History: Fashion Designers

Photo Credit: VOGUE

Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel

The woman behind the 'Little Black Dress.'

Gabrielle (Coco) Bonheur Chanel was born in Saumur, France on August 19th, little did Gabrielle know that she would become a timeless fashion icon who has inspired designers for generations, and would revolutionize women's clothing with her modern patterns of simplicity and style.

"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

Coco Chanel was born in a workhouse where her unmarried mother Joanne Devolle worked. Her mother died when she was six years old, and was quickly sent to live with her father Albert Chanel with her other siblings. Young Chanel was then sent to the orphanage of Catholic monastery of Aubazine where she learned how to sew. 

"I don't do fashion, I am fashion," -Coco Chanel

When Chanel turned 18, she left the orphanage and took up work with a local seamstress. In 1913 with the financial aid from a lover Arthur Capel, Chanel was able to open her own boutique selling fashionable clothes in Deauville. Even with the shortages from The first World War, Chanel creatively used a jersey fabric. Chanel quickly gained a reputation for being at the forefront of fashion. Chanel's success encouraged her to open another shop in Biarritz. By 1919 Chanel was able to open up her first boutique in the fashion capital of the world, Paris France. 

"A perfume is something which is invisible and yet an unforgettable accessory," -Coco Chanel

Photo Credit: ATLAS MAGAZINE

It wasn't until 1922 when Coco Chanel launched the fragrance "Chanel No. 5," which after 96 years is still prominent. Two years later Chanel gained a business partner, and lover, Pierre Wertheimer. Wertheimer owned 70% of the fragrance business. The Wertheimer's still have control of the perfume company today. A year after Chanel launched her signature cardigan jacket, and the following year matched it's success with the little black dress. 

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same," -Coco Chanel

Chanel's post war popularity was diminishing after her affair with a Nazi Officer, and moved to Switzerland to escape the conflict of the controversy. After the scandal had burned out, in 1954 Chanel returned to Paris where she took on Christian Dior's "overtly feminine New Look." Chanel later expanded her signature style by introducing pea jackets, and bell-bottoms for women. Her collection became very popular within the United States. Chanel went down in history as a fashion icon with her cutting edge modern style, that has continued into 2018, and will continue on.

"My life didn't please me, so I created my life," -Coco Chanel

Credit: "Coco Chanel." Lifetime UK, 31 Aug. 2017, www.lifetimetv.co.uk/people/coco-chanel.