From Coco Chanel to Michelle Obama, women in fashion have broken barriers and revolutionized the industry, paving the way for future generations. Whether as visionary designers or influential style icons, women in fashion have demonstrated that fashion is more than fabric. It is a powerful form of self-expression and change.
Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel, was a French fashion designer who revolutionized women’s fashion in the 20th century. Chanel founded and is the namesake of the iconic French luxury brand Chanel. Chanel introduced practical, loose silhouettes, replacing traditional restrictive designs heavily influenced by corsets’ popularity in the early 1900s. Chanel also played a key role in popularizing pants and menswear-inspired suits for women.
Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, influenced fashion from the White House. Obama’s commitment to uplifting up-and-coming American designers by showcasing their pieces helped to promote diversity and fresh talent within the fashion industry. She has famously been seen embracing affordable labels such as H&M, Target, and J Crew. Obama’s showcasing of mainstream brands proves that elegance does not require luxury labels.
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist best known for her deeply personal and vibrant self portraits. Kahlo’s indigenous headpieces and flower crowns served as symbols of femininity and expressed her connection to Mexican tradition. Traditional Tehuana dresses concealed her right leg, which was weaker due to polio. To support her spine after a bus accident when she was 18, Kahlo was forced to wear orthopedic braces, which she painted and decorated, turning them into artistic statements.
21 year old rising star Alex Consani represents a new generation of inclusivity within high fashion. With her signature platinum blonde hair, Consani caught the eye of designers, while her witty personality made her a viral sensation on Tiktok. Consani is the first transgender model to receive the coveted Model of the Year award and she has walked for many major fashion labels. Consani has paved the way for trans representation to become a norm in the fashion industry.