The photos below reveal the living spaces of the woman who helped shape the face of modern fashion.

Coco Chanel, a name that left its mark on haute couture, high-end perfumes, and the luxury industry, was born in 1883. Her mother died when she was a teenager, and she and her two sisters were sent to an orphanage in the rural area of ​​Aubazine, France. From this deprived childhood, Chanel gradually rose to become one of the most renowned designers in Paris, drawing on her early experiences as the foundation for her groundbreaking creative thinking. At the orphanage affiliated with the convent, Chanel learned to sew and developed a fashion style using only black and white, reminiscent of the nuns&#39; attire. Chanel&#39;s interlocking C logo is also believed to have been inspired by the intersecting circles on the convent windows, recalling the space she spent her early years in. Chanel&#39;s elegant, minimalist style, along with the introduction of jersey fabric into women&#39;s fashion, revolutionized women&#39;s dress, freeing them from the restrictive corsets and heavy, long skirts of the past. However, in the realm of interior design, Chanel pursued a far more luxurious and elaborate aesthetic. In her Parisian apartments, Riviera villas, and private suites at the Ritz Hotel, she favored expensive Coromandel screens, elaborate sculptures, and large mirrors. These mirrors not only enriched her living spaces but also allowed Chanel to observe her designs on models. Amidst her collection of ornaments and precious items accumulated over the years, Chanel continued to work tirelessly until her death at the age of 87. In her book , *Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History* , she shared that as a child, she only owned two dresses. This memory partly explains her later passion for creating clothing, as Chanel personally designed countless dresses bearing her unique style. The photos below reveal the luxurious living space of the woman who helped shape the face of modern fashion.

Coco Chanel&#39;s 18th-century residence in Paris

In November 1932, Chanel held a party here to launch the only jewelry collection of her career. Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau were among the guests who came to admire the designs, inspired by the mosaic patterns at the Aubazine Abbey, where Chanel spent her childhood years.

The garden and interior of the private residence on Faubourg Saint-Honoré street.

In a 1929 photoshoot, Chanel posed with Lady Abdy, the Russian model and her muse, in the garden of her residence. It&#39;s not surprising that Chanel allowed photoshoots to take place on her private grounds, as she continued to open the space for shoots in the years that followed. The meticulously maintained garden exuded tranquility, while the interior was opulent, like a jewel box, filled with rare and precious decorative items. An article in The New Yorker from 1931 vividly described this house. The building was constructed in 1719 for the Duchess de Rohan-Montbazon. Chanel, who generally pursued a minimalist fashion style, found her living space filled with elaborate decorations, from Coromandel screens and Chinese handicrafts to mirrors, antique furniture from various periods, and valuable collectibles.

In 1931, Chanel came to America at the invitation of Sam Goldwyn, a producer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to design costumes for several of the company&#39;s films. Although Hollywood was her destination, she still spent a month in New York. The photograph captures Chanel at the Hotel Pierre, where she stayed during her time in the city, a second home during her journey abroad.

La Pausa, Coco Chanel&#39;s holiday villa on the Riviera.

Besides her famous luxury handbags, Chanel also favored vacation homes, a hobby reflecting the lifestyle of the upper class at the time. According to a 1931 article in The New Yorker , she owned an old Norman estate with a moat surrounding it in Mesnil-Guillaume, near Lisieux. Chanel often went there to hunt wild boars and had even considered developing a model farm. On weekends, she bought the small house of the writer Colette in Montfort-l&#39;Amaury. And for long summer holidays, Chanel built a modern mansion in Roquebrune, in the Riviera, and decorated the interior in a beige color palette. Designed in 1928 by architect Robert Streitz, the mansion, named La Pausa, is inspired by a 15th-century chapel located on the site. According to local legend, the Virgin Mary once stopped here on her way to Marseille after Jesus&#39; crucifixion. The name La Pausa thus evokes a moment of rest, while also being connected to the religious story passed down in the region. Chanel sold the mansion in 1953. In 2015, the fashion house acquired La Pausa to host brand events. In the photo, the designer poses on the estate grounds with her dog Gigot and close friend Lady Mary Dunn, a figure from the upper class and a philanthropist.

