Chanel has maintained its reputation as an iconic fashion house for over a century, and remains as a leader in revolutionizing the world of fashion. Coco Chanel established her first couture house in Paris in 1918.
Because Chanel’s history is so expansive and robust, here is a simplified timeline of everything that led to what Chanel is today.
1921 – Chanel N°5
The Chanel N°5 perfume was released by Coco Chanel in 1921, and still remains iconic to this day as “the ultimate symbol of femininity.”
1926 – Little Black Dress
The creation of the Little Black Dress was revolutionary; during the Great Depression era, this fashion item served to appeal to people’s desires for affordability and simplicity.
1955 – Bouncing Back From WW2
Following the effects of WW2, Chanel created the iconic 2.55 bag in 1956 that featured leather with a strong, gold shoulder chain.
1971 – Loss of a Legend
1983 – Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld took over Chanel in 1983; under his reign, many iconic pieces of Chanel were introduced, including the “CC” emblem.
2019 – The Death of Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld passed away in 2019, after leading Chanel through decades of iconic designs and collections. Lagerfeld and Chanel will be succeeded by Virginie Viard, who is the new artistic director for CHANEL.
