Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was born in 1883 outside Paris, France, in a region called Auvergne. An orphan, Chanel was raised by two aunts who taught her to sew. In 1914 she opened her first couture shop in Paris and was praised for designing comfortable, practical clothing for women. Chanel popularized wool jersey cardigan jackets, little black dresses, costume jewelry, knee-length skirts, and low-heeled shoes. Perhaps her most famous creation was the designer perfume, Chanel No. 5.
     With the onset of World War II, Chanel closed her atelier in 1939. She successfully entered fashion again, reopening her design house in 1954. Chanel continued her trademark work until her death in 1971 when Philippe Guiborge took over her design house, producing the same classic looks until 1977. In 1983, Karl Lagerfield became the premier designer and is still the head of the House of Chanel.

(Seeling, C.  2000. Fashion: The century of the designer 1900-1999.  Könemann.)