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Coco Chanel is one of the most influential and celebrated fashion designers of the 20th century. Her creations not only revolutionised the world of haute couture, but also shaped the way women dressed and expressed themselves. She was a pioneer of casual chic, a master of elegance, and a visionary of style.
From Rags to Riches
Coco Chanel was born as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel in 1883 in Saumur, France. She had a humble and difficult childhood, as her mother died when she was 12 and her father abandoned her and her siblings in an orphanage. There, she learned to sew and developed a taste for simplicity and refinement.
She started her career as a singer in cafes and cabarets, where she earned the nickname "Coco". She also met Etienne Balsan, a wealthy horse breeder who became her lover and patron. He introduced her to the high society of Paris, where she met Arthur "Boy" Capel, another wealthy admirer who financed her first shop in 1910.
Coco Chanel as a child
The Birth of a Legend
Coco Chanel opened her first shop on Rue Cambon, where she sold hats and accessories. She soon gained a reputation for her innovative and elegant designs, which contrasted with the extravagant and restrictive fashion of the time. She used simple fabrics like jersey and tweed, and favoured colours like black, white, navy, and beige.
She also introduced new silhouettes and garments that freed women from corsets and petticoats. She created the Little Black Dress, the Chanel suit, the collarless jacket, the cardigan, the quilted handbag, and the two-tone shoes. She also popularised costume jewellery, pearls, and perfume, especially her signature fragrance Chanel No. 5.
An original 1921 bottle of Chanel No. 5
The Legacy of a Genius
Coco Chanel's influence on fashion is undeniable and lasting. She was the first designer to be named in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. She inspired generations of designers, such as Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, and Miuccia Prada. She also left a mark on culture, art, literature, and cinema, as her style was admired and imitated by icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Catherine Deneuve.
Coco Chanel died in 1971 at the age of 87 in her suite at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. She left behind a legacy of modern fashion that transcends time and trends. She once said: "Fashion fades, only style remains the same." Coco Chanel was not only a fashion designer, but also a style icon.
Chanel's classic little black dress
