Famous Milliners
Coco Chanel had begun designing hats while living with Balsan, initially as a diversion that evolved into a commercial enterprise.
She became a licensed milliner in 1910 and opened a boutique at 21 rue Cambon, Paris, named Chanel Modes.[
As this location already housed an established clothing business, Chanel sold only her millinery creations at this address.
Chanel’s millinery career bloomed once theatre actress Gabrielle Dorziat wore her hats in Fernand Nozière’s play Bel Ami in 1912. Subsequently, Dorziat modelled Chanel’s hats again in photographs published in Les Modes.
