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Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel is born August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France. Orphaned as a child, she opens a hat shop in 1913. Her elegant and comfortable clothing designs - she introduces the 'little black dress' in 1926 - and signature perfum, Chanel No. 5 (introduced in 1922), reflect her belief that "fashion fades... style remains." Chanel dies in 1971, at age 87.
Chanel still remains one of the top style houses today.
source: Smithsonian magazine August 2008
