And how relevant is it that the new movie Coco Before Chanel will be coming out around Fashion Week? Chanel made such an impact on the industry, it's hard to imagine what we'd be wearing today had it not been for her creative vision. We have her to thank for introducing pants into women's fashion, for making the nautical style hip and chic, for the classic suit that we all know and love. Her looks are always on-trend no matter what the year is.
But with the outbreak of World War II, the French couture houses were shut down and Chanel fled to Switzerland in self-imposed exile after having an affair with a Nazi officer. In her absence, Christian Dior introduced his new look of hyper-stylized fashion. Dior's collections had a refined elegance to them; women's very physicality was transformed by his vision.
It's around this time, too, that modeling became structured as an industry. The first generation of agents came onto the scene during this period, making modeling a lucrative career for ladies like Lisa Fonssagrives, Dorian Leigh, and Dovima.
Take a peek at the second installment of our History of Models to see how the world of fashion changed while Chanel was MIA.
Miss our first webisode? No worries. You can still see it here.
