Coco chanel
French 1883-1971
It is not an overstatement to say that Coco Chanel revolutionised fashion during the early 20th century. Taking inspiration from menswear, Chanel created simple, comfortable, yet elegant clothes that suited the rapid changing times in which women lived, drawing them away from the rigid, corset-style dresses that they were used to. For example, Chanel pioneered the use of jersey as a clothing material because it was affordable and draped well – at a time when it was generally reserved for men’s underwear. She also popularised trousers amongst women as well as costume jewellery, such as fake pearls, believing that outfits should be properly accessorised.