Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel (1883-1971)

In the fourth instalment of BoF’s fashion history series, we meet the creator of the ‘little black dress,’ who took her cues from a country in mourning. Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, the designer doyenne who founded fashion’s most famous house, used her lovers’ money to establish herself and rewrote the rulebook with her mannish collections.

Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel - Fashion Pioneer

The French couturier and fashion designer Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel . News Photo - Getty Images

Image of GABRIELLE 'COCO' CHANEL (1883-1971) French dress designer. Photographed c.1950.

French couturier Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel at her home, Fauborg, St News Photo - Getty Images

Image of GABRIELLE 'COCO' CHANEL (1883-1971). French fashion designer. Chanel being interviewed

COCO CHANEL - French fashion designer (1883-1971) at her Paris salon about 1968 Stock Photo - Alamy

Image of Coco Chanel in her suite at the Ritz Hotel in by Kollar, Francois (1904-1979)

Born on August 19th – DANIELLA ON DESIGN

Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel (19 August 1883 – 10 Janua…

Image of GABRIELLE 'COCO' CHANEL - (1883-1971). French Fashion Designer. Photograph, Early 20th Century. From Granger - Historical Picture Archive