Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel

In the 1800's women wore undergarments called corsets or "an instrument of human torture" because it constricted movement and breathing. No one did anything about it, while some designers did try to make newer styles such as looser corsets and shorter skirts, the trend didn't catch on because they thought it was too risqué - until the 1920's when one designer assisted a great deal with changing the style of corsets and inspired other women to try to change the world themselves. This designer is Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, a pioneering French fashion designer, who single-handedly launched a fashion empire, steered women away from the corset styles of post-World War I and towards the understated elegance and simplicity of comfortable chic. Although from the start Chanel didn't have anything, she still made it to the top of the fashion industry. Born August 19, 1883 Chanel was the second daughter of itinerant merchant Albert Chanel and Jeanne Devolle in the small town of Saumur, France. She had four siblings: two sisters, Julie and Antoinette, and two brothers, Lucien and Alphonse. After her brother Alphonse died in infancy, the death of her mother came shortly after from a difficult pregnancy. About a year later her father abandoned the family. With no one to look after them Chanel and her siblings were sent to an orphanage where she learned how to be a seamstress. Chanel befriended a wealthy textile heir named Etienne Balsan who introduced her to an upper class social circle for which she started designing elegant hats. Later on Balsan introduced Chanel to the English industrialist sportsman, Arthur Capel, who became the love of her life. With his help Coco Chanel opened her first shop in 1910 in Paris. A few years later Capel died in a car accident, as a result Chanel became even more committed to her work.

Another reason Coco Chanel is strong is because she reached her goals and made something out of nothing, by working with what she already had. She ignored people who didn't like her ideas, focused on what she thought was fashion and kept going towards her goal of becoming a successful never-forgotten fashion designer. “When Time magazine published its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, Chanel was only the person in the fashion industry to be named” (Young Entrepreneur). She worked hard to achieve this status; even some considered her a workaholic. This proves that she didn’t procrastinate or wait around for someone to give her, her dreams. Her added strength and effort made fashion more comfortable and more modern because she went through with her ideas and tried to share it with the world; for instance she also popularized short hair, bell bottoms, and short skirts. “Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable” (Chanel). She wasn’t afraid of failing and showed her passion for fashion to the world. To her failing wasn’t something permanent because you can also work to succeed and rise back up. Chanel turned her dreams into reality all on her own, and freed women of the stereotypical uniform and because of that her designs are known all around the world. Now women have freedom of expression through their clothes and expressed that they only limit you have is the one you set for yourself.

Coco Chanel Young Age

To be a hero a person must possess strength and open mindedness to help change the world in some way. They show strength by not being afraid of failing and keep driving towards their dream/goal surpassing anything in their way. To present open-mindedness they should be thoughtful and wise in their actions, and pay attention to the world around them, even the smallest of things that don't seem as important to others as it is to you. Chanel is a hero because she has both those traits and showed strength not because of her power in the fashion industry but because she started from nothing and became one of the most successful designers in the world, she showed women that they don't have to dress stereotypically with the corsets and long dresses but by wearing suits and piling necklaces on each other you can still be feminine. Chanel dressed to express herself, with that she showed her open-mindedness because she got her inspiration for her designs from the world around her, by watching the way other people dress, and knowing what is comfortable and what displeases others “… understanding of the power of personal branding enabled her name to grow exponentially” (The Hero Construction Co.). Chanel focused on one thing and worked hard to deliver. She watched and listened, while doing this she got new ideas out of it, these traits make her a hero because her actions revolutionized fashion and showed people that most stereotypes don't have to be true. Chanel paid attention to the smallest of things and studied men's and women's clothing while comparing the differences between them. "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). Her ideas came from her heart and mind; she shared her thoughts and followed her gut into what would lead to a big change she hoped for. The creation of the little black dress was the first step leading to the fashion revolution, “The dress caused an instant uproar in the fashion world. Choosing black as a fashionable color was itself startling.” (Gale Student Resources). Even today women still wear little black dresses. She also turned the fashion world upside down by made suits/ tuxedos a unisex style. She expanded her line with new and creative ideas each time, for example her most famous perfume; Chanel No. 5. While she was already on top she continued and climbed the fashion ladder higher and higher. This led to making her a powerful woman in the fashion industry and inspired other women to work hard and try to be successful with reaching their goal.

Coco Chanel & Quote (http://trendyrose.com/2011/04/20/designer-quote-coco-chanel-2/)

Coco Chanel followed her heart and set her ideas free, she wasn't afraid of failing from that she popularized most things that we wear today. “She was fiercely independent” (Gale Student Resources) Her independence brought her ideas to life, inspired people to make their dream a reality and showed that it is possible to succeed, even when starting with nothing. Coco Chanel inspired me to keep striving towards my dream no matter how much or how little I have, and surpass anything in my way. Her fashion sense proved to be timeless, when she came out of retirement when she was seventy years old. At that time she continued expressing herself for years in what she does best until she died on January 10, 1971. "Prior to her death, a custom Chanel suit or gown could cost up to $12,000. Today the average cost of a Chanel suit is $5,000 and can only to be purchased at Chanel boutiques or at high-end department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue" (New World Encyclopedia).