Gabrielle Coco Chanel was born 1883 in Samour, in the Loire Valley of France. She had a severe and impoverished childhood, because of her strict convent education. Her mother worked in the poorhouse where Gabrielle was born and she died when the child was only six . The little girl was raised by some relatives.
She quickly became one of the most famous fashion designer and fashion icons in the world. She was also one of the fiew fashion designers in Paris. She was the mistress of a wealthy military officer and than of an industrialist from England. With their financial support Coco Chanel opened her first shop in 1912. She replaced the corset with comfortable clothes and casual elegance. Her themes included simple lines, suits and dresses, trousers, costumes, but also jeweleries. She also worked in jersey, no one did that before, she was the first in the French fashion world.
In 1922 she introduced on the market a parfume: Chanel nr.5, which became very famous and popular all over the world, but also a very profitable product until our days.
Most of Coco Chanel's designs had a staying power and didn’t change to much from year to year or even from generation to generation. The cardigan jacket and the little black dress wears her signature.
In 1971 she was still working when she died. Karl Lagerfeld has been since 1983 chief designer of Chanel’s House, which has untill today a great success.
Image : hydeparkblvd.com
A.V.
artline.ro editor
