Antoinette Chanel: what really happened to Coco Chanel's sister?

Have you ever heard of Julia Antoinette Chanel? Probably not.

Except if you’re a deep connoisseur of Haute Couture.

Born on Tuesday, June 14, 1887 in Issoire — a small town located in the French department of Puy-de-Dôme — she is famous for being the little sister of Gabrielle Chanel.

• Family interlude: Lucien Chanel’s unofficial (but synthetic) biography

Her two parents were clearly not coming from the Parisian upper-class.

Indeed, Henri Albert Chanel was a precarious street vendor, while his wife — born Jeanne Devolle — stayed at home sewing.

It’s a truism to say that her childhood was not a smooth ride.

(© Screenshot | CHANEL‘s YouTube Channel | Dicrector: Karl Lagerfeld | Movie: Once Upon a Time… | Date: May 8, 2013)

At that time, the household used to live in abject poverty. Without any hope of social advancement.

That is why the father placed the children in an orphanage; due to a lack of resources to feed them properly.

As a matter of fact, the end of the 19th century was quite harsh for most French people excluded from the big cities.

• Fraternal break: Discover Augustin Chanel’s tragic life

The only way to succeed socially and financially was to move to the capital, also nicknamed “City of Light”.

Many classical authors, such as Honoré de Balzac, have depicted the adventures of young provincials attempting to build a huge fortune in this small world.

As if attracted like moths to a flame.

During WWI, she was a regular guest in the beautiful hotels of the Riviera, among the aristocrats of that era. (© Screenshot | Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF | The New York herald | Date: January 27, 1917)

In a way, Coco is a female version of this epic tale.

She opened her first millinery salon in 1910, at 31 rue Cambon, in the 1st arrondissement.

Then aged 27, she decided to team up with her sisters to launch this venture.

Eleven years later, number 5 was officially launched — in association with the Wertheimer brothers — a perfume that made her immensely rich.

Antoinette, on her side,  married a wealthy businessman, named Oscar Edward Fleming.

Her older sister, Julia Chanel, was born in 1882. Jeanne Chanel (born Devolle) died in 1895; Antoinette was only 8 years old at the time. Her husband was a Canadian airman in the Royal Flying Corps (or RFC). They met during his demobilization in Paris. They didn’t have any children together. Her name is mentioned three times in Coco’s Wikipedia page.

The ceremony took place in Paris, in 1919.

One year — to the day — after the signing of the armistice of November 11, 1918, which ended the First World War.

Unfortunately, she passed away very young at the age of 33 — dying on Monday, May 2, 1921 in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires.

A tragic epilogue for a very gifted woman.

In her book — The Chanel Sisters — Judithe Little created two fictional characters — Arturo and Lucho — in order to build her biographical narration.

(© Screenshot | Pat Conroy Literary Center‘s YouTube Channel | Date: March 17, 2021)

The latter was depicted as Antoinette’s secret lover, a married polo player from South America, with whom she hoped for “something better”.

Of course, she probably took her inspiration from Boy Capel, one of Coco’s first protectors (and Pygmalion).

(© Screenshot | Antoinette Chanel‘s YouTube Channel | Date: March 20, 2020)

Even though she is today completely forgotten, some YouTube creators sometimes use her name as a pseudonym.

On the other hand, her sister has entered the Pantheon of great personalities of the 20th century.

Considered the queen of cosmetics, a simple Chanel lipstick can now cost up to $235.