Book excerpt: Throughout her life, Gabrielle Chanel was close to the greatest artists of her time, including poets Jean Cocteau and Pierre Reverdy, painters Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, and composer Igor Stravinsky. The creative heritage of the House of CHANEL has continued throughout the decades, from Gabrielle Chanel to Karl Lagerfeld, in the form of a dialogue established between artists and authors. The impact of these individuals and others on Chanel’s designs is explored in detail throughout the book. Paintings, sketches, letters, documents, and rare archival photographs illustrate the influence of different eras and inspirations on the clothing, jewelry, and perfumes that have shaped fashion throughout the decades. Moving from the little black dress to the women’s suit to CHANEL No5, CULTURE CHANEL explores the bold path of a brand that has always known how to express the essence of its times, a fashion house that continues to be an enduring symbol of modernity.