Fifty years after her death, the trailblazing designer’s influence on fashion lives on. Here are 8 important style innovations from a designer who once famously said: “I don’t do fashion. I am fashion.”
How Coco Chanel changed the course of women's fashion
1938 – Gabrielle Chanel, Red velvet suit
#x3C;p>The rich history behind what made one of the most legendary fashion pieces of all-time</p>
The History of the Chanel Tweed Suit
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) distinguished her design aesthetic through a strict insistence on comfortable, lightweight garments and a pared-down silhouette. Chanel's interest in simplicity is seen in her earliest millinery designs from the 1910s, which relied on a single, dramatic embellishment for decoration rather than the "assemblage of materials" then in vogue.1 This interest in "less is more" also demonstrated itself in her earliest garment designs, ready-made suits and dresses often made from inexpensive wool jersey. These garments, almost the exact opposite of popular feminine fashions, launched Chanel's career. Throughout her career, Chanel adhered to the basic principle of crafting soft, lightweight fabrics into functional (yet luxurious) garments. Though Chanel produced a variety of garment types throughout her career, one that reappeared over and over was the suit. Borrowing from menswear, Chanel created a feminine suit which offered ease of movement and capitalized on the implication of power inherent in the masculine suit. The basic, stripped down silhouette remained consistent, but the textiles changed with the times. It became a classic and functions today as shorthand for the designer herself. Two-piece suitGabrielle ChanelSpring 1964Transfer from the Museum at FIT2004.291.24AB
Coco Chanel - FIDM Museum
From its foundation in 1910 to its modern incarnation, here's everything you need to know about the history of Chanel.
A comprehensive history of Chanel - Haute History
After a two-year refurbishment, Palais Galliera in Paris throws open its doors to host an exhibition dedicated to Gabrielle Chanel, one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century.
Palais Galliera In Paris Pays Tribute To Gabrielle Chanel, One Of The 20th Century's Most Influential Fashion Designers
Distinguished Professor Peter McNeil examines why Coco Chanel's influence extends well beyond the little black dress.
Chanel's complex legacy University of Technology Sydney
Ever since Coco Chanel made tweed suits an iconic staple, they have remained a chic, classic look that can be used for work, weekend-wear or even an alternative to the classic wedding suit.
Women's Tweed & Country Suits
From Chanel to Diane Von Furstenberg and Tracy Reese, women designers have shaped fashion's history and created looks that remain today.
10 Influential Women Designers in Fashion History – WWD
CHANEL - (Made in France) Suit set composed of a jacket and pants in black wool. Fall-Winter 1997 Collection. Size 42FR. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Shoulder width: 45 cm - Sleeve length: 62 cm - Length: 86 cm Pants: Waist: 40 cm - Hips: 48 cm - Length: 103 cm
Chanel suit set Fall 1997 – Les Merveilles De Babellou