Just as everything else in our world has its roots, so does fashion. It has not always been appreciated not has it always been as influential as we may think. But, taking a look back in history we have a few individuals to thank for taking the fate of fashion into their hands and allowing it to evolve and flourish, resulting in the fashion industry we revel over today.
Gabrielle Chanel, (1883-1971) or Coco Chanel as we know her, was a revolutionary designer of her time and still holds the title as one the most innovative designers who lived. Using her talent as a seamstress (a trade which she was taught by nuns while at an orphanage) Chanel recreated
women's fashion and revolutionized the way we looked at fashion period. She had successfully opened up boutiques in more than two cities at a very young age. One of which still stands as her headquarters in Paris's Rue Cambon.In 1925, Chanel stirred up the dull fashion scene and introduced her legendary "Chanel Suit". The suit was simply a collarless jacket worn with a fitted skirt. This exquisite design displayed
somewhat a masculine feel but yet held a most feminine appearance. No longer would women be bound by corsets and confining attire. Chanel also introduced the need for accessories; she always wore several strands of pearls with exciting bracelets and striking hats.
Chanel got her nickname "Coco" during her short career as a singer. It was a shorter word for cocotte, which meant "kept woman", something she definitely represented. Chanel died in 1971, but, today she is still survived by her revolutionary designs, her innovative creations, and of course her unforgettable scent Chanel No. 5.
When referring to the survival of the lovely Coco Chanel, one must not omit the name Karl Lagerfeld (1939-). When she passed, he took over the house of Chanel and through his innate sense of fashion he headed the modern revival of her fashions. He is also credited for his work behind designers such as Valentino, Chloe, and Fendi which are all towering names in today's fashion industry. He reigns from Germany and is a total mastermind in the world of fashion; unprecedented and unmatched, Lagerfeld has an extremely powerful influence on the fashions we sport today. At the young age of 17 he started off working as an apprentice at Pierre Balmain (another fashion lord), then moved to work with haute couture collections with Jean Patou. Soon after that, his first collection was shown (1958) using the name Roland Karl. His career is full of designing and connecting with some of the most famous names in the fashion world. In 1984 he launched his own line Karl Lagerfeld in which he focused on "intellectual sexiness".
Lagerfeld is still at the top of every fashion/style list ever created. In 1997 he was deemed by Vogue as the "unparalleled interpreter of the mood of the moment." He remains a showstopper with his avant-garde designs and head-turning creations.
(source: http://www.biography.com/articles/Karl-Lagerfeld-9371367 : http://www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/080420-karl-lagerfeld.aspx)
The list of pioneers who revolutionized fashion also include those in the likes of Gianni Versace, Pierre Balmain, Balenciaga, Yves Saint-Laurent. It is always important for one to know their history and from where they came, in my case, I must pay my respects to the names mentioned above and several others for making fashion what is today!
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