In our fashion-conscious world where women wear heels with blue jeans and will pay good money for clothing based exclusively on the brand or label, Chanel is more popular than ever. Listen to celebrities at any major event and you will hear one after the other answering "Chanel" when asked who they are wearing.
The Chanel fashion label is now one of those that everyone wants to have in their closet, but which not everyone can afford to have. Much of that was by design as the famous "House of Chanel" was taken over by wise businessmen after the death of the real Chanel in 1971.
While she was a crafty businesswoman herself, Chanel was also one of the most talented couture designers the world has ever seen. The story of how she struggled to make the name Chanel known around the world is quite inspiring.
The Real Chanel
The woman behind the Chanel fashion label was named Gabrielle Chanel. She took on the nickname "Coco" and to this day is referred to as Coco Chanel. She struggled in Paris through World War II and her simple yet elegant fashions always fell into line with the lives of women throughout her lifetime. During war and economic downturn she produced some of the most exquisite sportswear that was comfortable and stylish at once.
Throughout her lifetime, Chanel's designs always stood out from all other designers because she put her own sense of fashion and elegance into her work. Many of her pieces remain huge favorites today even though they were designed in the 1920's and 30s, such as the suit with elegant beadwork.
The image that most people have of Coco Chanel is a massively rich designer who lived a luxurious life. To some extent this is true as she did enjoy the benefits of the success of her fashion label, but what most people don't know is that throughout her active working career she was dominated by a businessman who collected the majority of the profits from her perfumes. She was limited in many ways throughout her lifetime in terms of what she could sell and how much money she collected from her own efforts.
This was because Chanel didn't have the money in her early years to successfully launch her own products and business. She had to make agreements for start-up investments which didn't always suit her in the long run. While she still died a rich woman and truly loved designing fashion and creating new perfumes, others grew far richer from the House of Chanel.
Chanel Today
Today, Chanel is no longer living but her fashion label is more alive than ever. During her lifetime she was one of the most watched and adored fashion designers in the world and received many mentions in the best fashion magazines. Today that continues as the Chanel label is seen as one for celebrities and the rich.
The reason Chanel is seen as such a hot commodity and huge influence on fashion today is because of shrewd business decisions made after Coco Chanel's death. They created small Chanel boutiques where only small selections of her lines could be found and they put high prices on all items from the label. Today, that is where you can find fashions, perfume, and accessories from the Chanel brand: in small boutiques at the most upscale shopping destinations.
Jason Thompson writes for DesignerSunnies.com.au, specializing in Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses and other top brands.
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