Born into rural poverty, Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to an orphanage after their mother''s death. There the sisters nurture the sewing skills that will propel Gabrielle into a life far removed from her childhood drudgery. Transforming herself into Coco - a seamstress and sometime torch singer - the petite brunette burns with ambition. But it is only when her wealthy lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny.