Coco Chanel Research Paper

Coco Chanel’s first great success began at the onset of World War I, when her chic yet practical designs became the “working costume” for French women that assumed the jobs of men fighting in the war. Chanel was the first designer to use an unpopular beige jersey material from Rodier, a French textile manufacturer. Simple, practical, and comfortable, this fabric was the complete inverse of what women’s clothing used to be back in her day: impractical, uncomfortable and centered around a constricting corset. Interestingly, this choice of material was bought mostly due to necessity, as the war had resulted in a short supply of more expensive fabric, and the beige jersey was very affordable when purchased in bulk. However, this business decision along with a desire for comfort, led Chanel to begin a fashion revolution, in which practicality and comfort replaced impracticality and tradition. …show more content…
Additionally, following the first World War, Europe experienced a drastic change in social morals and values, which created the perfect environment to foster Chanel’s new and avant-garde designs. Her designs not only symbolized some of the progressive social and political changes, but also helped increase women’s empowerment by redefining the way they viewed themselves in society. Unrestricted by binding corsets and futility in fashion, women were finally able to serve society for a purpose other than decoration for men. By the mid-1920s, the “Chanel look” consisting of wool jersey suits, loose-fitting trousers, and costume jewelry had swept throughout Europe and redefined the image of a modern European woman. Chanel introduced her signature cardigan jacket in 1925 and the “little black dress” in 1926, both of which redefined women’s

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Research Paper On Coco Chanel