Originally first posted on 29 January 2014.
The wonderful people at HarpersBazaar.com have put together a cheatsheet of how to pronounce some of the major designer names.
Have you had sleepless nights whether to pronounce Hermès with a silent H and what do you do with the S at the end?
Ever wanted to hit the ladies at the fragrance counter because of the poor pronunciation of some of their perfume brands?
Be an insomniac no more and show the ladies this list so they no longer have to butcher the names.
Print it out, and keep a copy in your purse because you never know when you need to show off, or simply memorize it.
Now, if only someone would make a list how to pronounce French Champagne…
Anna Sui: anna swee
Ann Demeulemeester: ann de-mule-eh-meester
Azzedine Alaia: azz-eh-deen ah-lie-ah
Badgley Mischka: badge-lee meesh-kah
Balenciaga: bah-len-see-ah-gah
Balmain: bahl-mahhhhn
Bottega Veneta: bow-tay-guh vah-netta
Christian Lacroix: christian luh-kwa
Christian Louboutin: christian loo-boo-tan
Comme des Garçons: comb dey gah-sown
Dolce & Gabbana: dol-chey and gab-ana
Dries Van Noten: drees van know-ten
Gareth Pugh: gareth pew
Giambattista Valli: gee-am-bah-tease-ta vah-lee
Gianfranco Ferre: gee-ahn-franco feh-ray
Givenchy: zjee-von-shee
Hermès: er-mez
Hervé Léger: air-vay lay-jah
Hussein Chalayan: hoo-sane sha-lion
Issey Miyake: iss-ee mee-yah-key
Jean Paul Gaultier: zhon paul go-tee-ay
Junya Watanabe: jun-yah wat-an-ah-bey
Kinder Aggugini: kinder ag-ooh-gee-nee
Lanvin: lahn-vahn
Loewe: loh-wev-eh
Louis Vuitton: loo-wee vwee-tahn
L’Wren Scott: la-ren scott
Maison Martin Margiela: may-sohn martin mar-jhell-ah
Marchesa: mar-kay-sah
Mary Katrantzou: mary cat-trant-zoo
Miu Miu: mew-mew
Monique Lhuillier: monique le-hu-lee-ay
Moschino: mos-key-no
Olivier Theyskens: oh-liv-ee-ay tay-skins
Proenza Schouler: pro-en-zuh skool-er
Rochas: row-shahs
Rodarte: row-dar-tay
Roksanda Ilincic: roksanda ill-in-chik
Salvatore Ferragamo: sal-vah-tor-re fer-ra-gah-moh
Sonia Rykiel: sewn-yah ree-key-el
Thakoon: tah-koon
Versace: vur-sah-chee
Yves Saint Laurent: eve san lau-ron
Yohji Yamamoto: yoh-jee yam-ah-mo-to
I found this FAB YouTube video that will let you HEAR how they are pronounced.
You’re welcome.
Until next time,
WOW !! Thank you for sharing this… This will definitely help me avoid many many potentially embarrassing situations… 🙂
xo
Madhuri
You’re welcome!
I particularly like the “mew mew” sound (I don’t think that Miuccia Prada has ever designed a “cow” printed skirt, unlike Moschino) ! XOX
You don’t need lessons, you could have taught us! By the way, I LOVE Mos Kee No. Xoxo
haha this is amazing!! thanks for sharing!
xoxo Vera & Rony
http://wattwewear.com/
Thanks! X
Sent from my iPhone
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Wow that’s some list! I was tongue tired even with it spelled out
It was a bit “tongue in cheek” Jen! hehe.. Try the video !
thanks for commenting xo
Love this barbe!
Whoops – I had no idea there was a hard “k” in Moschino. I won’t let on how many others I got wrong… Thanks babe – hey I’ll never forget the time at Athens airport when I asked the lady at the counter for a bottle of Byzance (I pronounced it bye-zantz) and she said “what?” several times, and finally declared “oh do you mean bee-zonts” lol ♥x♥
haha I think we all made that mistake Kats x
you’re very welcome!
And I’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles are excellent. Good job.
Thank you very much Caroline