FASHION 101: HOW TO PRONOUNCE DESIGNER NAMES

by Aaron on July 31, 2008

How to say a designer’s name?

Few things in fashion present a bigger quandary than the pronunciation of designer names and labels. True insiders in the industry know the correct names and are quick to drop them as a badge of honor of sorts. Kind of like membership in an exclusive club. Vapid, but that’s fashion for you.

As such, butchering a designers name in a boutique, department store or industry event is a faux-pas on par with going for seconds during lunch at the Conde Nast building.

Here’s a guide to prevent any possible faux-pas. (Note: There are also other guides all around the internet on pronouncing designer names here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.)

Now the guide to pronouncing designer label names:

Anya Hindmarch: Ahn-ya Heind-march

Badgley Mischka: Badge-lee Meesh-ka

Bebe: Bee-bee

Bottega Veneta: Bo-tega Ven-e-ta

Bulgari: Ball-gah-ree

Burberry Prorsum: Bur-bur-ree Pror-some

Carolina Herrera: Caro-leena Hair-era

Christian Louboutin: Loo-boo-tin

Gareth Pugh: Gareth Pew

Giles Deacon: Jy-els Dee-kin

Givenchy: Jhee-von-shee

Hedi Slimane: Eddy Sli-mahn

Hermès: Air-mez

Hervé Léger: Air-vay Lay-jay

Lanvin: Lon-vin

Loewe: Low-ev-ay

Louis Vuitton: Loo-ee Voo-ee-ton

Marchesa: Mar-kay-sa

Moschino: Mo-ski-no

Nicolas Ghesquière: Ni-co-la Guess-ki-air

Olivier Theyskens: Oli-vier Tay-skins

Pierre Cardin: Pee-air Car-dain

Proenza Schouler: Pro-enza Skool-er

Ralph Lauren: Ralph Lauren (as in Lauren the girl’s name, not Sophia Loren)

6267: Six-two-six-seven (not Sixty-two-sixty-seven)

Thakoon: Ta-koon

Thierry Mugler: Tee-air-ree Moog-lay

Yohji Yamamoto: Yo-jee Ya-ma-mo-to

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

MAMU August 25, 2008 at 1:57 am

how do u pronounce “etienne aigner”

Susan September 16, 2008 at 5:45 am

A-T-en On-yA

sisdee December 15, 2008 at 6:28 pm

how to pronouce “versace”?

tq

bling January 7, 2009 at 8:23 pm

how do you pronounce Emporio Armani

Bri October 6, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Versace- Ver- Sach-e

Emporio Armani- Em-Por- iyo Armon-i

Lena October 31, 2009 at 11:02 am

Ver-SA-chay and em-pore-io arm-awn-knee

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