I love this book! Its so small and pretty and gives a very quick summary of the life of Coco Chanel. I'd be interested in collecting the rest of the series.

Coco Chanel: An Illustrated Biography is part of Chronicle Books' Library of Luminaries series, a darling collection of illustrated gems. Understand right off that the book is little -- it's six inches square. It is really all about the illustrations, which are wonderful right down to the ground. The biography is factual, informative, and brief -- and done in a font that looks like handwriting, to compliment the illustrations. This book makes the perfect hostess, birthday, or holiday gift! ( )

A tiny book with some very darling illustrations. I didn't know much about Coco Chanel before I read this, and while the book only hints at a few important moments, it does leave this reader wondering and interested about reading more of this fashion icon. ( )

This is a beautiful little book. The illustrations are fresh and sophisticated--not unlike Coco's style. The story that is told draws you in immediately. I could not put it down until I finished it.
My only issue with the book is that it focuses on her romantic life so very much. I cannot help but ask why, when she was so successful in her revolutionary design for women's fashion, does the author choose to focus on her private life to that extent?
I would have liked to see some information on her development as a designer, as a seamstress, as a business woman.
Like I said, it is a beautiful little book about a beautiful, talented, successful woman. Yet the reader is left with Coco's love life overshadowing her contribution as a successful designer and business woman. Also in focusing on her love life the author gives the impression that Coco was somehow broken and unsuccessful with relationships, forcing her to find success elsewhere. ( )

I associate Coco Chanel with French luxury, and quiet beauty. I also associate it with my late grandmother who wore Chanel no. 5 religiously. Yet, I have never wondered about its namesake until I saw this listed as an advanced reader copy.

I'm glad I selected it, because it's a nice gateway into a complicated woman's life. While it is very brief, it's a good place to start, and a great gift for friends who love France and fashion. The illustrations were charming, and gave the book a nice breezy feel.

A few quibbles, if I may. The typeface was in all caps throughout the entirety of the book, and made the text a bit tedious to read. The book also dedicated a lot of space to her multiple romantic entanglements. While interesting, I wanted to know more about her fashion. What inspired her? What drove her? Less about who she slept with, please. And, the ambiguous ending. So... did she kill herself? Was it accidental? Had she been using morphine for all of those years? Thank goodness the authors included a few books in their acknowledgement for me to seek out. ( )