Coco Chanel was founder and queen of a fashion empire, and her name is forever linked to an unmistakable style. Before all this, Mademoiselle Coco was Gabrielle, a poor orphan who rejected convention and put her independence above all else. With her grit and tenacity, she made her fortune and restored freedom to women. She revolutionized the concept of feminine elegance with straight dresses and inventions that would later become icons: these were the little black dress, Chanel N 5, costume jewelry, the suit with gold buttons, and the quilted bag.