Tweed Indeed

(image found here)

High fashion brands all have something that defines them – that one item that embodies the very personality of the brand. For Chanel, that item is the tweed coat.

Today, a woman wearing a tweed coat is considered ultra chic and uber stylish but it wasn’t always such a fashionable item of clothing.

Back in the day, tweed was a cheap fabric and it wasn’t the first thing that a posh lady would think of wearing for that Sunday tea party. However, Coco Chanel found a way to use tweed in such a manner that it appealed to everyone. The jacket, cut in such a way to keep the wearer as comfortable as possible, was lined with fur or silk. It was invented in the 1920s and evolved into the Chanel tweed suit in the 50s.

The signature detailing like  black trim or gold buttons is what made this item so special, so different from all the others out there. The simplicity of the fabric teamed up with the complexity of the design made the jacket incredibly popular.

When Coco Chanel died in 1971, the brand suffered a huge setback. However, when Karl Lagerfeld took over, even though he brought his own charm to the brand, the tweed coat still survived. And by the 80s’ the tweed suit was back.

Coco Chanel may not be with us anymore but there is no doubt about the fact that her tweed suits and coats will stay with us forever.