1883 - 1971 

Gabrielle Chanel who's father was a
peddler and her mother a peasant,
started out as a singer in cafes in
Moulins, France and was known as Coco.
In 1910, she opened her shop at number
21 rue Cambon in Paris and within a
few years expanded to occupy three
more adjoining premises. 

Known for her minimal hats, understated
elegance, luxe cache, imitation baroque
jewelry and Chanel No. 5 perfume,
which gave housewives to Hollywood
stars a piece of "Chanel",
thousands of women began to realize
that "poor chic" could be the
answer to social snobbery. 

The Chanel look, shows that how clothes
are worn is much more important than
what is worn. 
Without a doubt though, Chanel No. 5 perfume,
which built the large part of Coco's fortunue,
leaves the most famous trail of scent in the world. 
Marilyn Monroe, when asked what she wore to bed,
quipped "Chanel No. 5".  
In Chanel's words, "I set the fashion for the
very reason that I was the first
twentieth-century woman".