Chanel is one of the most recognizable and arguably iconic fashion houses in the world. They have conquered the 5 main stages for a designer brand: Clothes, Makeup, Fragrance, Jewelry, and Accessories. This is a very difficult feat for any brand to achieve; you need to be creative, original, and iconic. Since the company was founded in 1910 by Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel it has been revolutionizing all of those fields. Let's dive into how she revolutionized each one of these industries. 

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When Chanel first began in the 1910´s she altered the stiff and restricting corsets into male influenced jersey clothes, a streak of flipping the trend which she carried throughout her career. In 1926 she introduced the Little Black Dress, one of the most timeless pieces, which is still a closet staple today. Back then the only time where black was traditionally worn was during mourning and funerals, whereas in today's world it's the cornerstone of elegance and class.  

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During the 1930´s Chanel began designing  makeup and cosmetic products. She started with face

powder and lipsticks all beginning her adventure into the industry by introducing these clean, long lasting, and sophisticated makeup lines into mainstream stores. Over the decades she changed and tweaked the formulas, added products, and made a timeless range of staple products worth the price tag.

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Her next big break was in the early 1950´s, when Christian Dior introduced his New Look, where 

women were dressed in hyper feminine clothing. As a statement to combat this Chanel designed The Suit, a feminine take of the simple mens’ suits. This became another staple of her brand and remained popular for some time.

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One of the first things which come to mind when you think about Chanel is the perfume line No. 5. It was the first ever perfume to share a name as the designer, really showcasing the confidence which Coco always expressed. At that time most fragrances were mainly single noted floral scents, so when No. 5 entered the market it was revolutionary because of its complex grouping and pairing of different notes giving it such an unforgettable aroma. As time progressed she added many other staple fragrances to her collection like Coco Mademoiselle, and Bleu de Chanel. 

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With the 1920´s Coco began introducing costume jewelry into fashion. Jewellery had always been simple and expensive, but Chanel wanted to change style and elegance. She popularized layering of pearls, chains, and other necklaces. Also emblems like a camellia and her interlocked CC logo truly were her trademark. In 1932 the Bijoux de Diamants collection was released, featuring many delicate and glamorous star-inspired pieces, showing the duality of the brand. 

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The first store Coco opened was a hat store so when she continued her work within this field she fitted right back into her roots. In 1955 the 2.55 quilted shoulder bag, which was one of the first ever on the shoulder purse. Before this era purses weren't glamorous but more so a necessity to carry your own belongings. The flap had the interlocked CC logo we now see everywhere leaving her mark on the world. As well, she worked with scarves, gloves, and belts to finish off her outfits and collections.

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Over the 60 years she ran and pioneered this staple of the high fashion brands, Coco always stayed true to herself. The way she designed everything she produced was always practical, timeless, and glamorous, showing her care and devotion to her projects. She is one of the most influential people to me and the fashion industry and her innovation will continue to impact us today.