The Chanel design house was started back in 1909 by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, who began by making stylish hats out of her small Parisian shop. Within a few years she opened a shop at the popular vacation destination Deauville, where she sold sportswear aimed at the modern woman. This success lead her to open a couture house in 1915, from where she created her popular fashion clothing lines. Before long she expanded her business to include perfume, launching the scent “Chanel No. 5” which became a classic and continues to enjoy strong sales to this day. Around 1924 Chanel launched a costume jewelry line that revolutionized jewelry. Until that point, a well-dressed woman would only be seen wearing fine jewelry, but Chanel showed that a woman could be fashionably dressed and express her individuality with fun, faux jewels as well.