Coco Chanel

Belle OHara

Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, also known as Coco Chanel, is a fashion icon known for her

little black dresses and trademark suits. Even though she died in the 1970s, her fashion style and

line still lives on. Her timeless designs were not only popular back then, but are still worn today.

Along with her amazing fashion sense, she was also the first designer to create a perfume under

her name, Chanel No. 5.

Coco lived one of the most fabulous lifestyles in her lifetime, but her childhood was

anything but glamourous. She was born on August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France. Her mother died

at a young age, and her father put her and her 5 siblings were sent to an orphanage shortly

afterwards. She was sent to the Catholic monastery of Aubazine. She was raised by nuns at the

orphanage, who taught her the skill of how to sew. This skill led to her to what she would end up

doing in her later career. When she turned 18, she left the orphanage and went to work at a local

tailor. She also was a singer in cafes and concert halls. She received her nickname Coco from

the soldiers that would come to watch her sing. She then kept that name for when she launched

her fashion design company.

Cocos love life had a large play in her fashion career success. World War 1 led her to

move to the town of Deauville, there she became the mistress of a rich ex-military officer,

Etienne Balsan. She was 23 when she became his mistress and moved to his chateau, where she

lived for 3 years. In his chateau is where she started designing and creating hats for a diversion.

Later she started a relationship with Arthur Edward Boy Capel, who was a wealthy English

Industrialist, who was also a friend of Balsans. He financed her first shops and got her into a
Parisian apartment. Their relationship lasted a total of nine years. Through the connections of

these men Chanel was able to open her own millinery shop in Paris in 1910. She later opened

boutiques in Deauville and Biarritz. When everything seemed to be working itself out, Capel

died in a devastating car crash in 1919. She later told a friend 20 years after the event, "His death

was a terrible blow to me. In losing Capel, I lost everything. What followed was not a life of

happiness I have to say."

Chanel was one of the most innovative designers back in the 1900s she was able to

create amazing clothes that no one would expect. She created many firsts in the fashion industry

and many designers today still look up to her. In the 1920s she was the first designer to create

loose womens jerseys. What was usually used for mens underwear, she was able to create a

relaxed style for women that ignored the stiff corseted look that was popular at the time. Many

women in post war times preferred the jersey because the corseted restricted clothing was

impractical and unmodern. Another first Chanel had was that she was the first designer to launch

a perfume under their name. in the 1920s she launched Chanel No. 5, which is still popular to

this day. She claimed that perfume, is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of

fashion. . .. that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure,

Chanels style was basic but glamourous, with simple statement pieces and little black

dresses, her fashion sense was on point. In 1925 she introduced the Chanel suit with a colorless

jacket and well fitted skirt. Her designs added elements of menswear and emphasized comfort

over the corsets, which were popular at the time. In the 1920s she created the little black dress.

She was able to take a color that represented mourning and showed just how chic it can make

evening wear. Also in 1925 she created the signature cardigan jacket, which matched with her
black dress. They continue to be a staple in every Chanel collection. Celebrities like Audrey

Hepburn and Grace Kelly fell in love with her stylish cardigans.

In 1969 a Broadway musical about her life opened, with Katherine Hepburn taking the

role of Chanel. Chanel worked until she died in 1971 at age 88. She spent her last days in the

private apartment The Ritz. Karl Lagerfeld took over Chanels fashion house in 1982 and is still

the chief designer. He has been able to look through the Chanel archive for inspiration which

testifies the importance of Coco Chanels contribution to the world of fashion. The film Chanel

Solitaire was filmed in 1981 with Marie-France Pisier playing the role of the designer. This

followed the American movie Coco Chanel in 2008. Finally, in 2009 the French actress Audrey

Tatou played the designer as a young woman in the movie Coco Before Chanel.

Today the Chanel fashion industry is still one of the most famous and highly sought after

fashion brands since 1909. Today the brand stands out in every category- couture, ready-to-wear,

accessories, jewelry, shoes, and fragrances. The Chanel brand is classic and well-tailored staple

pieces with luxurious fabrics and lots of embellishments. The fashion still stands by what their

founder said years ago, A girl should be two things, classy and fabulous.

The Chanel fashion line has been known for its luxurious and basic staple pieces. Chanel

is one of the most well-known designers and has one of the most popular fashion lines. Chanel

wasnt afraid to take risks in her fashion, and wasnt afraid to be the first to do something. All of

those risks paid off and now she will always be known for her amazing and fashionable fashion

pieces.
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