Emily M. Dalzell is currently working as a graphic designer. She has a passion for good design and, of course, fashion. She resides in Bismarck.

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Face it; we like to emulate the lives of the rich and famous. We idealize their lives and lifestyles. However, very few people realize the trials which faced these individuals and what bitter obstacles they had to overcome to reach their position. Just as every object we manufacture has a story behind it, every person who thought up that object has an equally fascinating story simply waiting to be told.

For example, there are very few women in America who would not recognize the name of Coco Chanel. Few people realize that she was raised essentially as an orphan and early in life worked as a singer in a café (which is most likely where Chanel adopted the name Coco—it’s from a song about a lost dog, not a ritzy, bourgeoisie name). And while many women readily recognize Chanel’s black quilted handbag, few realize that it was inspired by the pattern on her couch. The black was inspired from the death of her beau and love; Boy Capel.

Chanel’s rags-to-riches story is not uncommon among many world-renowned designers. Giorgio Armani grew up in a small town near Milan during the Second World War. Armani witnessed a lot of death in his youth. He saw his young childhood friends die in a bombing during a single day. He still has scars on his face from a rifle cartridge he found, which exploded.

I don’t mean for this to be another nice, anecdotal story to leave a warm and fuzzy feelings in your heart that anyone can succeed (because quite frankly, not everyone can). However, it is imperative to remember two things:

1. People who are not simply born into wealth can still be tremendously successful.
2. If a poor girl growing up in a convent can make her dreams a reality, so can you.

Let me leave you with a final parting word from Ms. Chanel: “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”

Always know who you are and strive for what you want in life. Don’t stop until you get there.

Happy summer!

Emily

Buy Now! Out of Revlons new spring line, 85 minted. I am obsessed with this sea glass color, and at $3.85 from Target stores, you can be, too.

Write to me at fashionableyp@ndyp.net – and may you always stay fashion forward.
 
Read Emily's past columns here