Chanel

Chanel is an iconic French luxury fashion brand that was founded by couturière Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in 1910. The house of Chanel revolutionized women's fashion with its timeless and elegant designs that have endured for over a century. Coco Chanel is credited with liberating women from the constraints of the corseted silhouette and introducing a modernist approach to fashion that emphasized comfort and simplicity.

In its early years, Chanel first established itself with the opening of a millinery shop at 21 rue Cambon in Paris, where Coco Chanel began to sell her innovative hats. In 1913, she expanded her business to Deauville and Biarritz, introducing luxury sportswear that embraced a more casual, yet chic lifestyle. The introduction of the Chanel No. 5 perfume in 1921 marked the brand's first foray into fragrances, and it swiftly became one of the most famous scents in the world. The perfume was distinguished by its use of aldehydes and its abstract composition, setting it apart from the more traditional floral scents of the time.

Chanel launched her groundbreaking "little black dress" in 1926, which Vogue described as a fashion staple "that would become a sort of uniform for all women of taste." The use of black, traditionally reserved for mourning, in such an elegant manner redefined the color's association with sophistication and high fashion. The brand has also been renowned for its use of couture fabrics, emphasizing high-quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship.

After Coco Chanel's death in 1971, the brand faced a period of decline until the arrival of Karl Lagerfeld in 1983. Lagerfeld revitalized Chanel by blending the house’s classic elements with contemporary flair. His tenure witnessed the reimagining of Chanel's quilted handbags, tweed jackets, and two-tone shoes, which became staples of the brand's offerings.