Coco Chanel: Fashion As We Know It
Coco Chanel was the only fashion designer to appear on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. She is a truly trendsetter who built her own fashion empire which stands to the test of time. As a fashion designer, she revolutionized fashion. At this time women were trapped in corsets; they couldn’t eat, they couldn’t breathe. It’s said that a woman once died back then as her corset pinched her liver. Fashion was restrictive.
Mme Chanel changed all that, she changed how a modern woman should dress. She introduced things like collar shirts. Boater hats things that belonged to men’s wardrobe at that time.
Chanel introduced and created new innovations. She is the one behind how women dress right now. She introduced the legendary LBD ( Little Black Dress) in 1926. The dress that became a must have in every girl or woman’s closet, a style whose daring simplicity revolutionizes fashion. American Vogue hails the innovative design as an instant classic, writing, “the CHANEL ‘Ford’ dress, the frock that all the world will wear. Chanel items have always been a luxury consumer product but this hasn’t stopped them from being a staple in every woman’s wardrobe thanks to the replicas available from places like Luxurytastic. Nothing gets in the way of a true fashionista.
Her trademarks are endless, her line of jersey garments starting with the Chanel suit was phenomenal, changing women’s relationships with their bodies and their ways of life. It was and still is an immediate success. She also created the legendary two-tone slingback shoe. She discovered tweed, a traditionally masculine textile that inspires her iconic women’s suits. Last but not least the striped sailor shirt, the iconic 2.55 quilted handbag and the list is endless.
She once said “I don’t do fashion, I AM fashion.”
Based on the belief that luxury begins with perfect skin, Chanel develops the first comprehensive line of groundbreaking skincare products. As well as the truly timeless classic, N°5 that remains the ultimate symbol of femininity. Chanel presents the first makeup collection, featuring lip colors and face powders. In the same year, the “Société des Parfums CHANEL” is founded and is dedicated to creating unique fragrances and beauty products. She was the first to do this as a fashion designer and right now most of the profit gained by any fashion trademark is by its skin care line.
The reason why Coco Chanel is still so compelling even after all these years, is that she was a trendsetter whose trends are never outdated she made classics that still live till now. Mme Chanel died in 1971. Now there are more than 300 Chanel stores worldwide and her empire sells about 3 billion products every year. Gabrielle Chanel’s simple, elegant style of dress creates a sensation, and is soon imitated by all of Paris, by the whole world till now.
“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” ? Coco Chanel
