Coco Chanel, whose birth name was Gabrielle Chanel, was given the name Coco as a term of endearment due to her performance in cabaret shows. Chanel's upbeat personality and passion for life is clearly seen in the fashionable designs that her company is known for. Chanel introduced the "little black dress" to the world in 1926, and is the first fashion designer to have her name on a fragrance. Coco Chanel was born in Samur, France, and was raised in an orphanage; her father, who was a peddler, placed Chanel in the orphanage after her mother passed away. The orphan...
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