“A girl should be two things, classy and fabulous” -Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel the little girl who had haute, haute, haute, dreams became the woman who created a high fashion legacy. The Chanel brand is often associated with a high class mix of tweed, pearls, sleek lines, the iconic Chanel logo and the ever present factor of french luxury. Chanel has a style that is progressive yet remains classic. It was at this year’s Paris Fashion Week that Chanel’s head designer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld paraded his models (including Gisele Bundchen, Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner) down the runway in chic boiler suits holding up signs such as ” Ladies First”, “Feminist But Feminine” and even “HeForShe” an ode to Emma Watson’s latest UN speech. Lagerfeld was sending a message, it was as if feminism suddenly became stylish, something women wanted to be, not a word that seemed taboo. The word “feminism” that seemed dangerous weeks ago was suddenly done up in thousand dollar suits parading down a Paris Fashion Week runway of all places. Chanel has a history of defying gender stereotypes, Coco herself helped break women’s fashion out of confining feminine norms. Coco Chanel revolutionized how woman wore pants and added more masculine yet chic lines to women’s clothing. Feminism has not always been a socially friendly word, even in relatively progressive societies like the United States people still roll their eyes upon hearing the word. Chanel as a brand has once again broken the barrier of between feminism, social reform and fashion. Not all feminist appreciated Lagerfeld’s statement at fashion week, yet to me it was a brilliant move. I believe Lagerfeld’s public display of feminism in the form of the Chanel fashion show will make women more open to using the word feminism. Lagerfeld has brought the feminist culture to a new high class arena.
Love Coco Chanel. Glad to see her feminist spirit still lives on in her brand! 😀