Who was Vera Bate Lombardi?<\/h4>\n
Referred to in the new Apple TV+ series The New Look<\/em> as Elsa Lombardi, Vera Bate Lombardi was born Vera Arkwright.<\/p>\n
Very much part of the British elite, Vera Bate Lombardi was hired by Coco Chanel in 1920 as a PR executive for the House of Chanel. Their subsequent deep friendship brought Chanel into contact with the very highest echelons of British society, including an introduction to the future King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n
In 1943, Lombardi was arrested by the Italian police force, who suspected her of spying for Britain, though she was released without charge a week later. The following year, she accompanied Chanel to Madrid on what she believed was a business trip, but which was actually an espionage mission. While in the Spanish capital, Lombardi\u2019s declaration to British officials that Chanel was a Nazi spy scuppered the operation. In 1948, Lombardi was dead. The real cause of death has never been announced.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
Was Chanel arrested for her involvement with the Nazis?<\/h3>\n
Although she underwent questioning before the Free French Purge Committee in the autumn of 1944, the lack of definitive evidence against Chanel in respect of her work with the Germans saw that no further action was taken.<\/p>\n
Strong suspicions abounded that powerful figures \u2013 including Winston Churchill<\/a>, who was an old friend of Chanel\u2019s \u2013 had intervened to secure her release.<\/p>\n
What was Chanel\u2019s life like after the war?<\/h3>\n
Chanel reopened her fashion house in the mid-1950s, despite by that time being in her seventies. Other than a comparatively short time spent living in Switzerland, Chanel remained a resident of the Hotel Ritz in Paris until her death.<\/p>\n
\n
Read more | The real Christian Dior: who was the man behind The New Look<\/em>?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHow did Chanel die?<\/h2>\n
Coco Chanel died from a heart attack in her room in January 1971.<\/p>\n
She never had children, and her not-inconsiderable estate was inherited by her nephew Andr\u00e9 (whom she had cared for after the death of his mother), and her two great-nieces.<\/p>\n

Period drama podcast episodes<\/h4>\n
Member exclusive<\/strong> | Browse our archive of podcasts that explore behind the scenes of the much-loved period dramas, from Bridgerton<\/em> to Masters of the Air<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n
Explore now<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>

$\"Bridgerton.$ <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
The first three episodes of The New Look are<\/i> available to stream on Apple TV+ from 14 February, with new episodes airing weekly until 3 April.<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Did Coco Chanel really collaborate with Nazis?<\/h2>\n $\"Juliette$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>

Did Chanel have a relationship with a Nazi known as \u2018Spatz\u2019?<\/h2>\n $\"Coco$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>