The worlds of fashion and art intersect in “Coco Chanel, beyond fashion”, the exhibition recently opened at the Cascais Cultural Centre. From personal photographs to artwork by artists who were part of her inner circle, find out more about the visionary woman who revolutionized fashion in the 1920s.
The name of Gabrielle Chanel is not indifferent to any fashion enthusiast. It is impossible to think of French haute couture without mentioning its revolutionary creations. In fact, the French designer stood out for her avant-garde vision for the time, abolishing the corset from women’s clothing and adding a longer strap to the bags, providing greater freedom of movement, enabling to be worn across the body. Therefore, Chanel transcended the then-established standards of fashion, continuing to influence how women dress, even today.
But the beginning of the twentieth century was also marked by other revolutions, especially in art, such as cubism, dadaism and surrealism. It is precisely this connection that the exhibition promises to explore, exhibiting not only pieces from Chanel maison, such as the classic two-tone shoes and tweed suits, icons of the brand, but also works of art. Highlights include the works of Salvador Dalí, who designed the iconic bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume, sculptures by Apel.les Fenosa, and lithographs by Pablo Picasso. Also on display are garments by important names in fashion at the time, such as Elsa Schiaparelli and Madeleine Vionnet.
In addition, the exhibition reveals Mademoiselle’s most intimate side through the lens of photographers André Kertesz, Man Ray and François Kollar, including portraits in the legendary suite 302 of the Hotel Ritz in Paris, where she lived for more than three decades. Curated by Maria Toral, the exhibition debuts in Portugal and can be visited until November 3 at the Cascais Cultural Center.
