The Chanel logo is most likely one of the most recognizable logos in the world of fashion.  The company was started by Coco Chanel in 1909 and she also created the logo herself.  The design is simple yet iconic and it has not changed at all since it was created which has help with recognition for the design.  The black in the logo is meant to represents elegance.  The Sans Serif font is a custom typeface and the two intertwined C's are extremely popular for anyone who can afford to wear the logo.  I like the design because it is simple and can be incorporated into clothing, jewelry, shoes, letterheads, business cards, etc. with little difficulty.   While black and white are the general colors I have seen it changed according to the product on which it is being placed.

(information from Famouslogos.net)