Around the age of 18, Coco became interested in fashion. It all really started in 1909. At the time she was the mistress of a businessman named Étienne Balsan, he gave her the financial support she needed to open a hat-making shop in Paris. Another man, one of the wealthier friends of Étienne Balsan, named Arthur Capel, is also known to have had a huge influence on the beginning of the fashion venture of Coco Chanel. Eventually she opened more shops, where she also started making clothes. The House of Chanel was officially born. Coco once told author Paul Morand that her first taste of ‘clothing success’ came from a dress she fashioned out of an old jersey. Many people asked here where she bought the dress, and her response was the offer to make the same dress for them.
“My fortune is built on that old jersey that I’d put on because it was cold in Deauville.” – Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.
Coco’s designs always were simple, yet elegant. She focused on women’s taste for elegance, with blouses, suits, trousers, and dresses, keeping the focus on the simplicity. Additionally, she used a lot of colors like navy blue and grey, that were considered more masculine at the time. All of this made Coco Chanel different from all other designers in the 19th century, since this was a time full of luxurious, over-designed, and constrictive clothes.
Rise in popularity and the iconic products
The 1920’s became very important for the success of The House of Chanel. Coco Chanel became a true style icon, known for her simple but sophisticated outfits, styled with great accessories. She introduced the Chanel suit, the little black dress, and of course the perfume Chanel no. 5. In 1921 Chanel became the first major fashion designer to introduce their own perfume, while also redesigning “normal” perfume packaging. Putting the, still immensely famous, Chanel no. 5 in a beautiful, simple and sleek bottle.
“Perfume is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion… that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure,” – Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel
For me the luxury brand «Chanel» is the representation of elegance with a French woman’s fashion that shows the inspiration and example of Chanel’s character as Mademoiselle Coco was, in her time, a true rebel who imposed fashion.
Fashion by luisa 