Côte d’Azur à la Chanel

Some facts about La Pausa:

The name La Pausa means “the pause” and is meant to pay tribute to Mary Magdalene who rested in the shadow of olive trees on Cape Martin while she was traveling from Jerusalem after Jesus was crucified. 

Chanel chose a white and beige colour palette for most of the interiors of the villa and even had a beige piano in one of the rooms. Some parts were highlighted with pink and gray, which were the colours that influenced Chanel collection in the years.

All six bathrooms in La Pausa is equipped with a servants’ entrance, so it was easier and quicker for them to slip in and out for cleaning. 

Much of the wooden details were made of English oak and the furniture selection was influenced by the Duke of Westminster’s tastes. 

The windows throughout the house are all clustered together in groups
of five, in celebration of the iconic Chanel No.5 perfume.

The beauty of the landscapes surrounding the villa and the unusually fragrant air there inspired Gabriel Chanel to create Chanel No. 28 – La Pausa.

Gabriel Chanel sold the estate shortly after the Duke of Westminster’s death in 1953. It was purchased by Emery Reves and, following the traditions of fashion, made it a gathering place for celebrities. 

The four-story villa has an old library, a fireplace lounge, seven bedrooms, a large dining room, four living rooms, six bathrooms, a kitchen, staff rooms, storage rooms, a two-bedroom guest house, a four-car garage, and a tennis court. Villa La Pausa is surrounded by an olive grove and an orchard. 

Sea Treasures

When Chanel fashion house got the villa, Karl Lagerfeld decided to arrange a runway show of the Flying Cloud jewelry collection to commemorate that event. Flying Cloud was the name of the Duke’s yacht, where Chanel spent time surrounded by fashionable, cultural, and political “cream” of society.

It is easy to guess who, or rather what, became the main participants of the show. The sea, yachts, cruises, and rather bearable lightness of being. To be more specific, the sailor theme: ropes, sailors’ knots, and bejeweled anchors. White diamonds and pearls, blue sapphires and lapis lazuli, gold and yellow diamonds reflect the dominant colours of the collection and the whole Côte d’Azur, which can be generally described in three main fashionable colours. White reflects the sand and clothing favourably shading the tan; blue means drops of sea water; and golden – the sun and buttons of sea uniforms shining under the sun rays.

The most expensive jewelry was a ring encrusted with a diamond of more than 12 carats, which “flew away” for 3,700,000 euros. Of course, the owner’s name was kept in secret. Whatever the price was, Chanel jewelry never looks pompous but rather ironic. The inviting “sea theme” of the Côte d’Azur and the lazy villa vacation were the source of unpredictable Mademoiselle Coco’s infinite inspiration. The same as they were for the geniuses of fashion, literature, and fine art before and after her.

Favourite Hotel, Favourite City

Coco Chanel adored the Côte d’Azur but she gave her heart to Nice and the Negresco Hotel (www.hotel-negresco-nice.com), where she stayed during her cruises in the French Riviera.  If the walls could speak, they would tell us what the great Chanel loved to wear for dinner, order at the restaurant, and who to receive in her room. By the way, you can have this very room, unless it is occupied. However, the rest of the rooms are no less worthy of your attention. Everything there is in grand style, with taste, and according to the state-of-the-art technologies. No wonder princes, kings and Hollywood celebrities, while in Nice, prefer to stay at the Negresco Hotel, the interior of which can compete with the royal apartments.

Even if you rent a villa in Nice and there is no need to stay at a hotel, Negresco is still worth a visit. This is not prohibited. Especially if you booked a table in the famous CHANTECLER. By the way, there is good reason to visit the restaurant. Chef Jean-Denis Rieubland celebrates the 10th anniversary of his work here and invented a special menu for the event. So it is not to be without surprises. In order to burn extra calories, continue your Chanel-style walk after lunch. Do not forget to drop into the Chanel boutique on the Promenade des Anglais, buy something from the cruise collection, and then have a yacht trip along the Côte d’Azur. Like Coco Chanel did. They say that it was not in Deauville but during one of those cruises that a sailor’s striped vest was invented as an element of fashion.  

One more element is a must-have at your cruise. Champagne.  One cannot imagine France and the French without this national drink. “I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not,” Coco said. Well, after such an adventure, if you’re not too dizzy, head for the night flower market. You can go there alone, but better to be together with your loved one who will give you camellias. Certainly white ones. Coco Chanel believed that this flower perfectly emphasizes her perfume as it itself has no smell. It was a bouquet of camellias that the Duke of Westminster presented to his Gabriel and won her heart. 

Grasse: the Secret of Chanel No.5

It was for this purpose that Mademoiselle Chanel arrived in Grasse where she met the one who would create the fragrance for her. Perfumer Ernest Beaux was a leading specialist in the Russian Imperial Household, but he emigrated on time in 1917 and managed to make a name for himself in France. It was he who created for Coco several variants of aromas that are completely unlike any of the existing ones. 

She chose number five without even opening the bottle. That purposeful and tough woman had a weakness: she believed in the magic of numbers and astrology. She chose No. 5 because she believed 5 to be her lucky number. And she was right. The fragrance consisting of more than eighty components is still so popular that it is sold almost every six seconds. She tested the new discovery in one of the restaurants spraying it in the air. And sophisticated ladies enthusiastically asked: “What is this perfume called?”

The creator made Grasse with its relaxed atmosphere, ancient medieval streets, and flower fields not only for inspired perfumery. No wonder that Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky movie was filmed here. So do not miss a chance to feel the atmosphere of the old city, its charm and romance, walk along these lovely streets, and anchor in the two-Michelin starred Bastide Saint Antoine with its terrace offering a panoramic view of the sea and mountains. And watch how people react to your perfume.  At this moment, you can realize the full power of perfumery and understand Gabrielle Chanel. One who holds the secret of smell is able to conquer people’s hearts.