Madsen takes the reader on a fantastic journey through the incredible and bittersweet life of Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel, the woman who forever changed the world of modern fashion with the creation of the simple, elegant black dress, costume jewelry, and her own special perfume. Intertwining Chanel's business ventures, wealth, glamour, and influences, the biography is filled with fascinating and emotional stories of personal triumph, success and tragedy, social intrigue, and sexual escapades with nobility, artists, and politicians. The text, broken down into four parts, focuses on her life from her birth and childhood years to her early business success, her decline following the demoralizing events of World War II, and her amazing comeback at the age of 70 to the haute couture world she helped create.