Coco Chanel - Shaping Fashion As We Know It!
Chanel was a pioneer, innovating so many fashion basics we take for granite today. With out her, who knows where the state of fashion might be today. Here compiled is a list of things she was a “first” at doing.
Coco invented the shoulder strap for purses allowing a woman to free up use of her hands.
She was the first couture designer to put her name on a perfume, others soon followed suit.
Chanel coined the term “Little Black Dress” and emphasized what this dress can do for women.
She was the first fashion designer to gain celebrity status, socializing at an upper class level. Before, designers and milliners were just working people not fit to be recognized on the street by their customers.
Chanel made costume jewelry chic. She schooled women in the the accessibility of costume jewelry, and took the stigma out of faux gems and metals. A woman could buy a lot of it as it was cheaper then fine gemstones, giving you something to accessorize every outfit.
Coco was one of the first women to get a suntan and declare it was in vogue!
On accident Chanel helped women dress in men’s pajamas. During WWI, in the middle of the night at the Ritz Hotel, ladies were directed to go to the basement for shelter. Chanel was asked to find a solution of what a woman could wear to bed that would be more decent.