Coco Chanel was born as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France. One hundred and thirty years later, the famed French couturier's legacy continues to shine. Here, Chanel strikes a coy smile in Paris in 1936. Click through the gallery to learn all about her iconic fragrance: Chanel No. 5.
Celebrating Coco —
Coco Chanel was born as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France. One hundred and thirty years later, the famed French couturier's legacy continues to shine. Here, Chanel strikes a coy smile in Paris in 1936. Click through the gallery to learn all about her iconic fragrance: Chanel No. 5.
Lipnitzki/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Georges Goursat, a caricaturist known as Sem, created this cartoon for Chanel No. 5 perfume in 1921.
Celebrating Coco —
Georges Goursat, a caricaturist known as Sem, created this cartoon for Chanel No. 5 perfume in 1921.
Musee Carnavalet/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
A Chanel No. 5 ad from the 1930s encourages fans of Chanel's designs to try her perfume to "add that last touch of real chic."
Celebrating Coco —
A Chanel No. 5 ad from the 1930s encourages fans of Chanel's designs to try her perfume to "add that last touch of real chic."
Advertising Archive/Everett Collection
An ad for Chanel No. 5 soaps from the 1940s targets "the perfectionist who must be exquisitely groomed from head to toe."
Celebrating Coco —
An ad for Chanel No. 5 soaps from the 1940s targets "the perfectionist who must be exquisitely groomed from head to toe."
Advertising Archive/Everett Collection
Marilyn Monroe poses with Chanel No. 5 at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City in 1955. When asked what she wore to bed in a April 1952 LIFE magazine article, she famously responded, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWo8UtWiYiZI" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Just a few drops of Chanel No. 5."</a>
Celebrating Coco —
Marilyn Monroe poses with Chanel No. 5 at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City in 1955. When asked what she wore to bed in a April 1952 LIFE magazine article, she famously responded, "Just a few drops of Chanel No. 5."
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Chanel No. 5 debuted an after-bath oil spray in the mid-1960s.
Celebrating Coco —
Chanel No. 5 debuted an after-bath oil spray in the mid-1960s.
Advertising Archive/Everett Collection
Actress Catherine Deneuve appeared in <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DTGVNGoMXE2c" target="_blank" target="_blank">film and print advertisements</a> for the storied fragrance in 1973.
Celebrating Coco —
Actress Catherine Deneuve appeared in film and print advertisements for the storied fragrance in 1973.
Advertising Archive/Everett Collection
Model Estella Warren signs autographs in a Toronto mall in 1998. At the time, Warren was the face and muse of the Chanel No. 5 campaign.
Celebrating Coco —
Model Estella Warren signs autographs in a Toronto mall in 1998. At the time, Warren was the face and muse of the Chanel No. 5 campaign.
Carlo Allegri/iPhoto.ca/Newscom
A bottle of Chanel No. 5 is pictured on the program for the Fragrance Foundation Awards in 1998.
Celebrating Coco —
A bottle of Chanel No. 5 is pictured on the program for the Fragrance Foundation Awards in 1998.
Rob Schoenbaum//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
British model Kate Moss poses as the face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle fragrance, a perfume for younger fans of the brand that was introduced in 2001.
Celebrating Coco —
British model Kate Moss poses as the face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle fragrance, a perfume for younger fans of the brand that was introduced in 2001.
Guerin Charles/Abaca/Newscom
A woman walks past a Chanel-inspired piece by political pop artist Wang Guangyi in the Hamburger Kunsthalle art gallery in Hamburg, Germany.
Celebrating Coco —
A woman walks past a Chanel-inspired piece by political pop artist Wang Guangyi in the Hamburger Kunsthalle art gallery in Hamburg, Germany.
Sebastian Widmann/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Iconic pop artist Andy Warhol also immortalized the fragrance.
Celebrating Coco —
Iconic pop artist Andy Warhol also immortalized the fragrance.
Toni Garriga/EPA/Newscom
In 2004, actress Nicole Kidman became the new face of the perfume and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finside.chanel.com%2Fen%2F%23%21%2Fno5%2Fadvertising" target="_blank" target="_blank">starred in a commercial</a> for No. 5 that was directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Celebrating Coco —
In 2004, actress Nicole Kidman became the new face of the perfume and starred in a commercial for No. 5 that was directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Paul Madelenat/Splash News/Newscom
French actress Audrey Tautou was photographed by Dominique Issermann for the perfume in 2009.
Celebrating Coco —
French actress Audrey Tautou was photographed by Dominique Issermann for the perfume in 2009.
Charles Guerin/Newscom
In 2012, Chanel turned some heads when the fashion house announced that Brad Pitt will be the new face of its women's fragrance. It wasn't long before <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarquee.blogs.cnn.com%2F2012%2F10%2F22%2Fsnl-spoofs-brad-pitt-brings-in-big-ratings%2F" target="_blank">"Saturday Night Live" voiced its opinion</a> on the unconventional choice.
Celebrating Coco —
In 2012, Chanel turned some heads when the fashion house announced that Brad Pitt will be the new face of its women's fragrance. It wasn't long before "Saturday Night Live" voiced its opinion on the unconventional choice.
face to face/ZUMAPRESS.