5 Ways Coco Chanel Has Inspired Fashion Today

Coco Chanel was one of the most influential designers of her time—even a woman who has never bought an original Chanel piece is sure to own something that was inspired by the iconic designer. Valerie Steele, director of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, shares some of Chanel's classic styles that made fashion what it is today.

Although it is a myth that she invented the little black dress, Chanel was undeniably influential in popularizing it. "A little black dress is so ubiquitous, it's an iconic thing," Steele says. "She was certainly very much associated with that look."

Chanel has said: "Women think about all colors except the absence of color. I have already said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute."