Coco Chanel in Classic Hollywood: Her Iconic Costume Designs for Cinema

Cinema and fashion have always gone hand in hand. And in the early 1930s, Samuel Goldwyn wanted MGM stars to be ahead of the latest fashion trends. To achieve this, there was nothing better than inviting the trendsetter in Paris. After a long period of negotiations, Coco Chanel arrived in America with a million-dollar contract and the challenge of revolutionizing the company’s costume department.

Under contract, Coco officially worked for three films in Hollywood: Tonight or Never (1931) and The Greeks Had a Word for It (1932). I have selected some of the models created during this period for you to see.

Shortly after, however, she was not satisfied. She had had problems with Gloria Swanson during Tonight or Never. She interfered with the models chosen and adjustments had to be made because of her pregnancy. The experience, however, bore good fruit, and helped establish her name in America and gain new clients.

Once in Europe, she would continue to contribute to some films such as La règle du jeu (1939), Et ta soeur (1958) and Éducation sentimentale (1962). She would also dress some actresses for specific films, such as Jeanne Moreau in Les amants (1958) and Delphine Seyrig in Last Year at Marienbad (1961). Jeanne Moreau was a constant client. Check out some more models created by the costume designer. Coco Chanel died on January 10, 1971, in France. Her name continues to be synonymous with elegance, simplicity and liberation.

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Carla Marinho Leal

Writer, traveler and above all, curious about many subjects. She has studied cinema since 2002 and is a Specialist in Cinematographic Studies from UNICAP. Founder of the blog Purviance and the website Cinemaclássico. She loves Charles Chaplin, Raj Kapoor and constantly browses films from all over the world.

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