Facts About Chanel Clothing

Chanel has become synonymous with the elite. The illustrious double Cs are carried by the rich and famous, and Coco Chanel's famous tweed suits have been a fashion industry staple for as long as many of us (and our grandmothers) can remember. However, the House of Chanel's history hasn't always been a smooth ride, suffering tragedies from war to death. Let us take a trip down memory lane and look at the history of the label of one of fashion's most famous women.

From Audrey to Kim to Queen Elizabeth II

Open any fashion or tabloid magazine, and chances are you'll be greeted with the iconic Chanel double-C emblem or scan an article to discover your favorite star is wearing a vintage Chanel frock. Everyone from Audrey Hepburn to Kim Kardashian to Queen Elizabeth II has been snapped wearing the luxury label or carrying a to-die-for bag from the line on her arm. The House of Chanel, and namely Coco Chanel, has shaped the way women all over the world dress. With Karl Lagerfeld taking over where Coco once stood, Chanel looks toward the future as it continues to be a staple of the rich and famous.

The Early Years

The story of Madame Chanel is a rags-to-riches, movie-worthy tale, and Lifetime has indeed made a biographical movie about her. Orphaned before the age of six, Coco (born Gabrielle) adopted her moniker during a stint as a cafe singer in France. Her first store opened between 1910 and 1913 in Paris (historians debate the actual date), with the help of a wealthy man she was rumored to be having an affair with. At that time, she made hats and marketed them exclusively to women of rank and society. In addition, she crafted clothing out of jersey, which previously had been used only for men's underwear.

Her famous 31 Rue Cambon store was opened in 1919. In 1922, she created Chanel No. 5, the lavish perfume that remains a favorite of women of all ages. And that little tweed jacket you see on every female royal or aristocrat when they're out on social engagements? Created by Chanel in 1925. In 1926, Chanel rounded out her mega-influence with the introduction of the Little Black Dress (often now affectionately dubbed the LBD). It's hard to imagine that this staple of women's wardrobes in 2009 is something our grandmothers likely wore when stepping out as young women.

The War Years and Her Comeback

As can be expected, World War II took a significant toll on the world of fashion. Instead of clothes, people were focused on acquiring food and warmth for their families, and Chanel had to shut the doors to 31 Rue Cambon in 1939. However, once France started to recover, Chanel knew she couldn't stay out of business for long. Although at the time, Dior and Balenciaga were the rage, Chanel worked hard to redistribute her fashions, with limited success, in the early 1950s. In 1954, she made her comeback, re-debuting the classic tweed jacket and later introducing the first bell bottoms for women. She added jewelry, handbags and shoes to her line, all of which became hits.

Coco Chanel's Death and Lagerfeld's Takeover

Coco Chanel famously worked on clothing design until her death in 1971. While several of her proteges designed in her style of gold-braided trim, tweed suits and gold chains, no one would officially take over until the 1984 ready-to-wear season, when a longtime employee, German-born Karl Lagerfeld, became the mind behind the House of Couture.

Lagerfeld was the first to interlock the Cs (standing for Coco Chanel), a design we now think as synonymous with the brand. During the early years of his tenure, Lagerfeld opened 40 Chanel boutiques worldwide and famously shortened the hems of many of the designs. However, Lagerfeld has always cheated a bit on Chanel, as he has designed for his own brand, and also at the couture houses of Chloe, Fendi and Stella McCartney.

Today

Chanel currently remains one of the most elegant fashion houses. While the brand has revolutionized the way women wear clothing, it continues to do so by looking toward its younger generation of fans. Karl Lagerfeld is often cited as using Emma Watson (of Harry Potter fame) as his muse, along with the fashionably questionable, but no doubt iconic, Olsen twins. As the brand expands, despite counterfeiting, it has remained a status symbol among the rich and famous and has not lost its mass appeal.

Coco Chanel famously said, "Fashion fades, only style remains the same." Anyone who is even slightly familiar with this luxury brand can see that the House of Chanel has been building not on trends, but on effortless and transformative style.