When most people think of fashion icons, the first name that comes to mind is Coco Chanel. A timeless fashion designer, Coco Chanel has become a universal symbol for classic couture and style. For over 100 years, she has championed the idea of women being empowered through their dress and outward presentation. Through her glamorous vision of womanhood, Coco Chanel has left behind a revolutionary legacy of what it means to be fashionable and empowered.
1. Breaking Barbie’s Mould: The Innovative Legacy of Coco Chanel
The fashion industry owes a great deal to the innovative and inspiring legacy of Coco Chanel. She was a modernist who broke the mould of how women should dress, upending the fabric of society during her lifetime and propelling fashion into the future with her groundbreaking ideas. With her quintessential styles that continue to be a staple in wardrobes today, here are some of the best ways that Coco Chanel revolutionised fashion:
- The Little Black Dress: Chanel was one of the first designers to bring black from the burial fields and red carpets to the everyday wardrobes of women. She created the iconic Little Black Dress, which has become a timeless classic.
- A Rejection of Corsets: Chanel rejected the confining shapes of corsets, and fought for loose-fitting, comfortable garments that offered a more natural shape. Her liberating designs provided women with the freedom to move, as opposed to being stuck in traditional, restrictive clothing.
- Costume Jewellery: Chanel was also responsible for the revolutionising of costume jewellery, or “fake” jewellery. By introducing glass beads, rhinestones and shells, Chanel made it trendy for women to adorn themselves with “false” gems, allowing them to show their style without the expensive costs associated with real jewels.
- Suit Style: Chanel also played a major role in the popularisation of the suit style. While it had been a staple of the menswear wardrobe for centuries, it was Chanel who had the revolutionary idea of tailoring a suit for a woman’s body. HerCommissioning revolutionary designsrevolutionary designs are renowned for their functionality and comfort and as a fashion-forward alternative.
- Political Activism: Coco Chanel was passionate about feminism and refused to conform to cultural standards of her time. She believed that “fashion should be a reflection of your personality and lifestyle,” which meant her designs rejected the restrictive standards of Roche society. Coco Chanel was an avid political activist who championed women’s emancipation
It is clear that Coco Chanel was an imaginative and daring designer, who undeniably changed the landscape of fashion. Pushing boundaries and innovating styles, she redefined the fashion industry and left behind an enduring legacy that continues to inspire.
2. Getting Real: The Impact of Coco Chanel’s Iconic Designs
The French Revolution
As the fashion scene was on the rise during England’s Victorian era, a French designer was hard at work in Paris creating some of the most iconic fashion designs the world has ever seen. In 1908, Coco Chanel opened her very first boutique, launching the beginnings of what would become her namesake fashion empire. What she created during this time revolutionized the fashion scene, ushering in a new wave of clothing design that we still see influencing modern fashion today.
The Little Black Dress
Many of us are familiar with Coco Chanel’s renowned pieces, most notably her iconic “little black dress.” This design – which she first debuted in 1926 – used bold necklines, elegantly draped fabrics, and flattering cuts, all of which we still use as signature fashion staples. This little black dress revolutionized not only how French women dressed, but how women of all backgrounds thought about their own wardrobes. Suddenly, fashion wasn’t just about fabrics and labels, but about expressing one’s own individual sense of style.
Taking on the Menswear Look
Coco Chanel also pioneered taking the menswear look and turning it into something feminine yet still comfortable with her use of trousers and suiting. During a time when women wanted to feel liberated from restrictive clothing, Chanel gave them the opportunity to express themselves, and their opinions, through their clothing. She provided women with the opportunity to take fashion design into their own hands, setting the stage for a much more modern take on fashion.
Rebirth of Accessories
What we might not think about when discussing the influence of Coco Chanel is the role she played in the rebirth of styles and accessories. Home to the now iconic interlocking-C logo, Chanel provided women the chance to accessorize and layer their looks in ways never thought imaginable before. The emergence of statement jewellery, shoes, hats and bags changed the way women thought about their appearance.
