COCO CHANEL WAS MY MENTOR

April 9, 2021 Posted by Vicky Tiel

I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE COCO AS MY MENTOR. As a fashion student at Parsons School of Design in Manhattan in 1964 and I wrote my theme paper on Coco Chanel and got an A. I was blessed to become partners in my Paris Fashion business MIA VICKY with Elizabeth Taylor, whom I dressed in my minis. Elizabeth surprised me in 1971 with a dinner for me to meet Coco. It was a smash. We all three bonded as Coco convinced us to make our own perfumes. Coco also spent that night explaining fashion to me and she became my mentor as I would copy how she worked for the rest of my life.

1 CREATE TIMELESS FASHION, FASHION YOU CAN WEAR ALL YOUR LIFE.
2 MEASURE AND DESIGN YOURSELF EACH CLIENT’S DRESS BUT THEY MUST GUARANTEE TO PURCHASE $$$$$ UPFRONT.
3 OWN YOUR OWN FASHION HOUSE
4 MAKE YOUR OWN TIMELESS FRAGRANCE BUT GET A GREAT PERFUME COMPANY TO MAKE IT.

COCO taught me that when you say the name of a designer a style pops into your mind. If you can do that you are a creator designer, not a copycat.
When I close my mind I see few designs from many celeb designers who focus on press, not customers. But some truly great designers have multiple designs that pop up when you hear their name.
YSL ….the Safari jacket
Paco Rabanne …the gold round disc minidress
Cardin ….the modern art mini
Dior…the 3/4 full ball gown
Azzedine ….dresses made of horizontal bands
DO IT YOURSELF. WHAT DRESS IMMEDIATELY COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE NAME OF A DESIGNER?

I’m wearing my mother’s black Chanel bag that she bought in 1955, the year Chanel created it. I wear it every day now in memory of my Mom. My jacket is Paris vintage 1920’s my shoes are vintage Coach, my beret is from Paris, my dad bought it 50 years ago. I beaded my jeans with gold lace on the cuffs and pockets.