Chanel

Date Founded: 1909
Most Notable Designers: Coco Chanel (1909 - 1971), Karl Lagerfeld (1983 - present)
Muses Throughout History: Gabrielle Dorziat, Catherine Deneuve, Inès de la Fressange, Audrey Tautou, Alexa Chung, Amy Winehouse, Alice Dellal, Blake Lively, Leigh Lezark
Most Famous Contribution To Fashion: Coco Chanel was the first to popularize many of fashion's most iconic pieces, like the Little Black Dress, the Breton stripe, the bouclé jacket, jersey, the 2.55 handbag, and her classic scent, Chanel No. 5.
House Drama: Coco Chanel reportedly had affairs with Nazis, married men, and women. Karl Lagerfeld is notoriously loose-lipped with his criticism of celebrities, and has made some off-color remarks about everyone and everything from Adele to prostitution.

Illustrations by Gabriela Alford