by Aline Agopian
Misia is a unique name for a unique woman. A longtime friend of Gabrielle Coco Chanel and an inspiration – Misia Sert was one of the first to recognize that Chanel would revolutionize women's fashion. She also had an eye for spotting talented painters, poets and writers before anyone else – there is even a painting by Cocteau about her which was a simple black dot.
Misia and Chanel's chemistry was instant, the two hit it off right away and soon became inseparable. Misia would introduce Chanel to her inner circle which included the artistic and literary avant-garde. She helped catapult Chanel to where she was meant to be.
In December of 1919, Chanel's loved a man named Arthur Capel, nicknamed "boy", died in a tragic car accident. The sorrow of losing her love made Chanel withdraw from the world. Misia and her husband decided to take Chanel to Venice to help console her. There they would visit museums, churches and antique shops which inspired her to build her future. She also was introduced to the world of Ballets Russes and the inner circle of modern art, meeting greats such as Pablo Picasso.
After their trip, Misia and Chanel were closer than ever. Chanel would later employ Misia in her couture house as a subtle way of repaying her. During this time, Misia gave her the idea to launch "Eau Chanel". This tiny idea became the creation of Chanel N 5 fragrance.
This spring, Chanel releases a fragrance created by Olivier Polge that "conveys the atmosphere of the Ballets Russes and the smell of makeup from that time." Olivier names the fragrance ‘Misia’ and dedicates it to the role of Misia as a turning point in Chanel's life.
Close your eyes and picture yourself backstage at the Ballets Russes. Hear the clicking of pearl necklaces and smell the scent of red lips. Behind the red velvet curtain, dancers wearing makeup from head-to-toe would prepare for the show while musicians were tuning their instruments. If the evening had to be concentrated into a single scent, the smell of violet would stand out. The powdery scent is perfect for channeling the nostalgic scent of powders from years before.
Violet is a flower that needs an exceptional setting to reveal itself. For this setting, Olivier Polge used Grasse rose, the rose who's May harvests are reserved only for a few legendary fragrances by Chanel. Combining the sensation of lush and velvet, ‘Misia’ is a scent that represents the essence of an independent woman who has a love for the arts.
