Coco Chanel Timeline

  • Born

    She was born In Saumur, France
  • She Joined an Orphanage

    Her mother passed away and her father couldn't care for 5 children so he sent them to orphanages
  • Education

    She enters Notre Dame at 18, she loved making ragdolls out of cloth straps there
  • Job

    She gets a job as a seamstress at a tailoring store
  • Developed Her Talent

    She developed her talent as a designer in Paris and made hats for friends as she loved making them.
  • 1st Business

    She started her 1st hat business
  • Opened a Shop

    The 1st Chanel Models was opened where her hats were sold
  • Opened a Fashion House

    She opened a Fashion House and there she sold innovative women's clothing
  • Opened a 2nd Shop

    She opened a 2nd shop with the money she made from her 1st shop
  • White Satin Pants

    Coco designed a pair of white satin pants that became very popular
  • The Chanel Suit

    She introduced the Chanel Suit but raised the skirt from the ankle to above the knee. Chanel No.5 perfume was launched which contained over 80 ingredients
  • Chanel House

    She opened a Chanel House in London
  • The Little Black Dress

    She created 'The Little Black Dress' and this was because she couldn't find anything elegant to wear to the theatre
  • Duke Presesnted the Bride to Coco

    The Duke presented the bride to Coco and she said, "There has been many duchesses of Westminster, but Chanel there is only one"
  • Hired by MGM

    Coco was hired by MGM and they paid her a million dollars to travel twice a year to Hollywood to dress her stars
  • Brought Jewellery Out

    She met Paul Iribe, a French Basque designer, who designed jewellery for Chanel. Coco also had the idea of creating clothes with stretchy fabrics.
  • Closed Her Shop

    She closed her shop as she didn't think it was appropriate time for fashion because of World War 2
  • She Was Arrested

    She was arrested under the accusation of collaboration with the Nazi's
  • Left Paris

    She left Paris and went to Switzerland
  • Returned to Paris

    She returned to Paris and reopened her fashion house
  • Awarded

    She won a Neiman Marcus Fashion award
  • She Was a Millionaire

    At 80 years old she wan a millionaire but she was still working. Her fragrance was No 1 in sales
  • Coco the Musical

    Katherine Hepburn created Coco the musical
  • Coco Dies

    Coco dies at 87 from a heart attack in her room at the Ritz Hotel
  • Chanel's Name Goes On

    Karl Legerfeld becomes shop manager at the House of Chanel 12 years after Chanel dies. Karl has kept Chanel's name going and made it an even more popular brand