Coco Chanel was born in 1883 in France to a humble family. After her mother died in 1895, her father sent her to a boarding school run by nuns where she learned to sew. In her early life, she sang in cabarets where she earned the nickname "Coco." At age 22, she began a new life with Etienne Balsan and was introduced to high society. In 1914, she opened her first boutique called "Chanel Modes" and began designing hats that were popular with high society. Over her career, she revolutionized women's fashion by creating comfortable, simplified styles and launched successful perfume and makeup lines. She became a leading figure in the fashion industry until her death in