"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." These are the words of one of the most famous fashion designers, Coco Chanel. Today, I'll tell you about Chanel's life, her brand, and the impact she has on today's fashion industry.

Designer Coco Chanel, born as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, was born on August 19,1883 in Saumur, France. Chanel is known for her timeless designs, trademark suits, and little black dresses. Although she's known for her glamourous creations, her early years were anything but glamorous. At the age of 12, her mother died. After her mothers death, Chanel was put in an orphanage by her father who worked as a street peddler and was too poor to care for the 5 kids he had. At the orphanage, she was raised by nuns who taught her how to sewa skill that would lead to her lifes work. Her nickname of "Coco" came from another occupation entirely. During her brief career as a singer, Chanel performed in clubs in Vichy and Moulins where she was called Coco. Her career mostly began at the age of 20 after meeting Etienne Balsan and Auther Capel. Both wealthy, they helped open her first shop. There, she sold hats. After expanding, adding 2 more stores, she began making clothes. In the 1920s, she brought her business to new heights. Chanel launched her first perfume, Chanel No. 5, which is still popular today. She introduced a suit with a collarless jacket and a well-fit skirt. She also introduced her little black dress, which she is mostly known for today. In the 1930s, the years known for WW2, she was involved with a German officer, Hans Gunther von Dincklage. This put many negative opinions on Chanel and her company as people thought she "betrayed" her country by having a relationship with a Nazi. On January 10, 1971, Coco Chanel died.

Past and present, Chanel is a label of simplicity and elegance. It is also a label of ultimate luxury. Chanel specializes in high fashion clothes, luxury goods, fashion accessories, and makeup. Coco Chanel made her brands with simple designs, instead of the overly designed clothes and accessories in her time. In a quote, she stated, It is always better to be slightly underdressed. The House of Chanel is most famous for the stylistically versatile little black dress, the perfume No. 5 de Chanel, and the Chanel Suit. Colors from her collection usually consisted of simple colors, Chanels favorites, beige, black and white. When Coco Chanel died, she left a legacy. However, 10 years after her death, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld took control of her company and expanded it, which is now believed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in sales every year. Throughout the years, Karl Lagerfield has created many clothes, perfumes and collognes, handbags, and accessories. He kept the company going, keeping her designs, just adding a more modern feel to it. The Chanel logo consists of 2 C's, interlocked and opposite of each other.

Coco Chanel was not only a fashion designer, she is an icon to the fashion industry. She was a trendsetter whose influence can still be seen in todays fashion. Chanel created her designs to be classic, simple and comfortable, impacting today's fashion industry. She changed fashion from tight fitting, overly fashioned clothes, like corsets where you couldn't breathe to comfortable, well fitted simple clothes. She completely redesigned the way fashion became in the 20th century. Coco Chanel once said, "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not a luxury. She introduced so many new things to the fashion industry. She introduced the color

"black" in women's clothing, basing most of her clothes from men's fashion. She was the first designer ever to attach a chain to a purse. Why? Because she was tired of holding it!

In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different. And that is exactly what Coco Chanel did. She left a legacy when she died, but that legacy still continues to thrive. She created such designs that are still present today. In the few seconds it takes for someone to make a first impression, she believed it was important to fill that time with nothing but elegance and class. Today, I spoke to you about Chanel, her brand, and her impact in todays fashion industry. Thank you.