“Fashion is made to become unfashionable.”
- August 19, 1883 – January 10, 1971
- Born in France
- Designer, businesswoman
- Founded the Chanel brand and advocated modern and simple fashion, especially popularizing the “Chanel suit” and “little black dress,” and contributing to the liberation of women.
Quote
“Fashion is made to become unfashionable.”
Explanation
In this quote, Coco Chanel offers a philosophical view of fashion’s ephemeral nature—that fashion, by its very essence, is always changing and designed to be temporary. Chanel understood that fashion is a form of self-expression and that what is considered fashionable today will eventually be replaced by something new. By stating that fashion is made to become unfashionable, she acknowledges the cyclical and transitory nature of trends. Fashion is an ever-evolving art, and its appeal often lies in the novelty and freshness of the ideas it brings forward, which are soon overtaken by new trends and cultural shifts.
Chanel herself was a master of reinventing fashion, creating timeless pieces such as the little black dress and the Chanel suit—designs that, although originally revolutionary, have become staples of classic style. She often worked against the idea of fleeting trends, preferring to focus on creating garments that would last, both in terms of their design and their impact on women’s lives. In a sense, Chanel was not just responding to the trends of her time but reshaping them, making her work endure even as fashion itself continued to evolve.
In modern terms, this quote serves as a reminder that fashion is a reflection of the times—constantly shifting in response to cultural, technological, and social changes. It also suggests that while current trends may seem important, their value is often transitory, and what is fashionable today may soon be seen as outdated. Chanel’s words encourage us to embrace personal style over the fleeting nature of trends, suggesting that true style is not bound by what is currently fashionable, but by the authenticity and creativity we bring to our choices. It’s a call to focus on what truly resonates with one’s own identity, rather than constantly chasing the next trend.
