The Icongraphics series combines two of my favorite things in books: graphic novels and a personal story. I think this can be an excellent introduction to the life and work of a beloved fashion icon, Coco Chanel.
The book takes us through a few different stages in Coco’s life and career. Of course, such a short book is only a general introduction. It’s just enough to spark your interest, so you may take it as an invitation to explore the topic further.
This was the first book in the Icongraphics series that I’ve read, and I loved the experience. It has its own distinct art style that sets the mood for a solemn story. You’d expect a book on fashion history to be bright and vibrant, but you have to remember that it’s about Coco Chanel, from her rise as an influential modiste in the 1910s and 1920s, through the struggles of WWII, to her return to fashion in the 1950s, when she reimagined her art and cemented her status as the icon we know today.
Coco took her art to a whole new level, making it respond to the demands of the times. As more and more women were working outside the household, they required clothes that were both presentable and practical. Coco took on the challenge. She was bold in her choice of fabrics and silhouettes. What seemed questionable at the time has now become the standard. By helping redefine women’s fashion, Coco took her well-deserved place in fashion history.
My rating: Great
Genre: Biography, Graphic Novel
Page count: 144
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