Loco for Coco

I've never considered myself as a designer or "it' bag person.  Don't get me wrong there are many bags I covet but something has always prevented me from purchasing one.  I see young girls with 2.55's and Alexas' and immediately think how the hell can they afford that, or they must have terrible credit card debt.  Of course it could have been a present and then I make assumptions that they cannot truly understand the value of such an item.   The truth is i'm not sure I understand it.

I see the price tag of luxury handbags and imagine all the things I could buy instead.  The advertising for these items displays that the type of person to buy it, leads a certain lifestyle involving rivieras and yachts.  I assume that you are also paying for quality materials or craftmanship but for some reason I opt for the cheaper alternative that invariably falls apart within a few months.  I guess I'm just not sure of what I would actually be investing in.

As I aimlessly browsed through the bookshop one lunchtime I stumbled upon this biography of Coco Chanel by Justine Picardie.  I flicked through a couple of pages and was so enthralled I had to purchase it.  I had never really paid much thought to Coco (or Gabrielle) Chanel's background and had no idea of the links she had to aristocracy inspite of her working class beginnings.

The book also explains inspirations behind her designs as well as the creation of her famous No. 5 perfume and I was most surprised to find I had an affinity with her.  Chanel's designs are simple, classic and made for women to feel comfortable and that is something I can understand.  My reluctance to purchase luxury items was simply due to not wanting to be flashy.  This book made me understand the ethos of Chanel and that simplicity is elegant and stylish.  As someone who enjoys to make their own jewellery I was also inspired when I learned that Chanel mixed precious stones with glass copies in her costume jewellery in the Twenties.  Not that diamonds are within my creative budget but it made me realise that even with designer brands, quality can be a persons own perception.

Coco Chanel, The Legend and the Life, HarperCollins 2011.

This book is a great read and i'm not going to lie has made me a little obsessed with all things Chanel.  Learning about Coco Chanel as a person has made me understand why owning a Chanel handbag is desirable to me.  It has also made me want to learn more about other designers before I invest in their brand or products.  I can see an investment being made in the not to distant future and if I get cold feet about it there's always Christmas......