Art Attack: COCO CHANEL—The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon

I spot this beautiful book by Megan Hess at Suomalainen Kirjakauppa, 17,95 EUR (For readings, I don’t have to wait until season sales!). Now resides in Australia, Hess is beyond talented at illustrating and commentary in a way that is very pleasing to see page by page. Even I have read <Chanel: The Intimate Life> by Lisa Chaney, Hess’ interpretation is a unique and fresh way to learn even more about the fashion icon and see her life through whimsical drawings. 

Published by Hardie Grant Books, in 2015, this 210-page, hardcover bounded book divides Chanel’s life into 3 chapters: 01 The Woman; 02 The Brand and 03 The Legend. Chanel’s childhood is humble and lacking of certain records, while Hess describing merely with 3 illustrations yet informative enough for the readers to realize Chanel’s adulthood life in Balsan, France. Page by page, Hess creates a world filled with Chanel collection which fans can ever dream of: Chanel sewing machine, Chanel beach chair, Chanel metropolitan entrance, Chanel café, and even Chanel hot air balloon with Karl Lagerfeld on. Coloring with Chanel’s signature hues, black and white, Hess also decorates the pages vividly by adding up la rouge on Coco’s lips, Chanel 2.55 handbag, and on the touch of No.5 perfume bottle. 

From Chapter 01 to 03, ‘le look’ silhouette is presenting on every glossary page turn: classic elegant, sleek modern, avant-garde or city casual. Hess’<Coco Chanel> not only introduces Coco’s love and business life, the illustrated world of a fashion icon is also a functional stylist bible for those who would like to create a chic and sophisticated fashion. Among different themes, Coco’s quotes are in between, and my favourite one about fashion, is that “fashion fades, only style remains the same”(116); about life is, “My life didn’t please me, so I created my life” (46-47).

The interesting part is, Hess takes us on a glamorous adventure through Chanel’s visionary, still saves quite a spacious space for the comments on the present Art Director, Karl Lagerfeld, who has been leading Chanel the brand into a wondrous fashion catwalk shows since 1983 (I am in craze on Chanel Airline of ss16!). Hess bridges the past, the present and the future of the icon of Chanel House, opening our eyes by guiding us into her imaginary but yet acknowledged illustrated world.

For more about the author, please visit

www.meganhess.com