The fascinating link between Coco Chanel and the North West - and how she changed fashion forever

The excitement is building for global fashion house Chanel's ultra-exclusive catwalk show being held in Manchester this week.

The Northern Quarter is being transformed to stage the luxury French designer brand's takeover on Thursday, December 7. Much of what the show will reveal remains top secret with businesses and creatives involved signing confidentiality agreements not to reveal any details.

But the huge structures being set up along Thomas Street and High Street have been something of a giveaway to the location. Although the fashion label has yet to reveal the reasons why Manchester was chosen to host the exclusive show, there are clues to the iconic Manchester bands, moments and legendary Hacienda nightclub that may have inspired it.

Today, it's hard to comprehend the incredible influence Coco Chanel has had on women's fashion. Many of these we live with today, such as her timeless creation of 'the little black dress' and the ever popular Chanel No5 perfume.

She also pioneered fashion conscious women adopting artificial jewellery, trousers, short hair, tweed suits, and a suntan. she not only made having a suntan acceptable, but symbolic of a life of privilege and leisure.

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Until the 1920s, suntans were sported by labourers exposed to long hours toiling under the sun's unrelenting gaze. By contrast, a milky white complexion was a sure sign of privilege and aristocracy. Such was Coco Chanel's influence, her appearance after accidentally getting sunburnt on the French Riviera suddenly made sun bathing fashionable in the 1920s.

And while the name Chanel may be associated globally with elegant and timeless fashion, Coco