Fame and fortune are often associated with virtue, industry, and a hos

Fame and fortune are often associated with virtue, industry, and a host of other attributes. However, random strokes of fate often determine such success and said commonly perceived virtues prove irrelevant. For instance, decades after her death, Coco Chanel remains the epitome of French fashion and her name, as well as the company she founded, is known throughout the world. Yet, few realize that she, while undeniably talented, initially succeeded by leveraging her status as a courtesan. As a company owner, it would be an understatement to say that she was not known for her generous treatment of her employees. During the Nazi occupation, she lived a privileged life at the Hotel Ritz and her lover at the time was a German intelligence operative.

Conversely, there is the example of Madeleine Vionnet, a professional contemporary of Chanel. She is often credited with permanently transforming fashion through her use of the bias cut—cutting material against the grain of the fabric. In the 1930’s, her gowns were worn by Hollywood stars, and her standing was second to none. She was also, in many ways, an early feminist, establishing largely unheard of employee benefits—such as day care and medical care—for her largely female staff. In addition, she lobbied for fashion copyright protections. When the Second World War broke out, she closed her business and simply retired. Today, she is largely unknown outside of the fashion industry.

1. The author wrote the passage to posit which of the following?

(A) that the relationship between virtue and success is inverse
(B) that an inferior designer was more successful than a superior one
(C) to contrast the aesthetic of Chanel to that of Vionnet
(D) to suggest that no causal relationship exists between personal qualities and professional legacy
(E) to contrast the difference between transitory and lasting success


2. The author discusses the employee benefits offered by Vionnet in order to

(A) emphasize Vionnet’s anti-Nazi politics
(B) illustrate Vionnet’s admirable qualities
(C) highlight Chanel’s reputed drug use and collaboration
(D) demonstrate the economic burden of French socialist policies
(E) provide details that bolster Vionnet’s feminist credentials