The one of a kind protagonist in Fashion industry was Lady Coco. The presentation lists her journey and the creations that are still awed for.

1. COCO CHANEL
INTERNATIONAL FASHION DESIGNER
Dr. S. Aishwariya
INSPIRE Fellow (DST) & Assistant Professor,
Department of Textilesand Clothing,
Avinashilingam Institutefor HomeScienceand Higher Education for Women,
Coimbatore

2. Biography
 GabrielleBonheur "Coco" Chanel, Francein 1883 (died 1971)
 Early childhood wasbad – Motherdied at 12, father left for work, stayed with aunt
 6 year old - Nunsin theorphanagetaught her sewing - futurejob
 She worked as a seamstress – singerin clubs – designed hats and opened a couture
in Paris
 Leo - Lion motif was very close to her heart and believed it to be a reflection of herself .
Had amotif around her all thetimeand even after her death
 Drug and accusations terrorist activity – hurted herself and her carrier. For 30 years she
wasseen living in ahotel and also spent thelast daysof her lifethesame.

3.  Important designerwho helped in eliminating women
from corsets that did not even allow to breathe normally
to suits that helped women forhorse riding, sports and
casual wearwhich is nice and elegant on the body
 Navy shirts, suits forwomen, trousers, tweeds and coats
forthe female in the country was very welcoming to the
mass

4. From corset and petticoat to more comfortable
dresses
•During 18th
century – high society French
women –woreskirt an dresses– but CC started
suits, trousersresembling men – yatch pants,
sailor tops– changed thefaceof casual wear
Herhighly copied suit
design - a collarless, braid-
trimmed cardigan jacket -
graceful skirt

5. SAILORTOP
&
YACHTPANTS

6.  1910 – she was actively involved in designing hats forthe
nobles
 1912 - famous forherjersey sweaters – Poorgirl look–
popularan women started choosing her
 Introduced: faux jewel and costume jewellery - affordable/
junkpieces – sowomencouldwearinvarietyeveryday.
“luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury”

7. • 1918 – started hercouturierin Paris –
boutique, clothing, hats, accessories, later
expanded to offer jewellery and fragrances
• 1920 - Shedesigned herlogo which isan
interlocked c (product with thelogo)
• Book by Coco Chanel: CzarChanel

8.  1920 – Peak of popularity – 2,000 workers - dresses, textile mill,
perfume, jewellery
 Line includes - elegant simple clothing, jewellery, handbag and
fragrance
 Till 1927 : wonderful growth – started designing dancecostumesfor ballets
and movies

9. • Only fashion designer to beon theTIME
magazineunder “100Mostinfluential
personin20th
century”
• Sheruled theParis Haute Couture for
six decades(60 years)

10. She as a designerwas always seen with hat, blackdress,
pearl and gold accessory, watch and bracelet with a clutch
Hericonic inventions include
 Little blackdress (blackis herfavourite-felt its great for
all women forall occassions)
 Chanel No 5 perfume (First Fashion Designerto introduce parfume)
 Chanel suits
 Chanel quilted Purse 2.55 (to invent bags with strings/
straps-used by nobels too)

11. LBD/Little black dress
•1920 - The image here was published
by VOGUE, that quoted Coco new look
that is very desirable among women
•A dress forall women
•There were different versions of it –
patterns change but was always
associated with pearl and gold
•Until then – black was mourning never
was forwidows (newly single, not a
virgin) – unapproachable orready fora
second relationship – Coco changed it all.
Diana in her
very popular
“Revenge Dress”

12. AUDREY HEPBURN
IN "LITTLEBLACKDRESS"
(1961)

13. 1921: Chanel No 5
World famous parfum/unparalleled one till date
•Named after thefact that 5th
sample showed by the
chemist Ernst Beaux
•combination of jasmine, and many floral scentsand
frozen lakesand rivers
•Madefor modern day women to show her senseof
individuality, feminity and luxury
•Popular- when Marilyn Monroe– 3 dropsto her bed

14. 1923
•Chanel suits– invited journaliststo
show – but wasnot famous
•After Post WWII (1940) – gained
popularity
•Shewasonewho invented bell
bottomed pants

15. Bag 2.55
•1929: hand carried clutch was
famous- many tend to miss
•When she came backaftera
breakshe designed bag 2.55
(February 1955)
•Bag with a strap – accepted by
upperclass
•Designed & popularised
•Again a fashion in 1995

16. Final days:
•Very much a criticiser – Dior (1947)- waist cinchers, padded bras, heavy skirts,
and stiffened jackets- she felt as illogical and that women wont support
•WWII (1939 – 1954) – Did not be in fashion due to war issues – 4,000
employees - lost job
•1954 – come back – designs became very popular in US
•1971 – died - 87 years - Lived last years in Switzerland- infamous death
• After that many designers worked for Coco Chanel company - 1983 when Karl
Lagerfeld became chief designer

17. 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

18. • A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous
• In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different
• Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance
THANK YOU!!