The death of Coco, as she was . [5][6] Chanel and Dincklage were to report to Schellenberg at the RSHA, with a plan that Chanel had proposed to Dincklage: she, Coco Chanel, was to meet Churchill and persuade him to negotiate with the Germans. Working as a spy, Chanel was directly involved in a plan for the Third Reich to take control of Madrid. In Monte Carlo in 1923, at age forty, Chanel was introduced by Lombardi to the vastly wealthy Duke of Westminster, Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, known to his intimates as "Bendor". In addition to Chanel philosophy, the show featured many models parading in the popular fashions Chanel designed through her long career. Chanel had a total of six siblings but grew up only with some of her sisters as, after her mother died, her brothers were sent to work on farms. Churchill's intervention at the end of the war prevented Chanel's punishment for spy collaborations, and ultimately salvaged her legacy. This is the story of one woman and the eight . [50], As 1971 began, Chanel was 87 years old, tired, and ailing. When Antoinette follows her example, it is a key moment. Marie Antoinette: Directed by Sofia Coppola. When Gabrielle's casual couture catches on, she opens a boutique in Deauville. [17] When not sewing, she sang in a cabaret frequented by cavalry officers. Jeanne Devolle died of tuberculosis at the age of 32 years. Augustine Chanel was Coco Chanels youngest sibling, as he was born in 1891. Indicatif d'agent: F 7124. One plan in late 1943 was for her to carry an SS peace overture to Churchill to end the war. (for a PDF file showing relevant page, see here, list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, Duke of Westminster, Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, "Modelegende Chanel: Wie Coco fast den Krieg beendet htte", "Strong whiff of wartime scandal clings to Coco Chanel", "Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life by Justine Picardie: review", "British Diplomat Killed; Arthur Capel, Friend of Lloyd George, Victim of a Motor Accident", "Puget-sur-Argens Coco Chanel: le drame de sa vie au bord d'une route varoise", "Chanel 31 rue Cambon. [24]:95 Later, unhappy with the arrangement, Chanel worked for more than twenty years to gain full control of Parfums Chanel. As for Antoinette and her two sisters Julia-Berthe and Coco, they were sent to the convent of Aubazine, which ran an orphanage. However, the American and British press saw it as a "breakthrough", bringing together fashion and youth in a new way. [33][24] She said that Pierre Wertheimer was "the bandit who screwed me". Even the end of her life is shrouded in mystery. 5 in his department store. Albert Chanel was an itinerant street vendor who peddled work clothes and undergarments. Let us learn more in detail about the death of Antoinette, the obituary, and the cause behind . An illustration of the execution of King Louis XVI. The three became known as the the three graces.. 11 Stephen Colberts Siblings Ranked Oldest to Youngest This replaced the "corseted silhouette" that was dominant beforehand with a style that was simpler, far less time consuming to put on and remove, more comfortable, and less expensive, all without sacrificing elegance. 7 Vincent van Goghs Siblings Ranked Oldest to Youngest, Your email address will not be published. Antoinette Bower (1932 - ) The Evil That Men Do (1984) [Claire]: Accidentally shot in the head by the other bad guys when they fire at Charles Bronson's car while she's in the trunk. August 16, 2021. Her signature scent, Chanel No. Their jobs involved physical activity and they had to ride trains, buses, and bicycles to get to work. Chanel denied all the accusations. The Chanel Sisters with Author Judithe Little. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. The late Coco Chanel was a prominent French fashion designer and businesswoman born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. There are two types of madness discussed in the novel. Her duty was to act as a messenger from Hitler's Foreign Intelligence to Churchill, to prove that some of the Third Reich attempted peace with the Allies.