Women’s History Heroes #23 – Coco Chanel

While Simone de Beauvoir was urging women to create their own identities in the 1940s and 1950s, Coco Chanel had her own affect on them. She was changing what was acceptable for women to wear. Using her own poverty-induced sensibilities, she first created hats and then clothing from the styles and materials she saw on the men around her. She almost single-handedly banished the corset from fashion.

Her sense of style and understanding of the power of personal branding enabled her name to grow exponentially. She is one of the most famous designers of all time and her impact on women remains.

Read more about her by clicking here.