"Elegance is not the perogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future."  (Coco Chanel)

I've always liked the word dame.  If you look it up in Webster's, it gives this definition: "a title once given to a woman in authority, a title of a woman equivalent to a knight."  Well, Coco Chanel was one tough dame.  As the old saying goes, she didn't suffer fools.  And her vision of stylish, elegant streamlined designs revolutionizedfashion during the 1910s.  No more were women relegated to the uncomfortable,stiff apparel worn at the end of the 19th century.  In 1923, she told Harpers Bazaar that "simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance."

And along with her iconic designs, Chanel created her persona as a woman of the 20th century, embodying independence,success, personality, style and confidence.   Because of her relentless pursuit of what she considered the ideal in women's fashion, she is the only designer that was included in Time's 100 Most Influential People of the 20th century.

I was delighted and intrigued when I heard  Shirley Maclaine talking about the upcoming movie (September 13) on the Lifetime channel where she would be playing Chanel.

What a good fit - as Ms. Maclaine is another woman who (as her old buddy Frank sang) "does it her way."  When asked about any similarities between herself and Coco Chanel, Ms. Maclaine replied, “Well, I thinkwe’re both colorful. I think we’re both rude. I think we’re bothspontaneous. We both can’t hold what we feel to be the honest opinion in."

The spirit of Coco Chanel also captured Ms. Maclaine's imagination in a practical way.  She was so inspired by Chanel, that she has created a brand new jewelry line, Chakra Sky Jewelry, which combines her love for gems and spiritual matters.

Dames - it's a good thing!