There’s no doubt that fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883-1971) completely transformed French women’s fashion, and more than anyone else, she’s responsible for the modern women’s clothing we know today. Her father abandoned her at age 12, and after her mother died, Gabrielle Chanel (her real name) was sent to live for several years in a convent, where she learned the secrets of sewing. Thanks to her adventurous spirit, she managed to become the mistress of a man who ran a horse breeding business, which opened the door to the high society of her time.
In 1909, Coco arrived in Paris and decided to open a business selling hats. Up until then, women’s hats had been large and clunky, and she found immediate success with her small, elegant straw hats. From hats, Chanel moved into clothing design, and true to her saying that “simplicity is the key to elegance,” she created the little black dress in 1926, which became her signature and revolutionized women’s fashion. During World War II, Coco closed her business, but after the war ended, she was forced to leave France following an affair with a German officer. Still, in 1954 she made a successful comeback thanks to famous clients like Jacqueline Kennedy, and her brand has enjoyed lasting fame ever since. A workaholic to the end, Chanel kept working until the day before she died. She died at the Hôtel Ritz on January 10, 1971. The walking route ahead takes you through the main places where Chanel lived and worked during her long years in Paris, focusing mostly on the upscale 1st arrondissement.
A Map of the Coco Chanel Walking Tour
Coco Chanel’s First Shop
Start the tour at the Opéra metro station. Walk to Boulevard des Capucines, then turn left onto Rue Cambon. At number 21, you’ll find the spot where Chanel opened her hat shop in 1910. Today, this is where you’ll find the brand’s latest designs, created by Karl Lagerfeld.
Where Coco Chanel Lived
Head to number 31, where you’ll find the apartment where she lived and worked (third floor). The place has stayed exactly as it was the day she died, and it has become something of a shrine to her personal taste (Chinese screens, camellia flowers that appeared in her designs, and more). Unfortunately, it’s not open to the public. Keep in mind that although Coco spent most of her time in this apartment, she never actually slept there (it doesn’t even have a bedroom).
Wondering where she did sleep? For that, you’ll need to cross the street to the Hôtel Ritz on Place Vendôme. Coco Chanel kept a suite there, and for the right price, you too can sleep in the very bed where she slept.
A Jewelry Shop and Tea House Coco Chanel Loved
Head to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and take a look at the window displays of Paris’s finest fashion houses. At number 29, Coco had another apartment, where she showed her famous jewelry exhibition in 1932 (among other pieces, she designed a necklace shaped like a star-studded scarf, set with 600 diamonds).
Continue on Rue de Castiglione, then turn left onto Rue de Rivoli. At number 226, you’ll find the tea house Angelina. Today it’s a tourist trap, but decades ago, Coco used to sit here and rest after a long day of work.
More Places Where You Can Encounter Chanel
Continue along Rue de Rivoli until you reach the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The fashion exhibits there change often, but there’s a good chance you’ll come across artists influenced by Coco Chanel.
Continue on to the Palais-Royal, whose history you can read about here. Didier Laudot, the king of French vintage, runs three shops there, one of which, La Petite Robe Noire (the little black dress), pays tribute to Coco Chanel’s greatest creation, something she would surely have appreciated (the shop is located at Galerie de Montpensier 20-24).
That’s where the tour ends. If you haven’t had enough yet, why not watch this next film starring Audrey Tautou?
Did You Enjoy the Coco Chanel Walking Tour?
Feel free to check out the Paris walking itineraries I’ve put together especially for you. You’ll find special routes that follow great historical figures or explore neighborhoods in Paris that I especially love. All that’s left is to pick the routes that appeal to you most and start exploring.
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