One Woman Show

The incomparable spirit of the iconic Gabrielle Chanel is explored in Chanel’s first fragrance launch in 15 years. A look at her life and legacy shows why this namesake scent is set to be a game changer for a new generation of brand devotees

- Maddison Glendinning

There’s been a lot of talk about feminism and equal rights of late. The political agenda of the US election largely (and rightly) centred around such debates, there have been multiple protests across the world by women letting the patriarchy know they will not be left behind and more and more women are finding, championing and making their own success in various industries worldwide. So it seems fitting then that Chanel would release its newest fragrance, called Gabrielle after the brand’s incomparable founder, now.

Gabrielle Chanel is the house’s first feminine fragrance release in 15 years (its last was Chance in 2002). That it is named Gabrielle, and not Coco, is significant. Gabrielle and Coco are the same person, however Gabrielle is Mademoiselle Chanel’s birth name, and the one she used to found the iconic brand. It signifies youth, ingenuity, fearlessness and determination. After all, Gabrielle started Chanel over 100 years ago and changed the face of fashion forever. She was a style innovator and trendsetter, but she was also a visionary and a successful businesswoman. Within 11 years of starting the brand, Gabrielle had diversified its portfolio to also include fragrance – an addition that would prove one of the label’s most successful.