13A – Reading Reflection No. 1


What surprised you the most?

I was surprised to learn that Coco Chanel “survived a childhood of deprivation and neglect” in “abject poverty” (pg.88). Chanel has become synonymous with elite, luxury, and designer, yet the woman who created it did not always have experience with it.

What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?

I most admired how, although she “suffered emotional and physical deprivation”, she still became proud and self-sufficient in her iconic brand (pg. 413).Even “under the Desboutins’ watchful eyes” she “set off to live somewhere of her own choosing” (pg. 548). She didn’t allow others to determine what she was able to achieve.

What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?

I least admired her involvement in occupied Paris during the second world war. She lived with spy “Hans Gunther von Dincklage” with “german officer” guests.

Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

Yes, Chanel did encounter adversity and failure. For one, her upbringing was one of “abject failure” (pg. 88). She also lived in “occupied Paris” during World War 2  (pg. 123). This caused her to have to close her couture house, which the author describes as “at first a failure”. Yet, she reopened and redesigned to become “a world-class couturier” (pg. 135).
What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 
She recognized what was necessary for her business beyond the products- but as to her own brand and involvement in it. For her new image, she “tried to destroy her early self” (pg. 348).
Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.
I was confused on how the author described Coco Chanel as not leaving many notes, nor having family members who talked about her childhood, and had a single memoir with only one primary source. Yet, the  could detail specific situations and events in her life that were not taken from the memoir.
If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
I would ask how she decided to create the new “myth” which surrounded her and created her brand. In other words, how did she realize that it was necessary? And, how did she choose the new person that would become Coco Chanel?

Comments

  1. Mia IrwantoMarch 3, 2020 at 8:43 AM

    Hi Adriana,
    I am surprised to hear that Coco Chanel did not grow up in luxury herself. Based off her brand, it seems like she has such a distinct knowledge about what luxury is and what it could be. From you have written, I also admire that she created a brand so popular despite her rough upbringing. She was determined to make a name for herself and with all her hard work, she was able to overcome any obstacle and succeed. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tarang DongaMarch 6, 2020 at 3:32 PM

    Hi Adriana, I enjoyed reading your post. I was surprised that Coco Chanel didn't always enjoy a luxurious life. Her journey is an inspiring story for many. Many people who fear from taking a big step just because of the fear about what people around them would think should learn from her about how one shouldn't let other people determine what they should do. I think that the question you have mentioned to ask her are really good and something that I would have liked to know about as well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shannon ParkerMarch 7, 2020 at 8:20 AM

    Hi Adriana, your post was very informative about the life of Coco Chanel. I was too surprised that someone that lived such a lavish lifestyle in their later life came from such poverty. Coco Chanel has proved to us that no matter where you begin in life you write your stories ending, she should be an inspiration to us all. She is a true example that our past does not define us.

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