Rolls Royce et Chanel

What do these two power brands have in common?

Yes, both have been an inspiration to a lot of us to do very well in life; to have the iconic arm candy & to travel with THE car mascot, I mean, ornament. I refuse to call it a 'mascot'. In my time, mascots are ridiculously looking big things with silly moves.

What else do they have in common? An inspiration from an affair which both ended in tragedy:

Coco Chanel's classic flap bag or the 2.55 ( february 1955) wasn't only made for her convenience of not having to carry the purse on her hand all the time. Not only she can turn it into an instant shoulder bag, it also hid her love letters in its secret compartment. For she was having a hidden love affair with her boyfriend's best friend.When they can finally be together, Chanel's lover ( & benefactor) died in a car accident. Tragic.

Rolls-Royce's Spirit of Ecstasy (the flying lady on the bonnet, kids) begun from a client. The editor of The Car Illustrated magazine & a future baron, thought his Rolls Royce's hood lucked a little oomph. So, a sculptor was hired & the sculptor was inspired, by his client's secretary who's also his mistress.

It was doomed from the start. A forbidden love affair not only because of marital bond but of aristocracy. She gave up their daughter for adoption. She died in a shipwreck. He was saved. Life went on...But the lady's spirit still lives as she quietly travel on the hood top of the most luxurious car brand in the world. And nowadays, she's never been more in demand...

Bonne Saint-Valentin! Happy Valentine's Day!