Coco Chanel was born on 19 August 1883 in Saumur. A French fashion designer and businesswoman, Chanel was born Gabrielle Chanel and raised in an orphanage before beginning a career as a milliner in Paris. She revolutionized women's fashion by freeing it of the corset and promoting simple, comfortable styles, such as the little black dress, the tweed suit and jersey fabrics, and she launched the perfume Chanel No. 5 in 1921. She closed her business during the Second World War, in which she had a controversial relationship with a German officer, and was investigated after the Liberation. She returned in 1954 and again became a leading force in the world of fashion.
Before and after
- 15 June 1883Bismarck introduces the first national health insurance
- 3 July 1883Birth of Franz Kafka
- 29 July 1883Birth of Benito Mussolini
- 12 August 1883The last quagga dies in Amsterdam
- 19 August 1883Birth of Coco Chanel
- 14 November 1883Publication of Treasure Island
- 1884Car
- 1884Founding of Leicester City F.C.
- 1884Publication of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1863Origins of Baháʼí Faith
- 17 November 1869Construction of Suez Canal
- 1871The Internationale
- from 1886 to 1905Rise of Post-impressionism
- 31 March 1889Construction of Eiffel Tower
- from 6 April 1896 to 15 April 18961896 Summer Olympics
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.