The House of Chanel, more commonly known as Chanel (pronounced Sha nel), is a Parisian fashion house in France founded by Coco Chanel.Born in 1883 and orphaned at a young age, Chanel was raised by her aunts in the province of Auvergne.
She became associated with some of the most creative and visionary artists of her time; including Diaghilev, Picasso, Stravinsky and Cocteau.
Her nickname was “Coco” or “little pet.” Taught to sew by the aunts who raised her, she became a hat designer in 1908, opened two boutiques in 1914, and continued to design smart yet simple fashions in contrast to the frilly and ornate fashions of the day
She heralded new designs and revolutionized the fashion industry by going “back to basics,” incorporating elegance, class, and originality. The single element that most insured Chanel's fame was her most famous fragrance Chanel No. 5, in its 1923 Art Deco bottle. It was the first perfume to bear a designer's name.
Her Chanel suit met phenomenal success. Karl Lagerfeld who designs Chanel today and who has turned the company into an even bigger, more profitable business than it was before
Recently, the young Academy Award-nominated actress Keira Knightley has been announced as the new face of Coco Mademoiselle, a fragrance intended for the younger fans of Chanel
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