Coco Chanel

Fashion icon who liberated women from corsets and defined 20th-century style.

Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel (1883–1971) transformed fashion by introducing simplicity and functionality to women’s clothing. Rejecting the restrictive corsets of the early 1900s, she popularized the little black dress, tailored suits, and costume jewelry, empowering women to embrace comfort and elegance.

Chanel’s innovations began with her hat shop in Paris, but her breakthrough came with the creation of Chanel No. 5 in 1921, the first perfume to feature synthetic notes. Its success funded her expansion into couture. During WWII, she faced controversy for her associations, yet post-war, she staged a triumphant comeback with her 1954 collection, redefining mid-century fashion.

Her use of jersey fabric—previously reserved for men’s underwear—revolutionized textiles. As she famously said, 'Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.' The Metropolitan Museum of Art later hailed her as 'the architect of modern femininity.'

Chanel’s legacy endures in her brand’s global influence and timeless designs. From the quilted handbag to the tweed jacket, her creations remain symbols of sophistication. As Vogue stated, 'She didn’t follow trends; she set them.'