Chanel - The Original Style Icon

Born in the late 1880's to impoverished parents, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was always something of an enigma. She claimed a birthdate of 1893 but was actually born 10 years earlier. Her mother died when Gabrielle was only six and her father soon abandoned her and her four sisters to the workhouse.

In 1905, Gabrielle started work in a cafe and also took to the stage as a concert singer. It was at this time that the iconic Coco was born and Gabrielle resigned to the past forever.

Coco Chanel was an original. She was the first in France to work with jersey and while the rest of the feminine populace were strapped and restricted in corsets and bones, Coco adopted the less restrictive, tailored 'masculine' look for which she is remembered today.

Chanel clothes are a favourite of (among many others), Kate Moss, who chose a Chanel dress for her 34th birthday bash and can often be seen in the glossies in beautifully tailored Chanel items. Other celebs snapped in Chanel include Jessica Alba , Celine Dior, Kate Beckinsale, Rachel Bilson - who added her own touch of style by wearing one Chanel dress back to front - Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Hillary Duff.

Isn't it nice to know you don't have to be a movie star or hot singer to be able to join the stellar ranks of trendy fashionistas wearing Chanel?