Coco Chanel Logo: A Journey of Style and Branding

Coco Chanel is an iconic brand. Even those who are not steeped in fashion recognize the name – Chanel. It’s a name that immediately forms a feeling of style and sophistication. There is also a timelessness to the brand that places it above many others. Of course a brand this special needs a logo to match and Chanel’s does not disappoint. 

In this article we’ll look at this iconic logo. We’ll discover how it was developed and why it has stood the test of time. With this information you should be able to develop your own fashionable logo following the Chanel principles.

Was Coco Chanel Real?

The first question anyone ever asks about Chanel is if they were a real person. And indeed Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was a renowned fashion designer working in the early 20th Century. They not only created elegantly designed women’s clothing but they introduced an element of practicality and comfort. 

Perhaps their best known early work was the elegantly simple little black dress while they found new levels of success later with the Chanel suit.  

The keys to Chanel’s fashion success have relevance across virtually every industry. They showed us the importance of knowing when to break from convention and create something that nods to the past but is wholly of the future.

Designing the Coco Chanel Logo

Across the years the Coco Chanel logo has slowly evolved. Its change has reflected the evolution of the brand as much as it has been a quiet adoption of design tastes across the years. And that’s important because a fashion line has to stay fashionable. The two interlocked C’s that are the center of the design is a simple way to build brand awareness and customer recall.

The Importance of the Chanel Logo

The logo for Coco Chanel is not just about a brand, it’s also about a style, an attitude, a way that you feel about yourself. It is of course not the first luxury fashion icon but it quickly became the one that all others looked up to. That’s because its design quickly transcended the label and became something that represented not just fashion but a sophisticated way of life.

When you start to design your fashion logo, you’ll of course first consider all of the elements that should be a part of it. As you do, consider what those could mean in the long-term. Will they be as relevant in five-or-ten years? Consider how you want people to relate to your product at that time and then design a logo that matches.

The Influence of the Coco Chanel Logo

The legacy in the Coco Chanel logo transcends fashion because this mark of brand identity has had such a powerfully lasting influence across industries. But why?

1. Simple

The Chanel logo design carries a simple level of complexity. The intertwined C’s look intricate but they are accessible. It’s a great example of a design that is also a direct statement on the products it represents.

2. Consistent

The logo takes consistency to a whole new level. Not only can it be found on branding and marketing materials, it is often a part of the actual product. For example, look at the Chanel handbags where the logo is also the clasp. 

3. Timeless

The Chanel logo has never tried to be trendy. In the 60s it wasn’t reimagined as pop art or it didn’t get a garish neon makeover in 1987. Instead it has remained true to itself by staying black and white. This color pairing adds a basic elegance that makes the brand feel accessible.

Everything Working Together

What’s important is that each of these three design features are evenly distributed. They also need to serve the brand because at the end of the day your logo should be a direct representation of your brand identity.res your brand’s personality and resonates with your target audience.

Design Your Own Fashion Logo

With an understanding of what makes the Coco Chanel logo work so well you can start the design process for your own fashion logo. During the design process, consider these other factors also.

What’s Your Brand Identity: What is your company story? Who do you want to be? What sets you apart? All of these are part of your brand identity and the essence of the answers should be included in the logo design. 

What’s the competition up to: It’s good to take a peek at what others in the industry are doing. This lets you see if there are any particular audience expectations that every logo is trying to meet. It also gives you an idea of what not to do with your logo.

Where will the logo go: Is the logo just for a label or will it go onto digital ads too? Will it be on a store banner? How about a flier? When designing your logo, run some tests to see how the design looks in all of the possible places it might be used to ensure it maintains its’ visual identity no matter where it is.

What blue do you need: Every color has an emotional connection. Before you pick a color, think about what it represents.

Select a font: Fonts are an important factor in a logo’s success.

Seek Professional Assistance: While there are many easy-to-use logo design tools available (like the ones from we offer), you sometimes can’t beat the eye of an expert. Having a design professional look over your fashion logo ideas, especially early in the process, can help you put a professional polish on your logo. (And yes, we have experts to help with that as well!)

Designing a Fashion Logo with GraphicSprings

The logo for Coco Chanel is not just an iconic fashion logo, it’s an iconic logo regardless of industry. Its simple design makes an elegant promise that is backed up by the products. With our tools you can take the lessons learned through the years with what the Coco Chanel logo has, and has not, become and apply them to your own fashion-focused logo.