[37]. For many Antoinette's death came as a shock and unexpected and the close relatives are in total devastation and sadness. [61], The camellia had an established association used in Alexandre Dumas' literary work, La Dame aux Camlias (The Lady of the Camellias). [11]:12425 In Biarritz Chanel met an expatriate aristocrat, the Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia. It is hard to understand why Gabrielle would go to such lengths to hide her past, but it is there, present, and years after her death it is worth learning about the people around the designer. Paris, 1937. ("Ce n'est pas parce que Coco Chanel avait un numro d'espion qu'elle tait ncessairement implique personnellement. (Spanish flu). Want to Read. For the next 20 years, Vuitton continued to operate out of 1 Rue Scribe, innovating high-quality, luxury luggage, until he died on February 27, 1892, at the age of 70. One of Chanel's liaisons was with a German diplomat, Baron (Freiherr) Hans Gnther von Dincklage. [11]:10 For the next three years, she lived with him in his chteau Royallieu near Compigne, an area known for its wooded equestrian paths and the hunting life. Within months, Marie Antoinette and Louis-Auguste, the future King Louis XVI, were pledged to marry each . The story is about the life of Coco Chanel and her sisters Antoinette and Julia-Berthe between the years 1897 and 1921. With the outbreak of War World II, her brand had to close. More importantly, meticulous attention was placed on detail during fittings. Her husband, King Louis XVI, had been executed for crimes against France, and she too had been issued the death penalty after a swift trial. Antoinette Renee Chase was found dead by her husband after he came home. The founder and namesake of the Chanel brand, she was credited in the post-World War I era with liberating women from the constraints of the "corseted silhouette" and popularizing a sporty, casual chic as the feminine standard of style. [24]:17577[42], Declassified archival documents unearthed by Vaughan reveal that the French Prfecture de Police had a document on Chanel in which she was described as "Couturier and perfumer. [67], In an outdoor environment of turf and sea, Chanel took in the sun, making suntans not only acceptable, but a symbol denoting a life of privilege and leisure. It is believed to be correct at the . The next morning, January 9, 1971, she died of natural causes at the Hotel Ritz, she was 87 years old. The latter sadly died as a baby in 1891. Antoinette Julia Flming (Chanel) Also Known As: "Ninette". She refused a marriage proposal from the Duke of Westminster. At the orphanage, the sisters learned to sew, embroider by hand, and iron, abilities that would change Gabrielle's destiny. Lombardi acted as an intermediary, delivering a letter written by Chanel to Churchill, to be forwarded to him via the British Embassy in Madrid. While Antoinette was able to accompany her sister Coco in her early years outside the orphanage, we cannot say the same for Julia-Berthe. During this time, she fled to Switzerland to avoid criminal charges for her collaborations as a Nazi spy. She was born in 1883 to Eugnie Jeanne Devolle Chanel, known as Jeanne and Albert Chanel. [8], Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was born in 1883 to Eugnie Jeanne Devolle Chanel, known as Jeanne, a laundrywoman, in the charity hospital run by the Sisters of Providence (a poorhouse) in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire. [41] Ultimately, the Wertheimers and Chanel came to a mutual accommodation, renegotiating the original 1924 contract. [24]:150[33], During the period directly following the end of World War II, the business world watched with interest and some apprehension the ongoing legal wrestle for control of Parfums Chanel. saving. When the Nazi occupation of France began, Chanel decided to close her store, claiming a patriotic motivation behind such decision. The 1930s was the Great Depression era, when women needed affordable fashion. [22]:28, Designers such as Paul Poiret and Fortuny introduced ethnic references into haute couture in the 1900s and early 1910s. Dana Hyra: Everything About Meg Ryans Sister, Amy Sherrill- Truth about Tim Duncans ex-wife, Rikki Marin, Everything About Cheech Marins Ex-wife. Coco and Gabrielle soon decided to perform as singers at shows in the area. Its thin shoulder strap allowed the user to keep her hands free. Chanel accepted the offer. Miss Hepburn, 60 at the time the show opened, Unfortunately, no public information about his life is available. 5 had two probable origins, both attributable to her association with Capel. The name of this condition comes from folklore about the French queen Marie Antoinette . In the years 19231937, she collaborated on productions choreographed by Diaghilev and dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, notably Le Train bleu, a dance-opera; Orphe and Oedipe Roi. 5. After her romance with Reverdy ended in 1926, they maintained a friendship that lasted some forty years. Unfortunately, she was sent to the orphanage with her sisters when she was extremely young, at the age of 8 years old. The charity girls educated at the convent in Aubazine, France, are instructed in all useful things for becoming