Coco Chanel made the best of every situation. So no matter whether you're spending your summer frolicking in Vegas, letting the Caribbean waves lap at your toes, or laying on a float in the pool in your own backyard, I recommend making the best of your summer situation by reading The Gospel According to Coco Chanel: Life Lessons from the World's Most Elegant Woman by Karen Karbo. I'm sure this book has made its way around the fashion blogs, but since I'm a blogosphere newbie, I figured I'd throw my two cents in.My mom gave me The Gospel for my birthday last year, and I have re-read it several times. With help from cute illustrations by Chesley McClaren, Karbo does an excellent job entwining Chanel's own trials and tribulations with life lessons we can all learn from. Karbo describes a life that was flat-out gritty at times, but she makes sure the reader understands that Coco Chanel was an absolute pro at being fabulous, no matter where she found herself.
I already knew I couldn't thank Chanel enough for the cardigan, but after I read this book, I began to realize that I should thank Chanel for her attitude as well. From fearlessness and spontaneity to style and self-invention, Karbo begins every section with a Chanel (or in some cases, supposed Chanel) quote that encompasses the theme of the section. My personal favorite? "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."
Fashion and philosophy often go hand-in-hand in the couture world, but this book makes for a light, but thoughtful summer read that weaves the two together beautifully for the rest of us.
Have you read this book? What do you think? Do you have any other great fashion or non-fashion summer read recommendations?
