The Fragrance Foundation has announced that Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel will be inducted into The 2012 FiFi Hall of Fame during the FiFi Awards on Monday May 21st. As the Fragrance Foundation explains, “The FiFi® Hall of Fame award is voted on by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and is presented to an individual who has brought extraordinary ingenuity, creativity, dedication and inner resources to bear, not only to their company’s success but to the fragrance industry as a whole.”
” ‘It is quite astonishing that in the year 2012, a fragrance introduced in 1921 and simply named Chanel No 5, prevails as one of the most enduring and iconic symbols of style, elegance and modern scent creativity the world has ever known,’ says Jill Belasco, Chair of The Fragrance Foundation.’Chanel fragrances have reached near mythical status thanks to the vision of Coco Chanel, her enduring commitment to in-house master perfumery and an uncompromising commitment to luxury and quality. To this day, men and women everywhere delight in wearing fragrances marked by the entwined double C’s of Chanel.’ ”
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of The FiFi Awards.
Via press release
18 Comments
maggiecat: It’s quite astonishing to me that it’s taken FiFi this long to recognize her! April 3, 2012 at 10:00am
OperaFan: I second maggiecat… April 3, 2012 at 10:43am
Ari: NO. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. NAZI SPIES SHOULD NOT GET FIFI AWARDS. April 3, 2012 at 10:56am
Victoria: I believe that early on they mostly recognized the industry people that they were still alive. Here is a list of all 30+ winners (some years didn’t have this award):
http://www.fragrance.org/fifi-awards-hall-of-fame-recipients.php April 3, 2012 at 11:36am
Victoria: And to add to my comment above, I think that the early emphasis was on the American personalities. The first Hall of Fame award in 1974 went to Estèe Lauder. April 3, 2012 at 11:38am
Victoria: Have you read the book by Hal Vaughan? April 3, 2012 at 11:39am
Ari: I have read excerpts. I wish more people would read it (or even just Chanel’s wikipedia!) I don’t think her Nazi affiliations are as widely known as they should be. I hope the FiFi judges weren’t aware; I would feel even worse if they did know, and decided she deserved this award anyway. April 3, 2012 at 12:18pm
Victoria: I haven’t read it yet (I love wiki, but I’m always a bit wary of what I find there.) Just placed an Amazon order for the book. I have several books on Chanel and most of them have such conflicting information that it’s hard to figure out what is true and what is a rumor. April 3, 2012 at 12:39pm
Anne H: Thanks so much for the post. Great read!! Really looking forward to read more. Want more. April 3, 2012 at 2:27pm
Victoria: You’re most welcome! 🙂 April 3, 2012 at 5:18pm
behemot: How often we have to encounter these dilemma: a great artist versus a person with questionable morale, or even a criminal record, all in one.
Coco Chanel, Elia Kazan, Roman Polanski – just to name a few.
If they make bad choices in life, should we prevent them from being recognized as talented or genius? April 3, 2012 at 7:27pm
Ari: In my opinion, yes! There are enough wonderful artists in this world that I feel that we don’t need to praise and endorse those who are war criminals and child molesters. April 4, 2012 at 8:48am
behemot: Ari, you absolutely have right to have a different opinion.
I still think “Knife in the Water” and “Chinatown” are one of the best movies ever. On the other hand, I despise Polanski as a person because of this actions and arrogant attitude.
As of Coco Chanel, we have yet to find out. I am ordering the book today. April 4, 2012 at 1:13pm
Victoria: This is only somewhat related to this discussed, but I remember speaking with my 80 year old uncle, who was praising the Soviet style education system. I knew that he has suffered at their hands, and I expressed dismay that he would praise anything of the regime. He said, “we have to learn to separate the good from the bad, things are never black and white.” I’m still learning, I have to say. Polanski’s attitude has made me see his work negatively, and I haven’t even seen “Knife in the Water” for this reason.
So, not excusing Chanel in any way, but since I haven’t read the book, so it’s hard for me to comment one way or another. I ordered it too. Would love to hear your thoughts when you read it. April 4, 2012 at 1:47pm
behemot: Victoria, I highly respect people who are like your uncle. It is not easy to be like him, but I am learning, too. Still some time left until I am 80 🙂
I’ve just ordered the book.. April 4, 2012 at 3:54pm
[email protected]: I’m Jewish and I’ve read the Vaughan book. Save your money because it is by no means convincing. Coco was not a Nazi and her friendships and business partnerships with Jewish people throughout her life make the book’s claims unbelievable. The best Coco biography I’ve read is by Picardie. Believable, well-researched, insightful — unlike the Vaughan. Ari, turn down the caps please. Coco revolutionized fragrance and deserves the award. April 4, 2012 at 8:53pm
Victoria: I’ve read Picardie’s book, and I agree–out of all books I’ve read so far on Chanel, it is my favorite. I also liked Tilar Mazzeo’s book on Chanel No 5. April 5, 2012 at 1:20pm
Saloma: Thank you so much for the recommendation, Victoria! I’ll definitely pick up the Mazzeo book. April 5, 2012 at 8:59pm