Coco Chanel&#39;s accommodations in London

Coco Chanel frequently stayed in London, a city closely associated with both her personal life and career. A portrait taken by photographer Cecil Beaton in 1938 was captured at a hotel in the city. Between 1924 and the early 1930s, Chanel and the Duke of Westminster shared a romantic relationship. She often stayed at Bourdon House, his Queen Anne-style mansion in Mayfair. In 1927, Chanel opened a boutique in London. An anecdote in London claims that the interlocking Cs on lampposts in some areas are the Duke&#39;s tribute to Chanel. However, these two letters actually stand for City Council.

Apartment on Rue Cambon and how to organize the living space.

In 1918, Chanel purchased an 18th-century building at 31 Rue Cambon, just steps from her first boutique on the same street. The boutique opened in 1910. She divided the building into floors, with the ground floor dedicated to displaying her designs, the upper floor to a reception area, and the next floor to her private apartment. Chanel&#39;s living space was filled with leather-bound books, antiques, Chinese screens, and her favorite flower, the camellia. In a photograph taken in 1957, the designer smiles beside a lion statue, reminiscent of her Leo zodiac sign, amidst her lavishly decorated apartment. Although attached to the place, Chanel did not sleep there overnight, choosing instead a private suite at the Ritz Hotel, just across the street.

The library in Coco Chanel&#39;s apartment

At 31 Rue Cambon, Chanel hosted many famous guests, from Salvador Dalí to Elizabeth Taylor. The apartment also served as her workspace. A 1960 photograph captures a fitting session with models in the designer&#39;s private space. After Chanel&#39;s death in 1971, the Chanel fashion house preserved the apartment in its original state, including the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. In her book *Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History *, biographer Rhonda K. Garelick reveals that Chanel once hired the young writer Maurice Sachs to supplement her personal library. He received a generous monthly fee for selecting classic leather-bound works that suited her reading preferences. Currently, the apartment is only open to VIP guests, serving as a venue for photoshoots and press events. The floor above remains the atelier, the fashion house&#39;s creative studio.

Coco Chanel&#39;s private suite at the Ritz Hotel

After work at 31 Rue Cambon, Chanel returned to her private suite at the Ritz Hotel in Paris to spend the night. In 1937, she rented Suite 302 and maintained the habit of staying at the hotel until her death in 1971. Even during the German occupation of Paris, when Nazi officers resided on some floors of the hotel, Chanel continued to stay there. According to the Ritz&#39;s official website, Place Vendôme, the hotel&#39;s address, was once Chanel&#39;s retreat after long workdays. The hotel staff were like family, and the Espadon restaurant was where she dined with close friends such as Misia Sert, Salvador Dalí, and Jean Cocteau. Today, the Ritz Hotel has a suite dedicated to Coco Chanel, continuing the long-standing connection between the designer and this iconic building.

Coco Chanel interior design style

Photographer Cecil Beaton began taking portraits of Coco Chanel in 1929. The 1965 photograph captures the designer in her private apartment, showcasing the interior design style she had pursued for decades. In her book *Mademoiselle *, Rhonda K. Garelick notes that Chanel developed her interior design concept in 1910, while living in a small apartment with her lover, Arthur “Boy” Capel, a polo player. The space then featured a rich yellow color palette, ornate lacquered furniture, gold-framed mirrors, floral motifs, English silverware, Oriental ceramics, white satin bedding, and sofas covered with soft cushions. According to Garelick, throughout her life, Chanel always incorporated features of her first apartment into the homes she lived in. It seemed to be the only space where she truly felt peaceful and comfortable.

Behind the Doors of Coco Chanel’s Residences

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