Unapologetically Coco Chanel Timeless Fashion at La Librairie Shop
Even if you’re not a fashion enthusiast or follower of haute couture, you’ve almost certainly heard the name Coco Chanel. She was a designer and an an icon who reshaped the very idea of elegance. She populated the “little black dress” term redefining what sophistication could look like.
I’ve always been intrigued by her — that intense gaze, that aura of independence. She often seemed unapproachable, wrapped in mystery and strength. But as a creative myself (I’m a fine-art photographer), I’ve learned that to survive in any creative field, you need both softness and fierce confidence. And beneath her steely persona, Coco Chanel clearly had a poetic side, you can’t create clothing that lifts women’s spirits without having a tender heart somewhere beneath the discipline.
When my husband and I visited the Coco Chanel exhibition in Atlanta, I smiled at how little he actually knew about her story. He had, of course, heard her name — who hasn’t? — but didn’t realize she was born in France, raised in an orphanage, and built an empire from sheer determination. The organizer shared these stories with such enthusiasm that even he became captivated. (He later whispered, half-joking, that perhaps he now finally understood why women adore French fashion!)
Coco Chanel Vintage Fashion Exhibition in Atlanta
This elegant fashion exhibition was organized by Laura Nay, founder of La Librairie Shop — one of the most charming and colorful luxury women’s consignment shops in Atlanta. (Information about her store is at the end of the article) The Coco Chanel clothing and accessories on display came from the personal collection of Shauna Wood’s granddaughter. In the 1960s, Shauna Wood Trabert (she was crowned Miss Utah in 1953 and went on to represent Utah in the Miss Universe pageant that year) and her husband, famed tennis player Tony Trabert, moved to Paris, where he ran the European tennis tour while she modeled directly for Coco Chanel. Working alongside Chanel herself, Shauna became a muse of sorts, appearing in Vogue and Elle, and helping bring to life many of the era’s most exquisite looks.
The fashion exhibition, set within an interior-design showroom on Miami Circle in Atlanta, felt like stepping into Chanel’s world. The color palette — black, white, with some golden-brown accents — echoed her signature aesthetic. Laura’s styling was impeccable; despite the intimate size of the space, every purse, shoe, and dress was placed with intention, allowing each piece to breathe and tell its story. It proved, once again, that in design (as in fashion), it’s not the size of the space but the vision of the person curating it that makes the difference.
As always, I couldn’t resist taking photos. I believe photography preserves beauty and also emotion, and exhibitions like this remind me why I fell in love with it in the first place. Sharing these moments feels like inviting you, my readers, to pause, to notice, and to find inspiration in aesthetics, fashion, and art.
One wall featured a striking contemporary art piece from Luca Fine Art Gallery, inspired by Coco Chanel No. 19 perfume. It was a perfect touch — modern, elegant, and just mysterious enough to capture her essence. What added a warm, personal note was the small handwritten messages from Shauna Wood’s daughter, placed beside some of the jewelry pieces. Those delicate notes brought a sense of intimacy to the fashion exhibition, a reminder that behind every exquisite item lies a story, a memory, and a life once beautifully lived.
There’s something undeniably magical about seeing vintage Coco Chanel clothing up close: those delicate stitches, the intricate detailing, the quiet confidence woven into every piece. They’re more than garments; they’re small, wearable stories. Standing among them feels like touching history, longing for the elegance of the past while dreaming about the beauty still to come.
Fashion, after all, has never been just about clothes. For women, it has always been a form of self-expression, a language of confidence, identity, and transformation. The right piece can shift your mood, lift your spirit, and remind you of your own strength and grace. And no one understood that better than Coco Chanel.
If you love fashion, style, and the art of living beautifully, I hope this glimpse into the Coco Chanel fashion exhibition inspires you to seek out moments like this, where creativity, history, and emotion intertwine.
Laura Nay, founder of La Librairie Luxury, transforms fashion into a curated experience. Drawing inspiration from her global travels, from the streets of Paris to the markets of Africa and her background in high-end interior design, Laura launched La Librairie in 2023 to celebrate timeless style and sustainable luxury. Nestled in Atlanta’s Buckhead Interiors Market, the boutique offers carefully authenticated vintage and designer pieces, empowering women to embrace confidence and elegance. Through her vision of “trend cycling,” Laura blends classic fashion with modern sensibilities, creating a space where past and present coexist beautifully.
Visit La Librairie Shop Instagram – Shop La Librairie
Visit their store at: 715 Miami Circle Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30324
Curious to learn more about the vision behind this charming fashion exhibition, I spoke with Laura Nay, the owner of La Librairie. In our brief conversation, she shared thoughtful insights about style, storytelling, and the enduring influence of Chanel’s artistry.
What inspired you to do a Chanel exhibit?
It was an opportunity that truly fell into my lap as a client of ours is the granddaughter of Shauna Wood Trabert. I loved her story so much and begged the family to let me be the one to tell her story! My persistence and passion paid off and they allowed us to tell Shauna’s incredible story of being a model for Coco Chanel in the 1960’s becoming one of her most beloved models earning the title of the exhibit as “Coco’s Pet”.
How did you choose which pieces to include?
We included absolutely everything that we had access to of Shauna’s collection which included lots of gifts that Coco gave to her while she modeled for her. Basically everything that was on display for the exhibit was touched by Coco herself!
What do you hope people feel or learn when they visit the exhibit?
I really love the way this story gives a softer side to Coco Chanel. This is a story that shows her generosity and kindness towards Shauna, something that we don’t often hear about Coco. Coco was known to be incredibly tenacious and determined which is how she got to be as successful as she was coming from an orphanage during a time when women weren’t really encouraged to work or even own a home.
Can you tell us a little about your own journey — what led you to open La Librairie?
I have loved fashion since I was a very little girl. Sewing my own clothes, making scrunchies out of extra fabric from my mother’s interior design business. I would wear my grandfathers ties as belts and choker necklaces. In 2023, I was selling antiques and had my own interior design business but I wasn’t fulfilled. Milton, the owner of Interiors Market, encouraged me to pivot into fashion and even offered me an opportunity to showcase fashion inside his store and the rest is history.
How has your personal connection to fashion and art shaped the way you curate projects like this?
I have always been drawn to the story behind the pieces whether it is art or antiques or fashion. I noticed that people responded to these stories that I would share while styling them and decided to focus on the story telling aspect of fashion. My goal is to inspire my customers to want their clothes to tell a story!! Fashion is a way to brand yourself and give people an opportunity to get to know what you love and where you want to go. I hope this exhibit not only shed light on the history of the brand of Chanel but also on how it came to be through the hard work of Coco herself. But also inspires my customers to dream big as this is also a store of love and aspirations on how a young beauty queen from Utah became the face of Chanel and Coco’s pet.
P.S. Do you have a favorite Coco Chanel perfume or piece of vintage fashion that makes you feel instantly confident? I’d love to hear what’s your version of the “little black dress”? Share in comment. And if you enjoy articles about art, fashion, travel, and design, subscribe to my newsletter at the end of this post, I promise, it’s a space for beauty lovers like us.
All images in this article were taken by Elena Sullivan, ArsVie Photo Studio and are protected by copyright. If you are interested in using any of the them, please contact me for permission. Thank you for understanding!
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Natalia
Great article and photography!
Elena
NataliaThank you! Glad you you enjoyed reading it.