Invierno de 1946. Saint-Moritz, Suiza. Dos viejos amigos Paul Morand y Coco Chanel, se encuentran casualmente. El fragor de la guerra ha puesto fin al deslumbrante mundo donde ejercian sus peculiares talentos en un ambiente desenvuelto y cosmopolita. Paris ha dejado de ser una fiesta. Desde alli se mira con prevencion a estos dos personajes, a quienes se reprocha su actitu Invierno de 1946.

• Chanel Paul

Saint-Moritz, Suiza. Dos viejos amigos Paul Morand y Coco Chanel, se encuentran casualmente. El fragor de la guerra ha puesto fin al deslumbrante mundo donde ejercian sus peculiares talentos en un ambiente desenvuelto y cosmopolita. Paris ha dejado de ser una fiesta. Desde alli se mira con prevencion a estos dos personajes, a quienes se reprocha su actitud durante la Ocupacion.

Invierno de 1946. Saint-Moritz, Suiza. Dos viejos amigos Paul Morand y Coco Chanel, se encuentran casualmente. El fragor de la guerra ha puesto fin al deslumbrante.

Voluntariamente exiliada, B+inactiva, por primera vez sin arreglar, mordiendose los labiosB;, Coco Chane l, fumando incansablemente, desgrana sus furias y sus recuerdos frente a su companero, que se ocupa de anotarlos al regresar a su habitacion. El aire de Chanel, aparecido en 1976, fue el utimo de los libros de Morand. El y Coco se habian conocido en 1921, compartian el mismo circulo de amistades, Jean Cocteau, Erik Satie, Pablo Picasso, Igor Stravinsky, el matrimonio Sert.

Morand first met Coco Chanel in 1921, and in 1946 was invited to visit Chanel in St. Moritz, where he had extensive conversations with her, with a view to help write her memoirs. That project never came off, and the notes were put away and did not surface again until after Chanel's death, and were published finally in 1976. It's pretty well known by now that Chanel created herself in more ways than one, inventing stories about her childhood and upbringing, but the reality of a young woman who bro Morand first met Coco Chanel in 1921, and in 1946 was invited to visit Chanel in St. Moritz, where he had extensive conversations with her, with a view to help write her memoirs. That project never came off, and the notes were put away and did not surface again until after Chanel's death, and were published finally in 1976. It's pretty well known by now that Chanel created herself in more ways than one, inventing stories about her childhood and upbringing, but the reality of a young woman who broke loose from that past, lived in the era of Picasso and Sert, and changed the face of fashion in a career that spanned the world wars, can't be anything other than fascinating.

No longer were clothes designed only for women whose lives were 'worthless and idle'; they were for women who led busy lives and who, therefore, needed to feel comfortable in their clothes. Tossing out corsets and introducing menswear tailoring, Chanel anticipated the needs of women as the 20th-century advanced. Because these are Chanel's own words and thoughts, this book provides an insight into the thinking of a woman who was not only a great couturier, but a woman whose influence still resonates today.

I cannot help but be reminded of the Chanel exhibit I saw at the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few years ago. The exhibit juxtaposed Chanel's work with that of Karl Lagerfeld, who became head of the House of Chanel in the early '80s. The difference was stark. Nearly everything of Coco Chanel's could be worn today without hesitation, so classic are they. The designs of Lagerfeld, on the other hand, could have the date of design written on them. The book is not, however, confined to Chanel and the world of fashion. She talks, also, about her private life, her amours, which would be a book in and of themselves.

Morand did an interview with Chanel and then transcribed the notes. It's really interesting because it's Chanel telling the story. It isn't just a story of an ambitious woman who wanted to change fashion, it was someone who didn't fit in.

Sometimes she was insecure, sometimes bitter and arrogant. There's so much emotion that you really get pulled into who she is. I think another interesting thing is the perspective. Sometimes she'll acknowledge lying, other times denounce that she lies. It makes Morand did an interview with Chanel and then transcribed the notes. It's really interesting because it's Chanel telling the story. It isn't just a story of an ambitious woman who wanted to change fashion, it was someone who didn't fit in.

Sometimes she was insecure, sometimes bitter and arrogant. There's so much emotion that you really get pulled into who she is.

I think another interesting thing is the perspective. Sometimes she'll acknowledge lying, other times denounce that she lies. It makes it hard to know if this is true, especially since some of the things she says are not the same as other biographies and interviews, but not necessarily inconsistent. It all just adds more to the character of Chanel. There's a lot of beauty in there too.