maids, seamstresses, or wives of farmers. [19] As an entertainer, Chanel radiated a juvenile allure that tantalized the military habitus of the cabaret. Our main focus is to keep you informed and updated with the latest trending issues. [43][8]:140 For Vaughan, this was a piece of revelatory information linking Chanel to German intelligence operations. But Chanel sisters, Julia-Berthe, Gabrielle, and Antoinette dream of something better. [68], The bag's design was informed by Chanel's convent days and her love of the sporting world. In 1931, while in Monte Carlo Chanel became acquainted with Samuel Goldwyn. what causes these people in power to be . Working together, the sisters create a simple design that appeals to all classes of women. It is said that theirs was an immediate bond of kindred souls, and Misia was attracted to Chanel by "her genius, lethal wit, sarcasm and maniacal destructiveness, which intrigued and appalled everyone". 6. Marcella Belle Rinehart: What Happened To Fess Parkers Wife? After the war she moved to Switzerland to escape criminal . From her excursions on water with the yachting world, she appropriated the clothing associated with nautical pursuits: the horizontal striped shirt, bell-bottom pants, crewneck sweaters, and espadrille shoesall traditionally worn by sailors and fishermen. Coco Chanel is buried in the Bois de Vaux Cemetery in Lausanne, Switzerland. The former rivals shared happy memories of times with the Duke of Westminster. At a very early age, the Chanel family was struck by tragedy when Eugnie died of tuberculosis in 1895. Want to Read. Investigation Discovery's 'Murder Calls: Hanging by a Thread' explores how the authorities discovered there was more to the case than just a . The duke lavished Chanel with extravagant jewels, costly art and a home in London's prestigious Mayfair district. The death of Coco, as she was known the world over, was announced by close friends. She died at the Hotel Ritz, where she was living for over 30 years. Antoinette Chanel rose to fame as the sister of fashion designer Coco Chanel. However, it was later clarified that she died two years later as a drug overdose victim. "[8]:199. Louis XVII never ruled; he died in his prison cell at the age of ten, far from the sumptuous luxury of his early years. Biographer Justine Picardie, in her 2010 study Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life, suggests that the fashion designer's nephew, Andr Palasse, supposedly the only child of her sister Julia-Berthe who had committed suicide, was Chanel's child by Balsan. Use what you have. The family resided in run-down lodgings. She shared with many of her circle a conviction that Jews were a threat to Europe because of the Bolshevik government in the Soviet Union. [63] In 1920, Chanel herself vowed that, while observing an audience at the opera, she would dress all women in black. Antoinette and Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel know they're destined for something better. [64][65] The spare look generated widespread criticism from male journalists, who complained: "no more bosom, no more stomach, no more rump Feminine fashion of this moment in the 20th century will be baptized lop off everything. When interrogated by British intelligence at the war's end, Schellenberg maintained that Chanel was "a person who knew Churchill sufficiently to undertake political negotiations with him". Also Read: Dana Hyra: Everything About Meg Ryans Sister. [8]:3132 She developed a romantic relationship with Igor Stravinsky during this time and went on tour around the world with him, unknown to his wife. [11]:320 The revival of her couture house in 1954 was fully financed by Chanel's opponent in the perfume battle, Pierre Wertheimer. Count Joseph von Ledebur-Wicheln, a Nazi agent who defected to the British Secret Service in 1944, recalled a meeting he had with Dincklage in early 1943, in which the baron had suggested including Lombardi as a courier. The older sister's life is unknown except that she was a single mother to Andr Palasse. hello everyone. Forbes magazine summarized the dilemma faced by the Wertheimers: [it is Pierre Wertheimer's worry] how "a legal fight might illuminate Chanel's wartime activities and wreck her imageand his business. Augustin Chanel, Julie Chanel, Gabrielle Bonheur, Alphonse Chanel, Gabrielle Chanel, Lucien Chanel, June 13 1887 - Issoire, Puy-De-Dme, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France, May 2 1921 - Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires F.d., Argentina, Adrien Alphonse CHANEL, Gabrielle CHASNEL, Adrien Alphonse CHANEL, Julia Berthe CHANEL, Lucien Albert CHANEL, Augustin Julien CHANEL, Coco Chanel, Julia Chanel, Alphonse