Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel was born in Saumur, France in 1883. After her mother died when she was 12, Chanel’s father sent her to live in a convent. As a young woman, Chanel worked as a seamstress and as a singer in a cabaret. In 1918, Chanel opened her own fashion boutique in Paris. Chanel became known as a trendy designer and moved in the city’s fashionable social circles. She was a mistress of several influential men of her time, but never married. In the 1930s, Chanel began designing costumes for Hollywood film stars. Chanel’s behavior during WWII was viewed as anti-Semitic, and her reputation was thus damaged. Nevertheless, her brand lived on, as did her influence on couture.