She has some fabulous ideas about women and clothes. Not just how they should wear them, but her reasoning in making things beautiful. She's very insightful and to the point. This is a short book, so I was able to read it all in one day. It's wandering and haphazardly coherent; the chapters are like loose-leaf bundles of quotes.

It does little to dispel the 'mystery' around Coco Chanel, instead it intensifies it. Almost like the chapters of her life that she's willing to share with you are items in her collection, which she cuts, colors and embellishes as she sees fit, then parades onto the show floor for ten seconds amid flashbulbs and ambient music. She covers ever This is a short book, so I was able to read it all in one day. It's wandering and haphazardly coherent; the chapters are like loose-leaf bundles of quotes. It does little to dispel the 'mystery' around Coco Chanel, instead it intensifies it. Almost like the chapters of her life that she's willing to share with you are items in her collection, which she cuts, colors and embellishes as she sees fit, then parades onto the show floor for ten seconds amid flashbulbs and ambient music. She covers everything from how the back of a dress must be cut with enough fabric (because it is the back that moves, not the front) to dishing on her affair with Westminster, the richest man in Britain.

The sharp, acerbic commentary on life and fashion makes it fun to read. There are even wise little snippets that are worth committing to memory.

And the famous quote about costume jewelry vs real jewelry comes from a more nuanced philosophy about bling. The real gem of this story is in what it attempts to cover.

The subtext is that Coco Chanel was intensely private, bookish, misanthropic and unwavering and unapologetic in her commitment to her own happiness. She was committed to work and to securing her own freedom. You get the sense, if you piece together what she says about her earliest experiences, that she was terrified of dependence. And she reveals, by glossing over, that she had these insecurities about her relationships, but a stronger security in herself. It's almost like listening to someone who, deep inside, is still a little orphan. I closed the book thinking, 'I want to read a REAL biography of Chanel,' but maybe I like the glamor enough to leave well enough alone. Coco Chanel is arguably the most quoted woman in fashion.

Her charming, witty prose style is undoubtedly enjoyable, but Chanel herself is more difficult to read. In this book, all of her famous and infamous lines are pierced together to form one text, overflowing with eccentricity. The book’s title is ironic - Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s translated diary hardly makes her seem alluring in the most obvious sense of the word. However, it is interesting to see inside the mind of one of fashion’s most Coco Chanel is arguably the most quoted woman in fashion. Her charming, witty prose style is undoubtedly enjoyable, but Chanel herself is more difficult to read.

In this book, all of her famous and infamous lines are pierced together to form one text, overflowing with eccentricity. The book’s title is ironic - Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s translated diary hardly makes her seem alluring in the most obvious sense of the word. However, it is interesting to see inside the mind of one of fashion’s most important figures as she recounts her relationships with friends and lovers, her finicky obsession with needing everything in her life to be too simple, and her disdain for the women in her social circles. Chanel describes in detail the effect she believes she had on fashion - she “made it honest” and was one of the first to make clothing for busy women - and decrees fashion shows and publicity stunts absurd and extravagant. The Allure of Chanel is insightful and poetic, but at the same time, I can’t help wondering how much of Chanel’s self-portrat is drawn with the intention to flatter some features, while leaving others out of the frame comletely. (Reviewed by Stephanie Fereiro). I’m very intrigued by the mind and life of Mademoiselle Chanel, so I was all too happy to discover this little gem with some of her own words, thoughts and stories as told to Paul Morand.

However, I found it a bit annoying to read – choppy, like a poorly translated transcript from an overdrawn interview. And since, I am a fan of the woman and the brand, I was aware of her strong desire for recreation and redemption from her true past which lead to a long list of lies, revisions and recreations. I’m very intrigued by the mind and life of Mademoiselle Chanel, so I was all too happy to discover this little gem with some of her own words, thoughts and stories as told to Paul Morand.

Chanel Paul

However, I found it a bit annoying to read – choppy, like a poorly translated transcript from an overdrawn interview. And since, I am a fan of the woman and the brand, I was aware of her strong desire for recreation and redemption from her true past which lead to a long list of lies, revisions and recreations. Perhaps if Paul Morand provided his insights or anecdotes of his own it would have given Chanel more dimension. I’m currently reading Justine Picardie’s COCO CHANEL: THE LEGEND AND THE LIFE, which does quote back to this book a lot and I’m happy I read THE ALLURE OF CHANEL first.

I’m going to suggest this for a quick read and some small insights into the life of CoCo Chanel, but if you are looking for a more concise story of Chanel’s extraordinary life I suggest picking up another biography.