Chanel - Founded by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the queen of fashion herself. Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, also known as Coco Chanel, was born in 1883 in the town of Saumur in France. With a brand synonymous with luxury, the fashion queen's upbringing was anything but luxurious. Born to a mother who died at a young age and a father who abandoned her, Coco Chanel set out to build a brand that empowered and promoted women, in an era of oppression. Chanel's career started in 1909, when she, together with her partner and lover, opened her first boutique in Paris. The well-visited store, which mainly focused on fashion accessories, became very popular among French society. The success really took off around 1920, when she created "The Little Black Dress". The dress, which was characterized by simple lines and shapes, became a fashion success and a must for fashion-conscious-females around the world. Chanel's career was mainly characterized by clothing and fashion accessories, but in February 1955 the fashion house launched its first bag – Chanel 2.55. The bag has been named after the launch date and inspired by the fashion queen's own needs, such as an adjustable, braided shoulder strap chain, a beautiful twist lock and several practical interior compartments where she could store everything from love letters to pens and lipsticks. Despite the continuous success that followed Coco Chanel, the fashion house received a huge boost after Karl Lagerfelt stepped in as fashion director. Among other things, Lagerfelt created the CC logo and the bag known today as the Chanel Classic Flap Bag – a bag that is undoubtedly one of the most important in fashion history. The highly sought after bag is constantly increasing in value and is the perfect investment for any fashion lover.