Coco Chanel was a French fashion designer who is credited with popularizing the "little black dress" and revolutionizing the fashion industry in the early 20th century. She was born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France.
Chanel was the second of five children born to Albert Chanel and Jeanne Devolle. Her mother died when Chanel was 12 years old, and she was sent to an orphanage in the convent of Aubazine. It was there that Chanel learned to sew, a skill that would later prove invaluable in her career as a designer.
After leaving the convent, Chanel worked as a seamstress and singer in a café in Moulins, France. It was during this time that she adopted the nickname "Coco," which was derived from the song she sang most frequently, "Qui qu'a vu Coco?" ("Who's seen Coco?").
In 1908, Chanel opened her first shop, "Chanel Modes," in Paris. The shop was a success, and Chanel began to gain a reputation as a talented designer. In 1909, she opened a boutique in Deauville, France, where she sold clothing, hats, and accessories.
Chanel's most iconic design was the "little black dress," which she introduced in the 1920s. The dress was simple, elegant, and affordable, and it quickly became a wardrobe staple for women around the world. Chanel's other notable designs included the jersey suit, the quilted handbag, and the costume jewelry she created using materials such as glass beads and fake pearls.
In the 1920s, Chanel also began to dabble in perfume, creating the now-legendary scent "Chanel No. 5." The perfume was an immediate success, and it remains popular to this day.
Chanel's career was not without controversy. During World War II, she had a relationship with a German officer and was forced to flee Paris when the war ended. She spent several years in Switzerland before returning to Paris in 1954, where she re-opened her fashion house.
Chanel died on January 10, 1971, at the age of 87. She was a pioneering figure in the fashion industry and remains an icon to this day.