Chanel, Lucien Chanel, Augustin Chanel, Henri Albert (Albert) Chanel, Jeanne Eugnie Chanel, Julia Bertha Chanel, Gabrielle Bonheur (Coco) Chanel, Alphonse Adrien Chanel, Lucien Albert Chanel, Pierre Chanel, Augustin Julien Chanel, June 13 1887 - Issoire, Puy De Dme, France, Gabrielle CHANEL, Julia Berthe CHANEL, Adrien Alphonse CHANEL, Lucien Albert CHANEL, Augustin Julien CHANEL, brielle Bonheur (Coco) Chanel, Alphonse Adrien Chanel, Antoinette Julia Flming, Lucien Albert Chanel, Pierre Chanel, Augustin Julien Chanel, Henri Albert CHANEL, Jeanne Eugnie DEVOLLE, Augustin Julien CHANEL, Lucien Albert CHANEL, Gabrielle CHANEL, Adrien Alphonse CHANEL, Adrien Alphonse CHANEL, Julia Berthe CHANEL, May 2 1921 - Ciudad Autnoma De Buenos Aires, Argentina, Adrien Alphone CHANEL, Gabrielle Dite Coco CHANEL, Julia Berthe CHANEL, Lucien Albert CHANEL, Augustin Julien CHANEL, Adrien Alphonse CHANEL, Henri Albert Chanel, Jeanne Eugnie Chanel (geboren Devolle), Gabrielle Bonheur Channel, Alphonse Adrien Channel, Antoinette Julia Channel, Lucien Albert Channel, Pierre Channel, Augustin Julien Channel, Julia Bertha Channel, Gabrielle Bonheur Channel, Alphonse Adrien Channel, Lucien Albert Channel, Pierre Channel, Augustin Julien Channel, Albert Chanel, Jeanne Chanel (born Devolle), Gabrielle Chanel, Julia Chanel, Lucien Chanel, 1918 lnfluenza Pandemic - Argentina: Fatalities, Buenos Aires, Argentina Busting the Myth Behind Moctezumas Headdress; Did It Really Belong Him. [8]:38, In 1927, the Duke of Westminster gave Chanel a parcel of land he had purchased in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the French Riviera. Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (/nl/ sh-NEL, French:[abijl bn kko anl] (listen); 19 August 1883 10 January 1971)[2] was a French fashion designer and businesswoman. From a convent orphanage to the rue Cambon in Paris, this meticulously researched and emotionally enveloping narrative about the sisters' determined climb out of poverty and into high society is historical fiction at its finest. Iribe was with Coco Chanel, at her villa, La Pausa, on the French Riviera, in September, 21 1935, when he suddenly collapsed and died while playing tennis. Lucien Chanel: What Happened To Coco Chanels Brother? She was introduced through a mutual friend, the Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, cousin to the last tsar of Russia, Nicolas II. Antoinette had 5 siblings: Coco Chanel, Julia Chanel, Alphonse Chanel, Lucien Chanel and Augustin Chanel. The greatest fashion designer of the 20th century, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, died suddenly in her suite at the swish Hotel Ritz in Paris half a century [67] Whilst details of the classic bag have been reworked, such as the 1980s update by Karl Lagerfeld when the clasp and lock were redesigned to incorporate the Chanel logo and leather was interlaced through the shoulder chain, the bag has retained its original basic form. Her rise from rags to riches was fueled by her creative genius, while her personal life was characterized by her high-profile relationships and seductive power over influential men. Chanel did not stiffen the material or use shoulder pads, as was common in contemporary fashion. Her life story was turned into a musical, "Coco," which ran on Broadway last year starring Katherine Hepburn in her first singing and dancing role. Antoinette and Oscar got divorced and Oscar remarried a few years later and had a daughter. Even though it took a bit longer to convince Antoinette, she eventually decided to join them. Chanel corporate "refuted the claim" (of espionage), while acknowledging that company officials had read only media excerpts of the book. However, some claim that she played a key role in Cocos early career as a fashion artist as she often supported her in the 1910s. Feeling she was losing her avant-garde edge, Chanel collaborated with Jean Cocteau on his theatre piece Oedipe Rex. The chain used for the strap echoed the chatelaines worn by the caretakers of the orphanage where Chanel grew up, whilst the burgundy lining referenced the convent uniforms. 2 distinct works Similar authors. Bader was interested in selling Chanel No. Updates and news about all categories will send to you. [38] The fashionable and wealthy loved the creations and made the line wildly successful. [8]:4849[35] When asked why she did not marry the Duke of Westminster, she is supposed to have said: "There have been several Duchesses of Westminster. Death by beer may sound like a desirable way to go. Your email address will not be published. She never said "Let them eat cake.". [8]:8081 According to Chandler Burr's The Emperor of Scent, Luca Turin related an apocryphal story in circulation that Chanel was "called Coco because she threw the most fabulous cocaine parties in Paris".