Inside Coco Chanel’s Parisian Apartment

Coco Chanel (1883 – 1971) was the glamorous French fashion icon who influenced the world of design for the better part of a century.

Coco Chanel in her Paris apartment

Her former home and workplace in Paris was an epicenter for haute couture.

Coco Chanel in her Paris apartment

Located at 31 rue Cambon, Chanel’s time-capsule apartment and salons remain much the same today as they did in her heyday.

Coco Chanel in her Paris apartment

The main level features the shop and salons, and the second level contains Chanel’s personal living quarters.

Coco Chanel in her Paris apartment

There is an elegant mirrored staircase that winds through the center of it all.

Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Interestingly, each mirror was set at a different angle so when Coco Channel sat on the fifth step from the top (number five, of course!) as the models went past in the salon, she could inspect her designs from every angle.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

During showings, she would reportedly witness her clients’ reactions (without being seen) as they sat downstairs. What an astute business woman she was!

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Walking into Chanel’s flagship boutique is like stepping back in time to the Art Nouveau era.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Up the famed mirrored staircase, Chanel’s apartment remains almost exactly as she left it when she died in 1971.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Unfortunately, the apartment isn’t open to the public but there are many photographs of the grand space.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Chanel’s passion for Oriental style is clear throughout the flat.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Deeply superstitious, Chanel had lucky symbols such as a frog with its mouth open, pairs of Japanese deer and lions displayed throughout the apartment (Chanel was a Leo).

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

She also believed in the healing power of crystals, and had crystal chandeliers in every room.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

The apartment has many exquisite pieces of art including a sculpture by Alberto Giacometti, and a painting by Salvador Dali.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Chanel spent a lot of time in this Paris apartment and was photographed here often.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

It is amazing that the dwelling has been kept up so perfectly as Chanel left it.

Reportedly, Karl Lagerfeld, fellow fashion designer, had a hand in preserving the space. It was at Lagerfeld’s insistence that the tangible reminders of Coco Chanel remain to inspire him when he set up offices on the floor above her apartment.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

The elegant dining room:

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Even Chanel’s table decorations featured lions…

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Lions are everywhere in the famous Leo’s apartment:

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

Perhaps someday this space will be opened up as a public museum.

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

How thrilling would it be to wander around the home where Chanel created fashion magic?

inside Coco Chanel's Paris apartment

 

Sources:

https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/interiors/house-tour-inside-coco-chanels-historic-and-artfilled-paris-apartment

https://www.crfashionbook.com/culture/a22864825/inside-coco-chanel-apartment-31-rue-cambon/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2084366/Coco-Chanels-Paris-apartment-Healing-crystals-hidden-doors-bedrooms.html

~~~

What ya thinking? Leave a comment!

Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑

%d bloggers like this: