Coco Chanel's legendary style doesn't just live on the red carpet in the present day, 55 years after her passing, but also in her homes and décor choices.
The renowned fashion designer and businesswoman was able to return to the mainstream world of style when she reopened the Chanel brand after the controversy she courted due to her involvement with the Nazi regime in World War II.
And throughout her lifetime, while she maintained residencies in Switzerland and London, she primarily lived either in her La Pausa villa by the French Riviera or her two apartments in Paris. Take a look at her signature style for her homes in the photos below…
© Getty ImagesHer Parisian apartment
In 1918, Chanel purchased an 18th century building at 31 rue Cambon, which she established as the primary site for her eponymous brand.
The ground floor was converted to the boutique, a highlight of one of Paris' most fashionable districts. The floor right above was turned into the reception area, and the other spaces were made her apartments, where she most often hosted people and worked.
© Getty ImagesBuilding a home and an empire
By 1927, Chanel owned five properties on the rue Chambon, but primarily lived in the apartment at 31, which was highlighted by her love for books in her floor-to-ceiling library, her various ornate artifacts from her world travels, and her love for a tchotchke and a rug.
© Getty ImagesThe hub of fashion
The rue Cambon is located in the historic 1st arrondissement of Paris, also boasting proximity to other iconic Parisian landmarks like the Place Vendôme and the Tuileries Garden.
The site is now known as the location of the flagship Chanel boutique, and also maintains, to this day, one of the home's most defining features…
© Getty ImagesThe mirrored staircase
At the Chanel boutique is a mirrored staircase with the reflective panes serving as bannisters and creating a prismatic effect. While the staircase (and Chanel's apartment itself) are closed to the public, the iconic architectural feature is a standout feature of the boutique.
Famously, Chanel used the reflection from the mirrors to observe the fashion shows taking place below undetected, her own private vantage point that only she could access.
© Getty ImagesChanel's love for art
The apartment was decorated with a variety of pieces that highlighted the couturier's love for east Asian art specifically, most notably the eight Chinese Coromandel screens that lined the walls.
The screens, in particular, also served as an inspiration for Karl Lagerfeld as he would spend time in her home to soak up some ideas from her aesthetic, when he took over the brand in 1983.
© Getty ImagesSleeping in The Ritz
While Chanel primarily lived and worked at 31 rue Cambon, she actually slept at The Ritz around the corner, a habit she maintained for nearly 50 years, up until her death in 1971.
The smaller two-bedroom suite served as a smaller recreation of her own apartment, featuring much of the same décor choices, from golden lion figurines on the mantelpiece, to crystal chandeliers.
© Getty ImagesVisiting Chanel's Ritz suite today
The Ritz offers access to the classic Suite Coco Chanel to this day, for up to three guests. "Gabrielle Chanel and the Ritz share an eternal bond, their destinies intimately intertwined. The legendary designer referred to the Ritz as ma maison," their website reads.
"She lived with us for over two decades, making 15 Place Vendôme the setting for the precious hours spent away from her life's work. This suite is dedicated to her." You can stay at the suite for €36,000 a night (approximately $42,000).