[34]. [38] Vogue predicted that such a simple yet chic design would become a virtual uniform for women of taste, famously comparing its basic lines to the ubiquitous and no less widely accessible Ford automobile. [9]:18[10] The children did not attend school. He shared with her an expressed homophobia. [59] In addition to the headscarf, Chanel clothing from this period featured square-neck, long belted blouses alluding to Russian muzhiks (peasant) attire known as the roubachka. She died at the Hotel Ritz . The banality of his demise was too much for many, and there have been many rumors about the "real" cause of his death ever since. [32] During the summer, Chanel discovered that the Stravinsky family sought a place to live, having left the Russian Soviet Republic after the war. Here are five facts about the famous queen. Marie and Louis where married on May 16, 1770. Augustin died on November 26, 1891, in Courpire, France, six months after his birth. In 1943, Chanel traveled to the RSHA in Berlinthe "lion's den"with her liaison and "old friend", the German Embassy in Paris press attach Baron Hans Gnther von Dincklage, a former Prussian Army officer and attorney general, who was also known as "Sparrow" among his friends and colleagues. Her future share would be two percent of all Chanel No. [29] The location was a prime one, in the center of town on a fashionable street. Charley Palmer Rothwell: Who Is Patsy Palmers Son? Antoinette was welcomed into the world in the year 1887 but her exact date of birth is unavailable. [8]:5, Later in life, Chanel would retell the story of her childhood somewhat differently; she would often include more glamorous accounts, which were generally untrue. The directors of Parfums Chanel, the Wertheimers, were Jewish. In particular, she maintained a close relationship with Baron Hans Gnther von Dincklage, a German diplomat who served as her liaison. [8]:101 Her biographer Hal Vaughan suggests that Chanel used the outbreak of war as an opportunity to retaliate against those workers who had struck for higher wages and shorter work hours in the French general labor strike of 1936. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Birthdate: 1887. was termed "too old" for the part by the tart-tongued Coco, who was 86. [62] The camellia came to be identified with The House of Chanel; the designer first used it in 1933 as a decorative element on a white-trimmed black suit. [3] A prolific fashion creator, Chanel extended her influence beyond couture clothing, realizing her aesthetic design in jewellery, handbags, and fragrance. The horse culture and penchant for hunting so passionately pursued by the elites, especially the British, fired Chanel's imagination. Albert and Jeanne got married on 17 November 1884 in Courpire, Puy-de-Dme, France. The name alludes to French Queen Marie Antoinette, who had her hair turn completely white during her walk towards . Her parents were not legally married at the time of her birth. [10] She said that when her mother died, her father sailed for America to seek his fortune, and she was sent to live with two aunts. Antoinettes father Albert Chanel abandoned his children as he sent them all away. But the . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [24]:175, Churchill and Chanel's friendship marks its origin in the 1920s, with the eruption of Chanel's scandalous beginning when falling in love with the Duke of Westminster. [12] The couple had six[13] childrenJulia, Gabrielle, Alphonse (the first boy, born 1885), Antoinette (born 1887), Lucien, and Augustin (who died at six months)[13]and lived crowded into a one-room lodging in the town of Brive-la-Gaillarde. The fashions were constructed from humble fabrics such as jersey and tricot, at the time primarily used for men's underwear. She so much admired it that she wished to reproduce it in "exquisite, expensive, delicate glass". Called simply "Chanel No. Her mother worked as a laundry woman for a charity hospital in Saumur, while her father was an itinerant street vendor who mainly sold clothes and undergarments. [5][6] Dincklage was also a collaborator for the German SD; his superiors being Walter Schellenberg and Alexander Waag in Berlin. Coco was also the inventor of her iconic logo with the two intertwined Cs. Placement in the orphanage may have contributed to Chanel's future career, as it was where she learned to sew. Gabrielle Chanel was born in Saumur, France, on August 19, 1883. