Coco Chanel Fashion: The Little Black Dress

By Karen Lawson
Fashion Design School Review Columnist

Coco Chanel released women from stodgy Victorian styles and gained notoriety for fashion designs incorporating fabrics typically used in menswear. Her designs maintained a feminine flair, characterized by jeweled buttons, tulip skirts, and the use of golden chains and long strands of pearls.

A fashion visionary, Chanel is credited with being the first fashion designer to use black for women’s apparel. Her black cocktail dresses featuring clean lines and elegant fabrics gave rise to the look later popularized by Audrey Hepburn in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Fashion Design Career Requires Creative Vision

If you’re artistic, enjoy shopping for clothes, and are always know the latest trends, a program in fashion design education can provide the training and experience you need to enter the field. You’ll learn how to use design and drawing principles to create illustrations of your designs, and will also learn to use computer assisted design (CAD) programs. All aspects of fashion design; including textiles, patternmaking and sewing techniques, and fashion merchandising are typically included in fashion design study.

Fashion Designs Inspired by Need

You might say that not every woman needs a little black dress, but simple and functional designs can be the key to success. Classic lines and versatility helped Coco Chanel build a fashion empire. Her designs are as timeless (and functional) today as when they were first created. If you have a more edgy view of fashion, that can work in designing for junior and fashion forward apparel manufacturers. Last but not least, you can learn how to create your own fashion designs, and open your own clothing company or boutique. Your fashion design career will require creativity, experience, and know-how, and a fashion design school can provide the professional knowledge you need to create and promote your designs.

Source

Coco Chanel Biography

About the Author

Karen Lawson is a freelance writer whose interests include topics in postsecondary education and the humanities. She holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Posted on May 26, 2007 at 03:38 PM