When Coco Chanel opened her first shop in Paris in 1913, the fashion world little anticipated the sensation the designer would become. Chanel created clothing for comfort, using jersey as her main choice in fabric, which allowed clothing to fit well without being restrictive. The new style approach attracted dedicated customers, quickly making her a commercial success.

At the onset of World War I, Chanel remained in Paris designing women's clothing with the focus on practically. By 1919, the in demand designer moved her business to 31 Rue Cambon – the address that still houses the House of Chanel today.

Coco Chanel Designs
Chanel's outlook on fashion focused on how women's clothing should work with the modern woman's lifestyle – defying the conventional fashion of the time, which was dominated by with corsets and ill-fitting clothing.

To achieve the proper look, wool, silk, chiffon, jersey and knit tweed were fabrics used to create her sportswear, daywear, suits and eveningwear.

The classic tweed Chanel suit incorporated sleek lines with a slim skirt and jacket embellished with gold braids and gold buttons with the double CC logo. To ensure the skirt hung properly, a gold-colored chain lined the hem to give it weight. Strands of pearls were a trademark of Chanel and were worn to accessorize the suit, as were Chanel’s now-famous quilted handbags.

Her daywear dress designs had an uncluttered look designed for ease. In some designs, the dress casually slips over the head like a sweater; the style itself conveys subtle elegance.

Chanel gowns followed the same sleek line design and incorporated the use of tulle and lace for an added feminine touch. One of her most famous dress design ideas, however, was the now iconic little black dress – the design paved the way for transitional pieces that bridged the gap from daywear to eveningwear.