Inspirational Women - Coco Chanel

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. - Coco Chanel

Today's post is just to say happy 131st birthday to Gabrielle Chanel, more commonly known as Coco Chanel, founder of the Chanel brand.

While considered a major style icon, famous for her timeless designs and her little black dresses, she was also a really inspirational woman.

After her mother died, her father left her and her sisters in an orphanage, she was brought up by nuns who taught her how to sew. Later, she worked with her aunt as an assistant in a fabric shop, where she earned a reputation for her skilful sewing and alterations. She also sang in nightclubs to earn extra money, where she acquired the nickname Coco.

Coco did not conform to the conventional style of the time, as she was slim, and instead chose to wear simple and comfortable clothing. This included pants and shirts borrowed from boyfriends. She started of designing simple, elegant hats, which gained popularity and soon she was running a successful fashion house. Her company took of during World War 1, and she also began creating a perfume - Chanel No. 5. 

Her business grew into a fashion empire that employed over 3000 people, and her designs have remained timeless - if you look in your wardrobe there's probably at least one item inspired by her classic vision.

She is admired for making high fashion available to working women, her amazing endurance of her name in the fashion industry, and also going against traditional clothing of lace and floral garments and allowing women to wear comfortable clothing. 

And finally, I couldn't help but include Karl Lagerfeld's film, Once Upon A Time, which stars Keira Knightley and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first Chanel boutique in Deauville, Normandy.