Famous women in history: Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel was born into poverty in France. After her mother’s death, she was sent to an orphanage, where she learned to sew—a skill that would shape her future. Before becoming a designer, she briefly worked as a cabaret singer, where she earned the nickname «Coco.» In the early 1900s, Chanel opened a small hat shop in Paris, designing simple, elegant hats for high-society women. By 1913, she expanded into clothing, introducing a new, more relaxed style that replaced the stiff, corseted fashion of the time. After stepping away from fashion for a time, Chanel made a major comeback in the 1950s, cementing her brand as one of the most influential in history. She worked until her death in 1971. Today, Chanel remains one of the most prestigious luxury brands in the world, and her revolutionary ideas—comfort, simplicity, and elegance—still define modern fashion.