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Gabrielle Chanel was born to her mother and father in France. -
Chanel becomes Étienne Balsan’s mistress and enters French high society. -
Chanel begins an affair with Captain Arthur Edward 'Boy' Capel, who finances her first shops. -
Chanel becomes a licensed milliner and opens her first boutique in Paris, called Chanel Modes. -
Chanel’s career takes off when theatre actress Gabrielle Dorziat wears her hats in Fernand Nozière's play “Bel Ami.” -
Chanel begins making leisure and sport clothing for women out of her new shop in Deauville. -
Chanel launches the first version of her famous Chanel suit made of tweed. -
Chanel launches her first perfume, Chanel No. 5, developed by French-Russian chemist and perfumer Ernest Beaux. -
Chanel creates the first hands-free handbag with a thin shoulder strap. -
Chanel couture employs 4,000 people. -
Wertheimer’s son, Jacques, takes over the management of Chanel’s perfume business. He mostly neglects the business, and it loses relevance. -
Chanel dies at age 87. -
Alain Wertheimer takes control of Chanel’s perfume line and revives Chanel No. 5 with scarcity marketing and million-dollar campaigns. -
Karl Lagerfeld takes over as chief designer. -
Karl Lagerfeld dies at age 85, and Virginie Viard takes over as creative director.