war’. Wise words, I hope.

The clothes shine. I was not prepared for the amount of influence she obviously has made over the recent years of fashion. In the days before the internet, fashion students must have studied her short colourful skirts and shorts, in the 60s, influences and respect for craft and cultures, in the 70s and rah-rah skirts, in the 80s! Beyond that we have had the revival of the LBD in the 90s and her dresses and suits on display would not be out of place today, or from the beginning of the century, a true classic

Intricate silk cuttings, exquisite embroidery but it was the clever panelling on the dresses that won my heart. How to add body, structure, and movement to a dress with panelled pleats. Plus, the colour combinations; just beautiful. 
… and we see the rainbow dress. It is all there.

Thank you, CoCo.