Coco Chanel's Revolution

Appreciating the history of fashion has only recently crossed my mind. After reading Coco Chanel's autobiography, I realised that she is the person I should be thankful to for my comfortable clothes and the mere possibility of wearing trousers.

Her story has had a strong grip on me. The outward sincerity of Chanel's attempt to present her personality and experiences could not leave one indifferent. I always perceived fashion as a simple way of entertainment. However, the multi-billion industry carries power and rich history.

Having been born into the world which focused on accentuating female curves, Mademoiselle Chanel did not fit. Her petite figure did not permit her to wear corsets, that were of such importance at the time. Her incredible journey began with a desire to learn the techniques of horse riding. Chanel did not wish to be restrained by the absurd fashion of women being carried like porcelain vases. She caused an uproar when deciding to wear trousers. However, Chanel started her fashion empire by creating female hats, that were not oversized and heavy, but simple and elegant (the idea also arose from her wish to ride horses comfortably). Chanel said that fashion is what one can wear; it is the pieces that can go from catwalk straight to the streets. 

One may easily assume that being a rising star of the fashion industry is a great gift. Coco Chanel once again confirmed that it is 99% hard work. At the accelerating rise of her popularity, the suppliers were unwilling to increase their stocks. The only material that was available in sufficient quantity was jersey. When having been warned about the hardships that this material would cause her, Chanel confidently said that she will make it work. Having spent hours attempting to make the fabric fit the body, she decided to  go against the rules. Not only she abandoned any idea about accentuating the female waistline, but she ordered the dresses to have length at the knee-level.
Mademoiselle Chanel was often criticised for creating pieces that would be favourable to her figure. Yet every time women were grateful for the new ways to embrace elegance and comfort.

Today, we are facing manifold uncertainties about what the future holds. The world is transforming with a speed never seen before. The prior existing conventions about what a successful business looks like are fading and companies with virtually no assets are now making billions of dollars in profit. Perhaps this means that the best way to be successful is to do it your way. The luxury of security and certainty is not so evident anymore. However, this gives way for the luxury of creating own ideas and proposing own perceptions of how to do things right.

This is especially evident in the world of law, where computerisation is predicted to affect the very foundations of how law firms operate, particularly, the role that associates are performing.

 Chanel said that she did not fit the fashion of the time, so she decided to transform the whole industry to make the fashion suitable for her. Coco Chanel also said that everything is in our hands, so we should never put them down. 

I believe that now all the challenges of uncertainties and competition are shells that may hide priceless pearls of allowing us to create our own ways of doing things. The Legal world has unexplored opportunities. I look forward to being one of those people who shake the foundations of the legal profession and change it to fit with the nature of how the world is now operating. If an orphan girl, who did not fit the feminine standards of the time could make the world her catwalk, why can't we?