CoCo Chanel: A Look at History

Coco Chanel, born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel in 1883, is well known for her fashion designs and perfume. In 1910, she opened a boutique selling hats in Paris. Three years later in Deauville, she opened her first clothing store. By 1919, she became a couturiere in Paris. Roughly 5 years later, Chanel no.5 perfume was being sold. Her simple designs were in direct contrast to the petticoat dresses most women had been wearing. During World War II, she closed her shops and did not reopen them until 1954. To this day her designs still remain popular. There are many documentaries about her life that one may find. Additionally, there are some interviews of her taken in 1969 and 1970. However, these documentaries are in French. To see the current Chanel brand's designs, click here.