Coco Chanel

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

Born 19 aug 1883 in Saumer, Maine-et-Loire. Died Jan 10th 1971 in Paris.

Fashion designer and businesswoman.

Personality traits: willpower, independent, energetic, intuitive, rational, self-aware, excellent conversationalist.

Fame: A fashion revolutionary, formidable entrepreneur, world’s most famous businesswoman.

Why Coco?

Coco Chanel was a woman who built a fashion empire on her own, without any means other than being a woman. But a very smart one. Her personal qualities helped her create relationships with the most influential people of the time. In a time when men utterly dominated business and industry, she built an empire. She created a modern woman, in her own image, that was both liberated and independent. Her focus was on how women saw themselves, rather than being mere objects for men, husbands or others. Her designs for this future woman, allowing her to feel both comfortable and elegant, was nothing short of revolutionary.

Through sheer force of will, and a decidedly pragmatic streak, Coco Chanel frequently allied herself with wealthy investors who helped support her business as she progressed. In her own time, these strategic alliences were assumed to be the domain of men, but she proved decisively that a woman could build her own brand, and opened the door for a new kind of woman entrepreneur - a woman who worked hard, had a vision, and knew how to get ahead.