Chanel
Balenciaga
April 24, 2020
Christian Dior
April 24, 2020
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was born in 1883 to a poor family in Saumur, France. After a failed career as a cabaret singer, she eventually found herself as the mistress of wealthy and influential men, and started her fashion career as a milliner in 1913. By 1919, Chanel was a registered couturière and opened her maison de couture at 31 rue Cambon, Paris. Chanel was credited in the post-WWI era with liberating women from the constraints of the "corseted silhouette" and popularizing a sporty, casual chic as the feminine standard of style.
Her iconic legacy is well known around the world, especially the Chanel suit, her signature scent Chanel No. 5, the Chanel bag, and the little black dress that she is credited with creating. After ups and downs for the Maison during WWII, Coco Chanel revamped her company from 1947 until her death in 1971.
After her death, the brand was in limbo for years, until Karl Lagerfeld was brought in as creative director in 1983. He incorporated the Chanel fabrics and detailing into the collection while also helping bring the brand into modern times, bringing the brand to enormous profit. By 1994, Chanel had a net profit equivalent to €67 million on the sale of €570 million in ready-to-wear clothes, and was the most profitable French fashion house.
Lagerfeld remained creative director until his death in 2019, and his legacy to Chanel is undaunted as shown by the cult following he has amassed to this day.
Current Creative Director: Virginie Viard
