Coco Chanel was a fashion designer who ruled Parisian haute couture for almost six decades. Her garments stressed simplicity and comfort, freeing women from the complicated, uncomfortable clothes that were prevalent in early 20th-century dress, including petticoats and corsets. Early on she gained recognition for her novel use of jerseyāthen an inexpensive fabric commonly used in menās undergarmentsātransforming the fluid material into practical but elegant designs, many of which were inspired by menswear. Her career was further defined by the Chanel suit, the quilted purse, and the ālittle black dress.ā Chanel also popularized costume jewelry and introduced the iconic perfume Chanel No. 5.
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