Growing up, this woman had been abandoned by her father, leaving her and her siblings to become orphans. Although she grew up very poor, she strove to make a name for herself and be somebody important in the world, and she has since become famous for her fragrances, signature handbags, and the modern breakthrough in women’s fashion associated with her, revolutionizing the world of fashion one piece of clothing at a time. She was the French fashion designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. Being filled with the “desire for independence and need to be different,” Chanel freed women from tight corsets and introduced them to new comfortable loose clothing.1
During the 1920’s, Chanel had become one of the most powerful designers, creating a variety of fashionable clothing worn by women, and even influencing the “flappers.”2 Prior to her “revolution in fashion,” the fashion industry had been ruled by men, and clothes were made from a male’s viewpoint for how women should dress. But she introduced an entirely different concept of women’s fashion to the world. In the years before 1919, fitted vibrant colored clothing was the signature look, where black or dark clothing were only worn at funerals and at times of mourning. She even began attending many high social functions wearing pants, making something that was never done before a new trend in women’s fashion.3 Her style was one of a kind. She designed her clothing from her own viewpoint, as a woman, wearing what she saw as most comfortable.
Her creations instantaneously became the uniform of the modern women. It all started with the explosion of a gas burner while getting ready for an event in 1926. She found herself troubled trying to get the water temperate enough to wash her face. Wearing a simple white dress, she tried to alter the gas flame when it exploded surprisingly. Her white dress was now fully coated with soot. The explosion resulted in the creation of the legendary “Little Black Dress.”4 The original little black dress was plain and simple. It was a long-sleeved black fitted, but also comfortable creped, dress.5 It was a tragedy that led to the innovation of a lifetime. Chanel had created the perfect dress, suitable for any occasion, elegant or casual. “It defined the essence of modern, liberated women and reflected a change.”6
When the famous actress Audrey Hepburn wore the dress in 1961, it brought more attraction to the style and simplicity of the Little Black Dress. It became more idolized and desired. The fame of the little black dress increased due to its exposure in Hepburn’s iconic movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She portrayed a character named Holly Golightly.7 Chanel’s fashion was frequently displayed among the high social class. She dressed many famous individuals such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, Madonna, and Jackie Kennedy.8
Through the years, the Little Black Dress became knows as the LBD. It came to be a necessity in every woman’s attire. It could be used for any type of occasion. Generations after generations, the dress has changed drastically. The LBD went from a fitted design to a more fashionable cocktail dress for special events. The LBD has become a trademark, displaying the transformation of fashion and dress since at least the late 1920’s. We are now in the twenty-first century; the little black dress remains a mainstay of the clothing industry and a must in the wardrobe of every woman. Even after four decades after her death, Chanel remains an icon. She played a very important role in the revolution of women’s fashion. Thanks to Chanel’s bold attitude and braveness, she broke the “rules” and transformed fashion.
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2004, s.v. “Coco Chanel.” ↵
- St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, April 2013, s.v. “Chanel, Coco,” by Richard Martin. ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2004, s.v. “Coco Chanel.” ↵
- Isabella Alston and Kathryn Dixon, Coco Chanel (United States: Bellagio Press, 2014), 34. ↵
- Isabelle Fiemeyer, “Chanel the Enigma,” France Today Vol.32, No. 1 (2016): 83. ↵
- Deborah Felder, The 100 most influential women of all time: a ranking past and present (New Jersey: Citadel, 1996), 175. ↵
- Nancy Wingston, “It starts with a little black dress,” Toronto Star (2016). ↵
- Isabella Alston and Kathryn Dixon, Coco Chanel (United States: Bellagio Press, 2014), 90. ↵
166 comments
Cheyanne Redman
Staring the reading of this article, I was very familiar with the back story of Coco Chanel, I only really saw her as a designer, but I was wrong. I find it extremely empowering that ms. Chanel broke through so many barriers and conformities to society, she is truly a inspirational figure to many young women. She did not let her troubled past blur her vision for her future, and I find that very inspirational. This article is very worth the read, given that it explains the underneath layers behind what everyone else saw.
