Story of Chanel

Gabrielle Chanel founded Chanel in 1910 when she started her inaugural hat store, ‘Chanel Modes’ which stood in the heart of 21 Rue Cambon, a fashionable spot in Paris. Soon after, she gained traction as a hatmaker and acquired the entire building at Number 31. For her second boutique, Chanel decided to design a collection of jersey ‘sportswear’ as a way for women to honour their bodies. Gabrielle took pride in the Rue Cambon area and continued to rein five buildings along the street (Numbers 23 to 31). 

 

She solidified her idea of a modern boutique in 1921 and incepted fashion accessories and the iconic perfume known to date – N°5, to sport with her garments and hats. Her superstitious belief in the number 5 as lucky led her to naming the Chanel No. 5 fragrance. She went on to cement jewellery and beauty products consisting of face powders and lip colours. 1924 was the year when she invented trademark – tweed suits. Tweed was deemed a masculine fabric but Chanel pivoted the notion into a feminine approach for modern women to don. 

The ‘ford’ dress became the world’s first Little Black Dress instantly as American Vogue dubbed it ‘the frock that all the world will wear’. With its simplicity and versatility, the style lingers onto a plethora of designers today. 

 

In 1955, she re-launched her Haute Couture line with cutting-edge designs that depicted her septuagenarian blood. The quintessential 2.55 bag faceting quilted leather and gold chain has been everyone’s IT favourite. 

Unfortunately, Coco Chanel passed away on 10th January 1971 at 87. Her untimely death has shocked and distraught many fans, including Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy and Jane Fonda. Thereafter, Karl Lagerfeld was appointed artistic director of Chanel, where he helmed all Haute Couture, ready-to-wear, and accessory lines while working alongside Fendi. His creative vision was transcended into Chanel, remodelling ready-to-wear and altering the interlocking ‘CC’ monograph into a house icon. 

With the rise of Chanel’s apparel and bags, its accessories has been booming too. The exponential success of the brand allowed them to introduce its first line of watches in the Premiere. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art paid tribute to the house’s fashion history which is only given to a handful of designers. Chanel continues to touch the hearts of many across the globe.

However, in 2019, Karl Lagerfeld passed away and was replaced by his right-hand woman, Virginie Viard. The brand has stayed true to its roots despite the change in directors. We all distinguish Chanel for its little black dress, No. 5 perfume and the Chanel suit.