Her Legacy
Coco Chanel’s designs have remained in the fashion world’s collective consciousness for decades. Her designs set the trends for future designers, and her influence has been felt in fashion for over a hundred years. Chanel designs have been worn and copied by some of the most well-known celebrities and have been seen in fashion magazines and catwalks around the world. To this day, Chanel’s legacy lives on and can be seen in many of our modern-day fashion creations.
3. Beyond the Runway: Uncovering Coco Chanel’s Revolutionary Work
The French fashion designer Coco Chanel revolutionized women’s fashion in the early 20th century. Beyond her bold and innovative designs, she inspired and shaped female self-determination and self-expression. Here are a few ways in which her work had a lasting impact on the fashion world and women’s history.
- Clothing as a Representation of Social Change: Chanel saw clothing as a tool for liberation and empowerment. She encouraged women to move away from corsetry and restrictive garments, and towards more comfortable fashion. With her control of fabric, paisley patterns, and much more, she crafted clothing that was free, chic, and had a sense of identity.
- The Little Black Dress: In 1926, Chanel shocked the fashion world with her iconic design – the little black dress. Before Chanel, the color black was only to be worn by servants or in mourning and in stark contrast to pastel hues for women. However, her dress made it acceptable to wear the color, and she helped to popularize the practical and stylish dress.
- The Chanel Suit: The Chanel suite embodies the femininity and autonomy that Chanel sought to promote. Featuring tailored jackets, boucle tweed, ankle length skirts, and a collarless neckline this look was a modern take on a career focused woman’s wardrobe.
In addition to the eradicate of restrictive clothing, Chanel was also responsible for the introduction of pantsuits for women. Before Chanel, women would never be seen in trousers in public. Although controversial at the time, Chanel embraced the ways in which trousers could represent a woman’s ability to participate in any activity, whether it be in a professional setting or a leisurely one.
Chanel also recognized the need for bras in women’s fashion. Referred to as brassiers, she designed them to be comfortable and functional while maintaining the curves of a woman’s figure. With their own separate cup and hook closure bras, Chanel helped to revolutionize this women’s undergarment.
By taking the fashion industry by storm, Coco Chanel changed the landscape of women’s fashion forever. Her designs served to promote female liberation and autonomy through clothing, and pushed against traditionalist ideals of the time. Even today, her designs continue to be replicated and reinvented, and her revolutionary work lives on.
4. From Suits to Style: The Forever Impact of Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel, one of the most iconic fashion designers of all time, was a revolutionary figure in the traditional fashion trends of the 1920s. Her timeless style, revolutionary designs, and modern approach to fashion paved the way for the fashion world as we know it today.
Chanel changed the way women dressed forever, making stylish dressing accessible to women of all classes. From her iconic designs such as the Little Black Dress, the modern business suit, and her signature tweed, Chanel crafted clothing with comfort and utility in mind that also featured sophisticated, chic style. Her clothing made fashion a part of everyday life, including introducing the art of accessorizing and layering. Chanel’s fashion designs not only brought about a dramatic shift in the world of couture clothing and accessories, but also made fashion part of a woman’s power and identity.
Coco Chanel’s inspirations for her fashion lines were also pioneering in their own right. She adapted the traditional and modern silhouettes of the 1920s women as well as added some of her own flair to make a bold statement of female emancipation. Including high-quality fabrics, as well as belted tunics and pantsuits, Chanel softened the look of clothing without sacrificing a modern, structured approach.
And her legacy lives on today through her timeless designs. Some of the staples she created are still seen today, subtly reinvented and modernized for the current fashion codes. Her famous quilted bag and Chanel N°5’s signature scent are redefining the idea of couture and luxury fashion. The pieces of her line is still a major source of inspiration in modern fashion.
Chanel was a revolutionary fashion designer of her time and her mark on the fashion industry is truly timeless. From iconic suits to signature style, Coco Chanel’s irreparable impression on fashion will live on forever. Some of her celebrated pieces and accessories are pieces of fashion history that will never be forgotten.
Coco Chanel’s legacy will continue to live on for centuries to come, inspiring generations of creative minds and fashion addicts alike to never forget the revolutionary spirit and mentality of one of the world’s greatest fashion icons. A timeless genius.
