‘Gripping… In the deftest prose, Picardie plots one of the most extraordinary lives of the 20th Century. The book is lavishly illustrated, too, with images of iconic outfits and intimate photos from Chanel's private albums.’ Mail on Sunday ‘Fascinating. Chanel was a tragic figure of almost Shakespearean aspect – hugely successful, fiercely strong-willed, yet fatally flawed and eventually filled with regret.’ Sunday Times ‘The French fashion icon finds a shrewd and sympathetic interpreter in Justine Picardie… this handsome volume cleverly blends the life and afterlife of the enigma who became a brand.’ The Independent ‘Justine Picardie’s vividly told account of Coco Chanel’s life has all the elements of a novel: the mystery, the sense of loss, the quest for fame and fortune, the distinguished lovers… in the style of Chanel herself.’ Daily Mail ‘[An] elegant book…The Chanel uncovered by Picardie is a storyteller [who] spun her own myth… Coco has, in these pages, come out of hiding.’ The Telegraph ‘A detailed and captivating read’ Red Magazine ‘A brilliant biography’ Grazia ‘Picardie sheds new light on the intensely private designer… Impressive’ Stylist Magazine ‘The darker facets [of Chanel] are subtly and carefully revealed by Justine Picardie.’ Wall Street Journal ‘Justine Picardie sheds new light on the darker truths behind the glossy myth… Guaranteed to be the most well-read accessory at London Fashion Week.’ Daily Express ‘Justine Picardie’s thoughtful and beautifully illustrated Life … illuminates the iconoclast who might justifiably be said to have invented the twentieth-century woman.’ Times Literary Supplement