History of Chanel
The history of Chanel is intimately and indivisibly linked to the history of one woman -Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. She was one of the most influential people in history of 20th century fashion designed and her creation – The House of Chanel – is still one of the top design houses in the world. Further, the Coco Chanel design is characterized by her pioneering modernist philosophy.
As early as the 1920s, the name Chanel had already become famous due to her relaxed but chic fashion designs. The modern and simple Chanel clothes contrasted sharply against the corset fashions that had been the base of women clothing for centuries. An important part of the history of Chanel is the chemise created by Chanel that sparked the beginning of the “little boy” look for liberated women, and was soon to be followed by shorter skirts and other types of relaxed but elegant clothing suitable for work as well as for formal evening occasions. Chanel was inspired by garments worn by men and often dressed in mannish clothes her self. Simple and comfortable, yet expensive and elegant, became the key attributes for Chanel garments.
Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was born in a small French town named Saumur on August 19, 1883. She would later claim to have been born in Auvergne in 1893. Her mother died when Gabrielle was six years old and her father left her and her four siblings in the care of relatives. The children also spent parts of their childhood in an orphanage. When Gabrielle was in her twenties she pursued a career as a café singer. It was during this time that she got her nick name – Coco. Later in her life she was often called simply "Mademoiselle" by her inner circle of friends and co-workers.
