Coco Chanel's legacy goes beyond fashion and is immortalized in iconic phrases

The legacy that Coco Chanel built for fashion is undeniable. The designer, who would have celebrated her birthday yesterday (19), was one of the main representatives of female freedom and redefined fashion through her innovations.

Whether with a basic little black dress, a tweed coat or a shoulder bag, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was one of the greatest personalities in the history of fashion, also famous for her sharp tongue.

Breaking rules through fashion

Of humble French origin, Chanel faced hardships in her childhood and ended up attending a convent, where she learned to sew. Also a singer in cabarets, she was nicknamed “Coco” by soldiers during the First World War, due to the repetitive chorus of the songs she sang.

_{Coco Chanel dictated the rules of fashion and collected innovative pieces that are still popular today (Photo: Reproduction/X/@TheWhipNovel)}

He began his career in fashion by developing hats, later breaking the fashion standards of the time by proposing timeless and bold looks, after all: “Fashion goes out of fashion, style never does”.

The black “tube” dress was also an invention of Coco, a staunch defender of neutral colors. “A woman needs only two things in life: a black dress and a man who loves her”said the stylist.

The ability to cross cultural and social borders, collaborating with great personalities of the time in different spheres, was essential for the brand's visibility and its impact in a world that was, until then, non-globalized.

Luxury and comfort side by side

“Luxury has to be comfortable or it is not luxury.” This is how Coco Chanel defined the relationship between luxury and comfort. At a time when corsets and heavy structures were common among women, Coco innovated by developing stylish pieces that did not restrict women's bodies, encouraging them to be free.

_{Coco had a good relationship with several celebrities of the time, such as Salvador Dalí (Photo: Reproduction/X/@vintagestuff4)}

He was also responsible for popularizing the use of pants for women, using them in their daily lives. “A girl should be two things: elegant and fabulous”said the stylist.

A woman ahead of her time, a reference for her work and contribution to fashion and her impact outside of it. Even half a century after her death, her unique way of thinking about fashion and the way she valued women's freedom to be who they wanted, without losing their elegance, is still seen as disruptive today.

Featured photo: Coco Chanel's legacy goes beyond fashion and can be seen in iconic phrases (Reproduction/X/@fabyanaya)