The Chanel Sisters

 Judithe Little has brought The Chanel Sisters to life in her new book.  What a wonderfully amazing story of how women who changed the fashion sense of the world started out and developed into the icons they became.

The Chanel Sisters starts out with four young sisters abandoned by their family.  Left in the capable hands of the nuns at the convent, after their mother's early death, by their father, the sisters have to rely on each other and their own strength and fortitude to succeed.  Each sister tries to cope with the circumstances in their own way.  The oldest daughter is not so successful and her life is difficult and ends young.

Antoinette and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel always have felt they are destined for a better life.  Though the nuns explain that girls like them from impoverished homes, will be lucky to marry a shopkeeper or laborer, the girls have bigger dreams.

While living in the convent they learn the art of sewing.  They read romance novels and cut pictures out of the fashion magazines from Paris.  When they finally leave the convent they head to the stylish cafés of Moulins, the dazzling performance halls of Vichy—and to a small hat shop on the rue Cambon in Paris, where a boutique business takes hold and expands to the glamorous French resort towns.

Antoinette learns the hat business while working in a small shop, though she finds it hard to escape the gossip and hurtful behavior of friends.  Gabrielle tries to become an actress or singer, but cannot get a part. She tries to live as a kept woman, but has too much drive to succeed.  In the end the two sisters put their talents together and open their own hat shop, designing first simple hats, then dresses and finally perfume.  

Their simple different styles become the rage and they are famous.  World War One brings devastation to their relationships and love lives.  Though they are successful in the business world their personal relationships are  more difficult to navigate.   

This is a fascinating novel based on the true lives of this intriguing famnily.