By Jami O'Shea
Edited by Anoosha Barua
Almost a century later, the brand Chanel which was wildly popular in the 1920s is still a huge influencer to fashion. The brand’s creator, Gabriel, “Coco” Chanel revolutionized women’s fashion and captured the turn of the decade spirit in each of her designs. Her styles were simple, but always bold and still prove to be worthy of space in every closet. Her most iconic designs are the little black dress, women’s suits, and handbags.
The first little black dress was produced by Chanel in 1926, and since then has become a closet essential for all women. The original design was a long-sleeved, below the knee cut, A-line, sheath dress that was created to suit the style of all women being simple but classic. Chanel’s little black dresses are still worn by women all over the world, but the styles of the dresses have changed. Most recently, Chanel debuted a black dress with dolman sleeves, a crew neck cut with a v-shaped jeweled accessory attached, and an A-line shape going only to the mid-calf. The shape and length of the dress is similar to that of the original model proving that Chanel keeps its designs elegant, but also modern.
Additionally, the style of Chanel’s women’s suits encompassed a new attitude towards women's capability produced by the end of World War I in 1914. Men traditionally wore suits, but Chanel challenged the barrier between men and women’s styles by creating a version that women felt comfortable wearing. The design included collarless jackets with embellished buttons, and they were cut to be flattering and form-fitting for women rather than boxy. Today, women’s suits, especially trendy & sophisticated suits from Chanel, are associated with power. Chanel’s modern, popular design is a tweed collarless jacket with embellished buttons accompanied by either a tweed skirt or tweed pants. The collarless design of the suit jacket has become associated with Chanel as the brand pioneered flattering women’s suits.
Finally, Chanel handbags have consistently been the perfect complement to every outfit from the 1920s to the present day. The quilted pattern alone is the detail that makes Chanel bags so unique, and famous. The quilted design has been popular since the bag was first produced to now. Before buying any of the other Chanel designs, one must always buy the classic quilted bag. Chanel has kept its impressive reputation alive and relevant throughout the century as one of the only brands with popularity in the 1920s that has continued until today. Other designers like Elsa Schiaparelli, Jeanne Lanvin, Paul Poiret, Florrie Westwood, Madeleine Vionnet, and Jean Patout were extremely successful in the 1920s and have also impacted fashion through their designs. Although many of their respective designs are still popular in fashion today, their brands have become less popular or died out throughout the last century.
Chanel if not the most influential, is definitely one of the top fashion influencers of the last century, and will undoubtedly continue to dominate the 2020s, and beyond.
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