Anna Guaderrama
Can I just say, wow I love independent confident souls? Not only as a fashion designer, but as a woman she saw her opportunity and took it in a route which she created herself through her views of reshaping the idea of feminine. With creating a simple little dress, she created a fashion staple that has been a classic all throughout history and is even still used today. Fashion and beauty both have one thing in common, and that’s that they constantly change. We always see fads come and go, but looking at Ms. Chanel’s work, you can see her style still within some of todays styles which I believe is astounding to still have them circulating in the fashion world.
Iris Henderson
Although Coco Chanel is synonymous with fashion, I have to admit I was unaware of how innovative she was. She certainly created some of my favorite go to pieces, like pants for every day casual events and the LBD for more formal events. Also, understanding why she created the little black dress was amusing. I am greatful to have read and learned so much about Chanel and hope to attain a few of her timeless pieces in the future.
Clayton Trevino
Fashion and beauty is really subjective and this article really shows just how much it tends to change over time. People in general are just such creatures of habit that igniting this change is often difficult. Chanel was one individual who was able to do so during a time of change for women independence in general. Women of this time gained freedom and independence from not only their corsets but also from discrimination. It’s quite metaphorical how Chanel’s work and the work of women’s rights and the civil rights movement line up historically.
Destiny Leonard
This article was very enlightening its amazing how something that has become such an everyday idea or object has so much history to go with it. As a fashionable woman my self I personally always aim to have a “little Black Dress” at the ready not realizing all that Coco Chanel had to go through in order to achieve this impact in the fashion world. overall Amazing and eye opening article!
Caroline Bush
Its amazing how one women persevered though her hardships in life and change the course of fashion so drastically. The story of Coco Chanel is really inspiring and shows that even if you dealt a bad hand in life you can still succeed and follow your vision. I enjoyed the article and personally liked how Chanel was able to make clothing for women that were not designed solely by men. I also enjoyed how she changed peoples perspective of what should and shouldn’t be worn by a women. Chanel was truly ahead of her time so its no surprise that her classic style is still apart of women’s wardrobes today.
Monica Avila
I’ve researched and read about the icon that is Coco Chanel before, and this article captures her exact essence in the fashion industry. She transformed women’s clothing and revolutionized a once male-dominated fashion world. From the little black dress to influencing women to finally wear pants, she changed the way women looked at themselves in their patriarchal society.
Hanadi Sonouper
The infinite, divine, and legendary Coco Chanel is not only a icon, but a true legend for the modern fashion industry that we all know and love today. Her eye for design on women’s clothing has changed the early era of the 1900’s to present times, because of her eye for change. Women have always been expected to dress a certain way and to pertain to the opposite sex’s needs, but giving them the confidence to feel beautiful and sophisticated in a pair of modern cut pants, and a seamless sharp blazer empowers them to take on any task just as a man would. Coco Chanel was a simple elegant woman, who wanted to dedicate her time to taking a different approach on how to take a creativity and stretch the concept to a new level. All good things happen for a reason, the sudden explosion of black soot on her white dress, sparked the idea to be creative and take risks. Her monumental ideas grew to a massive empire that still dominates the fashion industry today, while still having the original birth place in Paris, without her unique vision, many designers that we all know and love today would be inexistent.
Alexandra Cantu
Coco Chanel’s “little black dress” not only revolutionized the way women dress but as well as been a break through for many designers to make their mark in the fashion industry. It will forever be a “Must Have” in a women’s closet making the lives of many much easier! I never knew that THE Coco Chanel had a difficult upbringing. It’s empowering knowing that change began from a women with great ambition.
Kayla Lopez
Chanel is a very high fashion and luxurious brand. I found it interesting to read about all the amazing things this woman did on the way to getting there. Every person knows just how popular a ‘little black dress” can be but I never knew that this originated with Coco Chanel. This was a very short and simple piece that was very enjoyable to read while being very informative at the same time.