Young designer Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel opened her signature shop in Paris in 1910, where she created hats for young French actresses who wanted to boost their reputations. The company soon began creating jersey clothing that realigned women's relationships with their bodies, and the House of Chanel's fame truly took off.

Prior to chief designer Coco Chanel's death in 1971, the company was renowned for their little black dresses, tweed suits and signature No. 5 fragrance, which debuted in 1921. While the company continued creating fragrances and other products after her death, it was not until iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld joined Chanel as artistic director that the face of the company changed. He introduced funky cuts and unique designs to the predictable styles of years past.

Today, Chanel is known for its elegant and kitschy haute couture, fragrances, trendy sunglasses and "double C" logo.