Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."
 

Coco Chanel, ring any bells? You don't have to be a fashionista to know this name. Coco Chanel burst onto the fashion scene in the early 1900

Her fashion career blossomed when she began designing hats for her friends and realised that fashion was her calling! She then made friends with lots of artists and writers living within Paris.

In 1910 Chanel opened her first store in Paris, creating  hats under the name 'Chanel Modes'. Her designs helped to establish her reputation. Chanel's Simple and elegant style of dress created a sensation in Paris and was widely imitated.

Chanel was the perfect example of a modern woman. Despite the fact her partner Boy Chapel had loaned her the money to start her hat shop, she became so successful that she was able to pay him back- which he totally did not expect women were generally not able to pay them back, this made her 100% financially independent.  She created a new look for women in the 20th century developing clothing in new shapes that didn’t require the re-positioning of a women’s internal organs.

In 1914 the war began and Chanel realised that women were going the have to go to work. She designed simple, classic clothes that women could work and play in. During the war Chanel imported trimmings and fabrics that were not available in France due to the war. The rarity of her designs were sought after amongst those that could afford them. She used men’s designs and adapted them to suit women. Pullover tops, cardigans and sports jackets are her most popular pieces and modern young women still flock to buy her comfortable, practical and stylish designs.

Chanel was the first designer to use jersey fabric for outerwear as well as underwear.

Chanel designed one of the first 1920’s drop-waist ‘sack’ dresses. She was also becoming a fashion icon and young women started to copy her look – slim, elegant and youthful with short, neat hair and bright red lipstick.

In 1922 Chanel invented the 'Little Black Dress' the dress was simple and accessible for women of all social classes this is due to it being long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and a neutral colour. The "little black dress" is considered essential to a complete wardrobe by many women.

Chanel she was the first fashion designer to release a fragrance and by 1929 Chanel No.5 was the leading scent in the world. She also made costume jewellery popular, as people had found wearing anything other than real gems to be considered 'tacky'.

Chanel was a trendsetter, she put her work before any man and didn't change her designs despite emerging competition, she was a woman to look up to and she has left her mark forever in fashion history.