Time named Coco Chanel one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
Chanel appeared in Time magazine’s 1999 list of the century’s most influential people. She was placed in the “Builders and Titans” category, reflecting the argument that her influence extended beyond individual garments to the way modern women dressed and presented themselves.
The recognition came after Chanel’s death in 1971 and evaluated her long-term cultural impact. She helped popularize simpler silhouettes, sportswear-inspired clothing, costume jewelry, shorter hairstyles and the little black dress. Her work also made a designer’s name into a powerful international luxury brand.
The distinction is sometimes attributed to Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar because both magazines documented Chanel’s career extensively. However, the specific century-wide ranking was created by Time. It is also separate from later annual “Time 100” lists of living contemporary figures.