Jean Patou

COCO PASSED IN 1971, BUT THE BRAND CONTINUED, EVEN LAUNCHING THEIR FIRST READYTO-WEAR COLLECTION IN 1978.YET WITHOUT A LEAD DESIGNER TO BE THE FACE OF THE BRAND, THE HOUSE STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN ITS ENCHANTING REPUTATION FOR LUXURY. THAT IS, UNTIL KARL LAGERFELD JOINED IN 1983 TO REVIVE IT TO ITS ELITE STATUS, WHICH HE DID WITH ADDED GLAMOUR AND SEXINESS. TODAY, CHANEL STANDS OUT IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CATEGORY— COUTURE, READY-TO-WEAR, ACCESSORIES, JEWELRY, SHOES, AND FRAGRANCES.YET, THERE IS ALWAYS AN UNDENIABLE ELEMENT OF THE HOUSE'S FOUNDER. "A GIRL SHOULD BE TWO THINGS: CLASSY AND FABULOUS," COCO CHANEL ONCE SAID. FITTING, SINCE THAT'S THE ABSOLUTE EMBODIMENT OF THE LABEL EVEN A CENTURY AFTER IT WAS FOUNDED.