Coco Chanel on Nerves, Health, Work and Image

I recently read an excerpt from an article called 'Nothing Amuses Coco Chanel after Midnight' by Djuna Barnes. It was something set from my Uni tutor to read and thinking nothing of it at that time. After I read it, I was truly inspired, it was an article based on Coco Chanel's quote and thoughts on life, health, beauty and work!

"Personally nothing amuses me after twelve o'clock" is the last sentence of the writing and it all makes sense as I take you through it!
The article talks about Chanel's thoughts in her quotes and how beauty is not the most important thing in the world and there are many other factors much more important. The article goes on to quote that Chanel said if you want to do something, and you like it, go do it. This was something I really liked and the article itself really showed the mind of Coco Chanel and how down to earth her thinking was. Coco Chanel was worth millions upon millions, dressing the best of the rest and employing thousands of people and yet she was still a character. One that had charm and elegance, not just outside, but most importantly in the inside.

"The figure is more important than the face." This isn't just any figure, she is talking about health. Coco Chanel believed in being natural, but not 'natural', her "natural" meant "complete and coordinated."- I absolutely love this, because to me I feel like this is a balance, after all too much of anything in excess, is poison.
Djuna quotes Coco throughout the article and describes Coco's ideal woman being "A charm of manner, speech and a classic beauty" with a reference to "observe." "A woman should not be a manikin" and that "a pretty face is often inaccurate because the face should match the personality." I feel like she could be referring to a famous quote (don't know who by) but it goes "She might be beautiful on the outside, but ugly inside."

"If a woman wants to keep her figure, let her be employed, let her work. She will be happier and less self conscious."
She also quoted Coco: "Work, then play." This is something I really love and so far this whole article seems to sum up my own thoughts on life and fashion which caught me off guard, I didn't know I had similar thoughts to Coco Chanel..

"You cannot keep up a nightlife and amount to anything in the day. You cannot indulge in those foods and liquors that destroy the physique and still hope to have a physique that functions with minimum destruction to itself. A candle burnt at both ends may shed a brighter light, but the darkness that follows is for a longer time." I can't agree more!

"Be moderate, be honest, an honest appetite will be simple. Eat with your intelligence, not your stomach." She is then quoted to say "Sleep well, seven to eight hours. Get up early and work hard. It won't hurt you, for it keeps the mind busy and will keep the body interested."- Overall the article later goes on to talk about how bad influences and surrounding can affect you and that we should all stay focused on what matters to us. For her it was her work, health and life and I would say the same for me.

"Save something for yourself. Save your ears, save your eyes, save your nerves. What have you heard after midnight that you count sitting up for?"

"Personally nothing amuses me after twelve o'clock at night."- This article is incredible and really well written based on Coco's quotes and thoughts. I have to say it has really opened me up to what she thinks on work, health and image. Personally I want to also save my nerves and not be bothered after midnight! I have really loved this article and her thoughts overall feel so close to my heart because I feel the same about just about everything she has mentioned. Except I am no Chanel of course, I'm a Chandni! ;)