Les années folles de Coco Chanel

An open book laid flat. The left page shows a photograph of a black, wide-brimmed hat on a mannequin head against a white background. The right page features a vintage color poster for Monaco Sports, depicting a woman in an early aircraft flying over the coast, set against a black background.

An open book displays a two-page, black and white photograph of 1920s performers. On the left, a man in a striped sweater and knickers supports a woman doing a one-armed handstand. On the right, two women in knit athletic wear stand close together in a theatrical pose, one whispering to the other.

An open book with a two-page spread on a 1920s flapper dress. The left page has a vintage black-and-white photo of a woman wearing the dress with pearls and a feather fan. The right page shows a modern color photo of the same dress on a mannequin, displaying its long, shimmering beaded fringe in a black, grey, and white chevron pattern.

A two-page black and white spread from Vogue magazine, dated March 29, 1930, titled ON THE RIVIERA. The article showcases four photos of Coco Chanel's Mediterranean villa, featuring a sunlit courtyard with arches, a minimalist great hall with a large chandelier, the villa's stucco exterior, and a tree-lined garden path.

A page from a book or catalog, numbered 7 at the bottom. On the left is a vertical caption and a black-and-white oval photograph of Gabrielle Chanel in Biarritz, circa 1920, wearing a light-colored suit and cloche hat. On the right is a large block of text in French, which serves as a preface to an exhibition.

A satirical color illustration of a bustling casino scene from the early 20th century. A large crowd of caricatured high-society men in tuxedos and women in extravagant hats are gathered tightly around a green roulette table, which is piled high with cash, chips, and gold coins. Their faces show intense concentration and greed as they gamble.

A black and white portrait of a person with dramatic, pale makeup featuring sharp winged eyeliner and a painted widow's peak. Their dark hair is slicked back, and they stare intensely at the camera. They wear a voluminous, off-the-shoulder poncho with horizontal bands of a geometric, step-like pattern against a dark, wrinkled backdrop.

A book page displaying two images side-by-side. On the left is a black-and-white photograph of a man sitting at a desk near a window, appearing to draw or write. On the right is a colorful painting of three women in vintage swimsuits on a rocky shore, with a lighthouse and a sailboat in the background.

A diptych showing a 1920s evening gown. On the left is a black-and-white photo of a woman in a low-backed, sparkly, tiered dress, looking over her shoulder while holding a large white fan. On the right, the same sleeveless, light-colored dress is displayed on a mannequin against a black background, showcasing its delicate fabric and ruffled skirt.

A series of four vertical, Art Deco-style charcoal drawings depicting women in 1920s fashion. Each woman wears a cloche hat and a stylish overcoat, with outfits featuring prominent plaid and checkered patterns. The figures are highly stylized, with one half of each woman's face and body cast in dark shadow.

A side-by-side comparison showing a black and white photograph on the left and a colorful painting on the right. The photo shows a woman in early 20th-century attire: a wide-brimmed hat, a belted coat over a long skirt. The Fauvist painting by Kees van Dongen is a stylized interpretation of the same woman in the same outfit, rendered in bright, non-naturalistic colors with a bold posture.

A side-by-side comparison of two vintage Art Deco travel posters for Monte Carlo. The poster on the left shows spectators watching tennis matches on orange clay courts with a beach and the sea in the background. The poster on the right features a stylish couple in swimsuits standing by a pool, with the sea and a coastal town behind them.

A two-page spread from a French book about Gabrielle Chanel's fashion, featuring text and three archival black-and-white photographs. The photos show the crowded Larvotto beach in 1922, Chanel outside her Deauville boutique in 1913, and a 1916 white Chanel marinière blouse on a mannequin.

A page layout with two images. On the left, an ornate, multi-layered historical garment in cream, gold, and burgundy with intricate embroidery and pearl beading is displayed on a form against a black background. On the right, a black-and-white photo shows a woman with a dark 1920s bob and pearls gazing at a man in a formal tuxedo and white bow tie.

A two-panel book page comparing a photograph with a painting. On the left, a black-and-white photo shows an exhibition of Art Deco textiles, including a folding screen and draped fabrics with bold geometric patterns. On the right is a colorful watercolor study of the same scene by artist Sonia Delaunay, rendered in an abstract, fragmented style with overlapping planes of color.

