cocochanel Blog and Journals

This is for my Leadership class, on why I think Coco Chanel is a leader. Very last minute!

Coco Chanel

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel was born on August 19th, 1883, and revolutionized the fashion world. Even now, after her death on January 10, 1971, Coco Chanel is still viewed as a pioneer in the fashion industry, having completely changed the way people think about women and women's clothing. Today, the French label - previously known as the 'House of Chanel', and now simply as 'Chanel' - is one of the most respected of the haute couture variety, its logo gracing the pages of magazines and the clothing of many a fashion-conscious woman.

Chanel began her label in the 1920's, at a time when women's clothing was still stiff and uncomfortable. Seeing the potential of an unexplored niche, Coco quickly devised clothing that was as comfortable as it was stylish. In her own words, "simplicity is elegance," and elegant is exactly what the Chanel label is.

Chanel is responsible for today's "little black dress", having developed the idea early on in her career. Because of its simplicity and color, a black dress is suitable for both day and evening wear, depending on how it is accessorized. When these dresses first debued, they were strapless, backless and they shocked the public. Quickly, however, the world came to love both the dress and its designer, propelling Coco Chanel straight to the top of the fashion world.

Another unique innovation in style, something we can credit to Chanel herself, is the everpopular two-tone sling back. In search of something that would lengthen the leg, be flattering upon the foot and be stylish all at the same time, she thought of this creative solution - black at the toe, and tan around the foot. Today, a popular variation of this design is worn in many different colours, and we have Coco Chanel to thank for this break in the fashion world.

The infamous Chanel 'suit', elegantly consisting of a knee-length skirt, together with a short, box-like jacket, changed the way women were seen in the workplace, by giving them a sophisticated yet sensual appeal. This suit is still alive today, and of course, as popular as ever.

Revolutionising the way women are viewed, Coco Chanel played a key role in the development of the 1920's flappers, a new generation of young women who wore shorter skirts, listened to jazz music, bobbed their hair, wore lots of makeup and had a casual additude about all things taboo of that time period. Chanel's clothing was the basis of this look, everything from the looser fits to the shorter hemlines contributing.

Unknown, Coco Chanel. (2008). In Wikipedia [Web]. Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_Chanel

Unknown, (2008). Discover Chanel. Retrieved March 16, 2008, from Chanel.com Web site: http://www.chanel.com/nav/html/direct_page.php? page=inside&zone_lang=EN-CA