Gabrielle Chanel

Gabrielle Chanel (August 19, 1883 - January 10, 1971) wasFrench fashion designerperfume creator.

Popularly known as Coco Chanel, she was born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel insmall citySaumur, France.

She was born outwedlock,destitute parents,atagetwelve, her 33-year-old mother diedmalnutritionoverwork. Shortly after Coco's father abandoned herher brotherssisters. The children were then left incarerelatives. She would become one ofmost influential figureshaute couture in20th century, helpingcreate whatconsidered modern Fashion today. The HouseChanelParis, under Karl Lagerfeld, remains one oftop design houses today.

Twoher most famous creations areChanel No. 5 perfume, stillclassic fragrance today, andChanel suit, actuallywhole lookwomen: an elegant outfitboxy lines, madepastel pink woolblack trimgold buttons, wornlarge costume-pearl necklaces.

The nickname Coco was evidently acquired at La Rotonde,cafe frequented by members ofFrench cavalry regimentnumerous ofgreat artists who flockedParis' Montparnasse section atturn of20th century. She was set upbusiness bylover, Etienne Balsan,textile heir,her affairs withartist Paul Iribe,2nd DukeWestminster, Grand Duke DmitriRussia,British sportsman Boy Capel all hadconsiderable influence onstylistic evolutionher often male-inspired fashions. The only affair that didn't seemspur her creativity was one she had withNazi officer during World War II.

She spentlatter yearsher life aloneLausanne, Switzerlandis buried there, her tomb surrounded by five stone lions.