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. According to this type of fashion, women were supposed to wear corsets, which were not only time-consuming but also quite expensive. Do what you can. Antoinette Chanel (Goodreads Author), Aurelio Sanchez (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating 4 ratings published 2021. The History Behind The Facade", 10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t2081197, "Chanel and the Nazis: what Coco Avant Chanel and other films don't tell you", "Chanel antismite, tabou mdiatique en France? [8]:101, During the German occupation, Chanel resided at the Hotel Ritz. "[51], She died on Sunday, 10 January 1971, at the Hotel Ritz, where she had resided for more than 30 years. Similarly to her sister Julia, Antoniettas late life is largely a mystery. One of the most prominent missions she was involved in was Operation Modellhut ("Operation Model Hat"). "[20], Chanel introduced a line of jewellery that was a conceptual innovation, as her designs and materials incorporated both costume jewellery and fine gem stones. Five rooms from La Pausa have been replicated at the Dallas Museum of Art, to house the Reves' art collection as well as pieces of furniture belonging to Chanel. En route to California from New York, travelling in a white train carriage luxuriously outfitted for her use, Chanel was interviewed by Collier's magazine in 1932. Antoinette passed away of cause of death at death place. Chanel made her stage debut singing at a cafe-concert (a popular entertainment venue of the era) in a Moulins pavilion, La Rotonde. In 1909, Gabrielle, along with Antoinette, moves to Paris to open another hat shop, Chanel Modes. [11]:10708, Chanel, determined to re-create the success she enjoyed in Deauville, opened an establishment in Biarritz in 1915. World War II, specifically the Nazi seizure of all Jewish-owned property and business enterprises, provided Chanel with the opportunity to gain the full monetary fortune generated by Parfums Chanel and its most profitable product, Chanel No. Chanel was born in France in the late 1800s during La Belle poque (French for The Beautiful Era: "1871" to the start of World War I "1914".). She was instrumental in breaking the stereotype and liberating woman from the stifling . [46], What is certain is that she had a relationship with a German aristocrat during the War. Gabrielle Dite Bonheur Chanel was born on month day 1883, at birth place, to Henri Albert Chanel and Eugenie Jeanne Chanel. Few details are known about her real life, but the author contends Antoinette was "responsible for conducting a large portion of . Chanel dominated the Paris fashion world in the nineteen-twenties and at the height of her career was running four business enterprises--a fashion house, a textile business, perfume laboratories and Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (19 August 1883 - 10 January 1971) was a French fashion designer, businesswoman and Nazi collaborator. "[8]:96 She was also involved in the costuming of Baccanale, a Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo production. number--it made Coco a millionaire. Her most famous fragrance is, without a doubt, Chanel No. 63, No. 5, has become an iconic product, and Chanel herself designed her famed interlocked-CC monogram, which has been in use since the 1920s. [8]:xix[5][6] In late 1943 or early 1944, Chanel and her SS superior, Schellenberg, who had a weakness for unconventional schemes,[5] devised a plan to get Britain to consider a separate peace to be negotiated by the SS. After their mother's death, the sisters are abandoned by their father and left to be raised by the nuns. Apic/Getty Images. He died in a car accident on 22 December 1919. [31][failed verification], In the spring of 1920, Chanel was introduced to the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky by Sergei Diaghilev, impresario of the Ballets Russes. Vaughan writes that some claim that Churchill instructed Duff Cooper, British ambassador to the French provisional government, to protect Chanel. 4 Eminems Siblings Ranked Oldest to Youngest Its religious order, the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Mary, was "founded to care for the poor and rejected, including running homes for abandoned and orphaned girls". of death was not immediately known. The founder and namesake of the Chanel brand, she was credited in the postWorld War I era with popularizing a sporty, casual chic as the feminine standard of style. Schiaparelli's innovative designs, replete with playful references to surrealism, were garnering critical acclaim and generating enthusiasm in the fashion world. She died in the year 1912 after she reportedly committed suicide. "[24]:175, Chanel hired Ren de Chambrun, Vichy France prime minister Pierre Laval's son-in-law, as her lawyer to sue Wertheimer.