Gabrielle Chanel

Gabrielle Chanel was a French fashion designer and founder of the Chanel brand. 

During the 1920s, she transformed the design of the fashionable wartime dress. She noted down the latest trends, then developed them for more practical, sporty clothing. 

Chanel's paired down sporty clothes were ideal for wartime chic. She created a two piece jersey outfit which was the ''virtue of simplicity''. 

Jersey

Jersey had previously been used in menswear for sports and underwear but Chanel made this textile the height of fashion and women loved her clothes. However, manufacturers were quick to copy her styles.