CHANEL

Chanel S.A. is the fashion house founded in 1910 by Gabrielle Chanel (affectionately called 'Coco' by friends). Chanel created a real revolution in the fashion world with her simple, elegant fashions of timeless appeal. She was one of the first designers to introduce pants for women, and is widely credited as the creator of fashion staple "the little black dress." Ms. Chanel maintained creative control of the design company until her death in 1971. Karl Lagerfeld took the helm as chief designer in 1983.

Chanel created a similar revolution in the world of perfume with its first fragrance, the iconic Chanel N°5, first introduced in 1921. This fragrance continues to be a worldwide bestseller, maintaining contemporary appeal with innovative advertising and celebrity endorsements. Chanel N°5 and many of the house's oldest enduring fragrances were created by Ernest Beaux. Since 1978 the in-house perfumer for Chanel has been Jacques Polge.