Gabrielle Chanel - Coco Chanel Case Study

Gabrielle Chanel also known as Coco Chanel was a well known fashion designer who changed the whole dynamic of women's wardrobe; she wasn't afraid to break the rules. She introduced many different new designs for women and became a fashion icon post world war I time period.

Even though Coco became very famous, her early life wasn't so easy and glamorous. Gabrielle Chanel was born on August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France. In her early years, Gabrielle lived with her mother until the age of twelve. Her mother got very sick and died of bronchitis and her father abandoned her and her three sisters. After her mother's death, she grew up with nuns in the orphanage who taught her how to sew which led to the work she did for the rest of her life. The famous Coco Chanel label was inspired by the orphanage she lived in as a child that had stain glass windows. At the age of 18, Chanel left the orphanage to pursue a career in singing and, as a side job, she worked as a seamstress. Around the age of 20, Etienne Balsan helped Chanel launch a new business. Balsan was a French textile heir and introduced Chanel to a new world. Chanel became the mistress of Arthur "boy" Chapel. Soon, Chapel financed and opened Chanel's new millenary shop in Paris where Chanel sold hats. The millenary shop became successful and Chanel later opened up two more shops and began making clothes. This opened many doors for Chanel in the business of fashion and design.

During the early 1900s women wore very tight uncomfortable dresses that included turtle necks and puffy long sleeves which women had a hard time breathing, eating and moving in. This was the ideal fashion of the 1900's because this is how the men wanted women to dress. As a fashion designer, Coco Chanel changed the whole dynamic of women's fashion. Coco Chanel found inspiration from men's clothes. She thought that women should be dressed as comfortable as men. One famous quote from Coco is "luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury." Chanel then introduced women to collared suits with ties, hats, well fitted skirts and more. This altered the fashion world because hats and ties where essentials in men's wear. Chanel said "Fashion fades; only style remains the same". Chanel helped women by introducing them to the new fashion world that no longer included uncomfortable corsets.

In the 1920s Chanel launched a new fragrance called Chanel No. 5. This was significant because Chanel No. 5 was the first ever perfume to have a designers name on it. Reaching the climax to her success was Chanel's release of the "little black dress". Chanel said "Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable" Chanel's little black dress revolutionized evening wear. Soon every woman had one in her closet. Chanel also said "women of all colors expect the absence of color;