A diptych of two vintage fashion illustrations by Sem for Chanel No. 5 perfume. The left panel shows a woman in a blue 1920s dress gazing up in adoration at a large bottle of Chanel No. 5. The right panel features a drawing of three women in a boudoir, framed within the shape of the perfume bottle, with handwritten French text below.

A hardcover book with a bright yellow spine and a black-and-white photograph on the cover. The vintage photo shows a man and a woman in 1920s-style clothing striking a dynamic, angular dance pose against a dark background.

An overhead photograph of an open book laid flat. The left page has a white background and shows a black, wide-brimmed hat with a ribbon on a mannequin head. The right page has a black background and displays a vintage-style illustrated poster for Monaco Sports, featuring a woman in a hat driving a boat.

A book titled Les Années Folles de Coco Chanel presented against a white background. The cover features a bright yellow spine on the left and a black and white photograph of Coco Chanel on the right. She has short, dark, bobbed hair and looks directly at the camera while wearing a patterned cardigan with her arms crossed.

A hardcover book titled Les Années Folles de Coco Chanel, lying at an angle on a white surface. The cover features a black and white photograph of Coco Chanel in a patterned cardigan with her arms crossed. A wide, bright yellow band runs down the spine and part of the front cover, displaying the title in white text.

An open book displays a two-page, black-and-white photograph of four dancers in a studio. On the left, a man in a striped top and knickerbockers holds the leg of a woman performing a one-handed handstand. On the right, two women in short, striped outfits pose closely together in front of a painted, abstract backdrop.

An open book with a two-page spread on a 1920s flapper dress. The left page shows a vintage black-and-white photo of a woman modeling the beaded fringe dress with a large feather fan. The right page shows a modern color photo of the same dress on a mannequin against a black background.

Les années folles de Coco Chanel

€ 48.00

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Edited by: Célia Bernasconi

June 2025, 304 Pages, 300 Photos

Quarterbound Hardcover

208mm x 276mm

ISBN: 978-3-7757-5906-9

HATJE CANTZ VERLAG
Mommsenstr. 27
10629 Berlin
Germany
E-Mail: contact@hatjecantz.de

According to Article 9(7) of the GPSR Regulation, no additional security information is required for books without supplements or special functions.

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A glimpse into the revolutionary elegance that shaped modern fashion

Coco Chanel: Roaring Twenties presents a richly illustrated journey through the designer's formative years along the French Riviera during the 1920s. This catalogue captures how Gabrielle Chanel—known to the world as Coco—shaped modern fashion amid a backdrop of cultural upheaval, seaside glamour, and groundbreaking artistic exchange.

In Deauville, Biarritz, Monte Carlo, and Cannes, Chanel introduced a radically new, elegant yet casual style for modern women. This illustrated volume explores her early boutiques, her revolutionary jersey designs, and her friendships with artists like Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso. Special attention is paid to the influence of the Ballets Russes and the Slavic avant-garde, as well as Chanel's architectural retreat, Villa La Pausa, near Monaco.

Highlights:

- Accompanies a landmark exhibition on Coco Chanel's Riviera years
- Featuring archival fashion photography, original sketches, and historical documents
- Explores Chanel's collaborations with Jean Cocteau, Picasso, and Diaghilev's Ballets Russes
- Insight into Chanel's Villa La Pausa and her artistic circle on the Côte d'Azur

A captivating resource for anyone interested in fashion history, modernist art, and the cultural legacy of one of the 20th century's most iconic designers.

GABRIELLE CHANEL, known worldwide as Coco Chanel, deliberately erased traces of her early life. What is documented is that she was born on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France. In 1910, she opened a hat boutique in Paris, followed by stores in Deauville, Biarritz, Monte Carlo, and Cannes. It was in these fashionable seaside towns that she developed a radically new style: simple, sporty, elegant - and liberating for the female body. Her use of jersey fabric in women's fashion was groundbreaking and transformed the way women dressed, establishing CHANEL as one of the most influential fashion figures of the 20th century.

CÉLIA BERNASCONI is Chief Curator at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco. Her work focuses on the intersections of art, design, and fashion history, often exploring overlooked narratives and interdisciplinary connections within 20th-century cultural movements. As editor of Coco Chanel: Roaring Twenties, she offers fresh insight into the formative years of GABRIELLE CHANEL and her deep engagement with the artistic and intellectual circles of the French Riviera.

EXHIBITION
Nouveau Musée National de Monaco - Villa Paloma
June 19 - October 05, 2025