Gabrielle Coco Chanel was born in 1883 in Saumur and when she was just six years old, her mother died and she and her siblings were looked after by relatives. Growing up, Chanel used the name Coco during a brief career as a cafe and concert singer from 1905 through to1908. She became the mistress of a wealthy military officer and also of an English industrialist, both of whom assisted her to fund the opening of a millinery shop in Paris in 1910. Chanel was an intelligent and ambitious woman and despite it being regarded as morally wrong, knew that without the financial assistance of these gentlemen, she would be unable to start her career in fashion and design. The two men also helped her to find customers who mostly comprised of wealthy women of society. Coco’s simply designed but chic hats rapidly became popular and the shop was highly successful.

Soon Coco Chanel was expanding her lines to couture, working in a jersey material which was highly original in French fashion. By the 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably and she had created a ladies trend which represented a masculine and androgynous style but in a chic, elegant and comfortable form. This look was in direct contrast to the corset fashions that women were currently used to but Chanel believed that in order to be stylish and present yourself well to others, you needed to be comfortable and able to move freely in your clothes. Chanel dressed herself in male inspired clothes; a look which she had adopted from a young age.

However, at the time Chanel was considered incredibly rebellious with her sense of fashion. She designed women’s dresses out of the same material that was used to create men’s underwear which was very much frowned upon. Women would typically have long hair and wear tight corsets whereas Chanel cut her hair short and opted for loose fitting attire. Everything she did was going against the grain of society which was a risk, but she firmly believed that fashion needed a new path and pursued the idea that every individual male or female, should be entitled to look uniquely stylish and be comfortable. Despite the primary negative feedback, Coco Chanel ignored it and persisted with her designs.

In 1922 Coco Chanel introduced her first perfume called Chanel No. 5, which became an iconic scent and is still one of the brand’s highest selling products today. Coco Chanel introduced her signature well structured but comfortable cardigan jacket in 1925 and the classic ‘little black dress’ in 1926, the style of which has gone on to become a wardrobe staple that is still considered by all stylists as a core item that every lady should own. Most of Chanel’s designs possessed a timeless quality which is why the pieces still look as great today as they did in the 1920’s.

Coco Chanel briefly served as a nurse in the First World War which meant that her fashion career was forced to be put temporarily on hold. However, her comeback in 1954 at the age of 71 was what really put Chanel on the haute couture map with the launch of her Chanel suit, pea jackets and bell bottom trousers – all for ladies. Time had passed and the designs were more readily accepted into society and her pieces became incredibly sought after. A notorious workaholic, Coco Chanel was still working in 1971 when she died at the age of 87. Karl Lagerfeld of Fendi was then appointed the chief designer of Chanel in 1983.

Accessories are a core part of the Chanel collection. The black 2.55 Chanel quilted bag for example, with its gold chain strap weaved with black leather and the iconic intertwining ‘CC’ Chanel logo flap style attachment is probably every girl’s top wish list item and is often seen carried by a huge number of celebrities and style icons of all ages. Like all Chanel products, this item has a traditional and timeless quality and is highly desired due to the Chanel reputation and its expensive price tag but boasts rare longevity and will continue to look fantastic for a lifetime.

Chanel indeed is one of the most expensive luxury brands on the market but the products are faultless in terms of durability, style and quality and you can own and wear a piece of Chanel, including a pair of Chanel sunglasses for decades. Chanel sunglasses are typically elegant and feminine, yet many are also classically understated making them perfect for both formal and everyday wear. The frames often feature either the beautiful Chanel intertwining ‘CC’ logo or the written version on the arms, and some frames incorporate pattern or colour depending on how bold you prefer the look of your sunglasses. Some Chanel styles have more defined and thick oversized frames whereas others are dramatically oversized with slimmer frames and arms for an extra demure touch. A number of the designs also combine thick oval shaped frames contrasted with slim arms for added dynamic and a contemporary finish. Bows and pretty hinge embellishments are also featured on many pairs of Chanel sunglasses injecting a feminine look to the overall style. If oversized sunglasses are not to your taste, Chanel also has a superb range of aviator and luxury sport inspired visor sunglasses, all boasting the refined Chanel touch!

The range of Chanel sunglasses though on the higher end of the price scale are certainly not inaccessible and are the perfect way of adding that exquisite and chic Chanel essence to your look. Chanel sunglasses will always look timelessly elegant and glamorous as the brand has an incredibly classic yet distinctive style that instantly adds a high end finish to every outfit. Chanel is the one brand that is globally synonymous with sophistication and couture and is representative of a highly desired and sought after sense of style that leaves us swooning. A pair of Chanel sunglasses will therefore make the ultimate accessory and can definitely be considered a lifetime investment.