Monaco, a principality synonymous with timeless elegance, is set to unveil a captivating journey back in time this Thursday, June 19, 2025. The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM) at Villa Paloma will host a groundbreaking exhibition: “Les Années folles de Coco Chanel” (“Coco Chanel and the Roaring Twenties”). This immersive experience promises to reveal how Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, a visionary designer, reshaped women’s fashion and lifestyle amidst the vibrant backdrop of the French Riviera in the 1920s.
A revolutionary vision takes root on the riviera
The exhibition delves into Chanel’s prolific creative output during a decade of immense cultural and social change. It highlights how she drew inspiration from the burgeoning outdoor life, the revolutionary Ballets Russes, the allure of Slavic cultures, and the very invention of the “Riviera style.” It’s here, in seaside resorts like Deauville, Biarritz, and Monte-Carlo, that Chanel’s simple, sporty, and incredibly liberating designs first flourished, catching the eye of a cosmopolitan clientele who then introduced her bold vision to Paris and beyond.
Fashion, art, and the “New woman”
“Les Années folles de Coco Chanel” brings together an impressive collection of over 200 objects, creating an unprecedented dialogue between roughly thirty of Chanel’s iconic textile creations and accessories, and some forty works by pivotal modern artists. Imagine seeing Chanel’s designs alongside masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Kees Van Dongen, Marie Laurencin, Natalia Goncharova, Sonia Delaunay, and Jean Cocteau. This curated interplay reveals how Chanel’s work was deeply interwoven with the avant-garde artistic movements of her time, reflecting her pioneering concept of the “new woman”: modern, free, and independent.
The exhibition vividly portrays how Chanel liberated the female body, moving away from corsetry to embrace comfortable jersey sportswear. Visitors will discover how her designs, including the internationally successful “little black dress,” transformed evening wear, with a final room showcasing sumptuous garments adorned with fringes, sequins, and tulle – creations designed to dazzle at society events and epitomize the unbridled creativity of the Roaring Twenties.
An icon’s connection to Monaco
The exhibition also sheds light on Chanel’s personal connection to the Côte d’Azur. She opened a boutique in Monte-Carlo in 1914 and later built her famous villa, La Pausa, near Monaco. Her collaborations with figures like Serge Diaghilev and Igor Stravinsky, whose Ballets Russes company was based in Monte-Carlo, further underscore the region’s influence on her work. Even the genesis of the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume, created in nearby Grasse in 1921, ties into this vibrant period.
Practical details for visitors
“Les Années folles de Coco Chanel” runs from June 19 to October 5, 2025, at the NMNM – Villa Paloma (56 boulevard du Jardin Exotique, 98000 Monaco). The exhibition is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, with extended hours in July and August (11 am to 7 pm). Admission is €6, with free entry for those under 26, Monegasque citizens, and on Sundays. Guided tours are also available.
This promises to be a must-see exhibition for anyone with an interest in fashion, art, history, and the enduring legacy of one of the 20th century’s most influential designers. Don’t miss this chance to experience the revolutionary spirit of Coco Chanel’s Roaring Twenties in the heart of glamorous Monaco!
