This is the tale of Gabrielle Chanel (Audrey Tautou), a young woman who survived life in an orphanage to become a tailor for stage productions at a local bar. When Gabrielle tries her hand at singing, she is dubbed with the nickname "Coco." A chance encounter with Baron Balsan (Etienne Bartholomeus) opens the world to Coco as she navigates her way through French social circles. As she becomes more confident, Coco earns several opportunities to showcase her abilities as a talented seamstress. When her ability proves to be exceptional, her life takes on a new course in both work and love.