I have completely exhausted my
mother with stories of Gertrude Stein, the 20's, 30's, 40's, and Europe. And
when you exhaust one outlet, what do you do? You find another! So here I am.
It is fair to say that I am living in the now
but dreaming of the early-mid 1900's. I am Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris. But
do not fret! I have a solution. Here is what we are going to do. We
are going to build a time machine and then we are going to hope
right onto this beautiful piece of machinery and make it in time to have dinner
with Stein and Matisse on the rue de Fleurus. I mean, if Stewie Griffin can build
one, why can't I? Then, on the way back, perhaps we can enjoy a Ballet Russes,
conceived by Diaghilev, decorated by Picasso, and dressed by Chanel. Like seriously! Am I the only one that finds
it incredibly unfair that we missed this era?!? My awe and
infatuation is seriously turning into plain old bitterness.
I love history, fashion, and art and lately,
everything that I have been reading has revolved around these three subjects and
I am loving it! I’m just going to go through one today.
If I discuss more than one in one blog, I have this fear that you may return.
Side note: I get VERY attached
to books. I am disgustingly obsessed with Europe, especially Paris and the
South of France at the moment. But, I think I am in love with what they used
to be and not necessarily what they are today. Although, that does not
mean that they are not beyond exceptional today. They are just different. They
lack the life and emotion that exuded from them when art, literature, and
fashion were conceived by the geniuses that lived there and expressed in
countless books, on plenty of canvases, and listened to through beautiful gramophones.
These revolutionaries thrived on the simple things in life. They lived for friendships,
love, and adventure.
Sleeping with the Enemy, Coco Chanel's
Secret War - Hal Vaughan
This book was mind blowing! If you haven't read it, I seriously recommend that you do especially if you enjoy learning about WW2. It encompasses everything! Incredibly engaging from beginning to end.
To begin, Coco Chanel was a Nazi. Yup! Safe to
say that that was quite the disappointment. At that point in history, I would
assume many people shared her anti-Semitic views however, not many jumped at
the chance to collaborate with Nazis. Not that they shine in a better light, a
racist is a racist. However, what I do not understand is why anti-Semitism
still runs through the veins of the fashion industry today. Take Galliano for
example, he's a charmer wouldn't you say? Gotta love such thoroughly expressive
assholes. Although Dior had done the right thing and suspended him, I’m sure he
is fairly cozy shacked up with Oscar De La Renta nowadays. And by Oscar de la
Renta, I mean the fashion house, not the man himself. But I digress. Back to
Chanel. After reading the book, I am just in awe about how clueless people are.
Actually, I'm not in awe of their ignorance, I'm mostly in awe of the sheer
quantity of individuals who possess this blatant ignorance.
Sure, Coco Chanel was a creative genius. She did
a great deal for fashion in her day and her legacy lives on today. In fact, she
basically set the precedent for the little black dress, suits for women, jersey
fabrics for women's daily wear, and costume jewelry. She broke through many of
the expectations and customs of the day. However, it should also be noted that
she accomplished everything that she had not because she was a brilliant
businesswoman, but because she had many rich and powerful lovers. This, as one
would assume, can really help a young gal out! And it did. Unfortunately, her
anti-Semitism worsened over the years, as did her use of morphine injections.
Her collaboration with the Nazi's was a personal choice. Her betrayal of her
country was a personal choice and interestingly enough people do not care. But
why not? If we're quoting every completely empty and pathetic thing she has
ever said such as, "A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no
future." Really Chanel? Really? Maybe that is
why her first perfume Chanel 5 did so well during some of the hardest financial
times in history. Maybe everyone was desperately seeking a future than
can only be guaranteed by a bottle of Chanel perfume. Maybe. But probably not.
How about "A woman should be two things, classy and fabulous''? I
swear, i think this quote is reposted on social media more often that the rate
of babies being born. Now, don't quote me on this, but I think a woman should
be a few more things. Just a few. BUT, as I was saying, if we
are quoting these lovely perils of wisdom, why are we not focusing on the other
things she said and did that were not so neutral? Do people truly not care? When
millions of Parisians were starving on the street, Chanel and her Nazi
companions had no problem dining on the finest delicacies and wines at the Ritz
Carlton in Paris. I understand that war is a complicated time and,
inevitably, there will be those that fair well and those that do not but, she
was French
and Paris was her life. If that does
not tell you everything about her character, than I do not what will.
Coco Chanel may have been a creative genius that
dressed impeccably and built an empire, but she was neither classy nor
fabulous. She was, what you would call a social climber and once she got to the
top all that was left was a lonely traitor. The only thing that leaves me
satisfied is knowing that she lost her company to a Jewish family. If she lost
her company to anyone else, I'd be satisfied quite frankly, but the fact that it
so happens to be a Jewish family is really just icing on the delicious Chanel
cake.
So classy. SO Fabulous.
