When History Becomes Herstory: The Most Powerful Women of the Last 100 Years

37. Coco Chanel: Changed Fashion Forever

Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel, the celebrated fashion designer, was and still is one of the most innovative fashion designers and businesswomen in history. Coco Chanel was influential in defining feminine style during the 20th Century. Her ideas were revolutionary and one-of-a-kind.

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Photo by Lipnitzki/Roger Viollet/Getty Images

Before Chanel, the notion of taking traditional male clothing and redesigning them for the benefit of women was unheard of and even laughed upon. But Chanel had the last laugh as she was credited in the post-World War I era with freeing women from the constraints of the prevalent corseted silhouette, making a sporty and casual chic style the feminine standard.

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