During the Victorian era in France, women’s fashion may have been considered elegant and graceful but it also had many limits. Women could only wear that which was appropriate in that era which meant corsets, long, compressing dresses, inspired by the Greeks and Romans, heavily detailed hats, etc. 

In the 1800's, women were not permitted to wear pants because it was considered masculine and inappropriate, so they wore long, overbearing, silhouette dresses that went down to the ankles. Many of these Victorian silhouette dresses were fashioned in beautiful, fancy detail composed of silk, lace, ribbon, glass beads, metallic embroidery, and other rich, gracefully refined textiles. Under these graceful garments, women wore corsets. Women were forced to wear corsets because they were viewed as the “weaker sex.” Although they were made to enhance a woman’s figure, they were also considered a major medical necessity for women in the 1800s. Women were believed to be very fragile and weak especially around the waist, so corsets were made to assist their balance.Corsets were composed of steel or whale bone which were heavy, and tight lacing which made it very difficult for Victorian women to breathe causing many faints in those days. The hats they wore were beautiful, but also extravagant and overbearing with detail. The hats were embroidered with feathers, ribbons, frills, flowers, etc., which may have made them quite heavy to wear.  During the Victorian era, women’s clothing was certainly full of luxurious detail and beauty, but also provided limited comfort.

Coco Chanel liberated women by creating shortened dresses that revealed the ankles, eliminated corsets which freed the waist, and altogether invented a comfortably fitted look for women exhibiting elegance, class and convenience.The elegant clothing Coco Chanel created was an expression of herself and her lifestyle. She styled her fashions to reveal her value of elegance, her classiness, uniqueness and endless strength. Through her designs, Coco wanted to celebrate the freedom, beauty, and equality of women. She took authority over her lifestyle, and also took authority over the fashion world with her classic style. She began designing women’s hats giving them a simpler look by removing feathers and other accessories which made them fit lighter and more comfortable. Coco’s hats were much different and more unique than the majority of other advertised Victorian hats. One of the major fashion designs she created was the “little black dress.” The little black dress seemed to be a valuable possession to women in that day and in this day as well. It was designed as a cocktail dress, short, black, simple, and of course classy. Another signature design she created was the straight collarless jacket, also know has “The Chanel suit.”The Chanel suit, inspired by men’s wear, was composed of solid or tweed fabric, and became a status symbol for a new generation. It was collarless, trimmed in braid along with matching tones, contained patch pockets, buttons without button holes, but sewn into the silk lining, and—sewn into the hem—a gold-colored chain ensuring it hung properly, providing freedom of movement. The jacket became the fashion essential, the cornerstone of contemporary fashion. She also designed matching straight knee-length skirts to go with the jackets which made the ensemble a classy feminine suit.

Many of her designs included nautical and sailor themes, specifically striped patterns. Coco also played a major part in accelerating trousers for women.