Coco Chanel's Apartment, Paris

For Chanel fans,

I stumbled upon this post in apartment therapy on Coco Chanel's apartment in Paris.

The decor, which was all chosen by Coco Chanel herself,

was kept in tact in this apartment.

The apartment sits above the Paris Chanel boutique, and is now used for photo shoots and press conferences.

What I found interesting was the amount of Chinese influence

there was in her apartment

- the antiqued lacquered Chinese screens with what looks to be Mother-of-Pearl inlay.

Chanel's signature camellias were heavily portrayed in these screens that practically surrounded the room.

It was also fascinating that Coco Chanel had a dislike for doors.

So, instead of having doors in her room, she'd flatten these wall-length Chinese screens to close off the room. How creative!

One principle that Chanel perpetuated is the notion of "Invisible Perfection",

which I wished I had the funds to subscribe to.

This, I think, is the key to wearing the real luxury stuff -

it's not just flaunting the label or logo,

but knowing you're wearing something that was handmade,

and appreciating the hours of work and care that went into creating each piece

that has the mark of pure luxury and quality.

And if it takes someone a long time to figure out what/who you're wearing,

the longer this well-kept secret is "Invisible Perfection".

In my humble opinion, it's this that gives the wearer the confidence that is priceless in a world where so many try to make others feel small.

For more info and pics of her apartment, look here.