Years after being abandoned at an orphanage by her father, Gabrielle Chanel finds a job in a tailor shop where she meets, and soon begins an affair with French millionaire Etienne Balsan. Through Baron Balsan she is introduced into French society and given the opportunity to design her own style of hats. Though her career takes off, her personal life becomes more complicated when she falls in love with Balsan's former best friend Arthur Capel.

Adapted from the novel L'irreguliere by Edmonde Charles-Roux. Originally produced as a motion picture in 2009. Special features: Walking the red carpet: from Los Angeles to New York ; Coco before Chanel "La rencontre" ; the making of Coco before Chanel ; commentary with writer/director Anne Fontaine, theatrical trailer.