Remembering Coco Chanel August 19 2013

by Kara Witham

Gabrielle "Coco" Bonheur Chanel was born this day in 1883.  In honor of her birthday, enjoy some bookish eye-candy from her 31 Rue Cambon Paris apartment.

Interesting tidbit: Coco only lounged and entertained at 31 Rue Cambon, as there was no bedroom there, she slept at her private suite in the Ritz.

Here Coco lounged with, among others, Giacometti, Stravinsky and Dali.  Today her apartment has been preserved as such and is used for Chanel meetings.  (Photo via The Coveteur)

Coco's writing desk (Photo via The Coveteur)

These books must smell heavenly...and the birdcage was the inspiration for Vanessa Paradis’ “Coco” perfume campaign. (Photo via The Coveteur)

East meets West. (Photo via The Coveteur)

She often lounged here smoking her Gitanes. (Photo via The Coveteur)

Portrait of Coco, aged 74 published in LIFE Magazine (1957) by Mark Shaw.

Duke of Westminster lavished gifts on Coco, such as three cigarette boxes, sit on a table in Chanel's apartment.  The boxes are silver on the outside and gold, the more precious metal, on the inside, a luxury hidden from view that then inspired the Chanel principle of "luxury for yourself" or "invisible perfection" (as described by Odile Babin, a Chanel archivist).

Here at Secret Safe Books, we strongly identify with the hidden luxury principle!