“I love that one dress from…umm…how do you say their name?” We have all been there. You are trying to show off your fashion knowledge when you approach a major barrier: the pronunciation. Unfortunately, the majority of high-end designers are from Europe and other parts of the world, thus making the pronunciation a tad questionable. Unless you’re minoring in that specific language or actually paid attention in middle school foreign language classes—you are at a loss. Trust me, nothing makes you feel less intelligent or cultured than butchering the name of a well-known designer. To save you from those embarrassing moments I have compiled a list of the top fashion designers and an easy to use pronunciation guide. Happy pronouncing!
Anna Sui: Anna Swee
Balenciaga: bahl-en-see-ag-ah
Comme des Garçons: comb day gah-sawn
Dries Van Noten: drees vahn no-ten
Emilio Pucci: e-meal-io pooch-e
Fendi: fen-de
Givenchy: zhee-von-she
Hermès: air-mez
Isaac Mizrahi: eye-zic miz-ra-he
Jean Paul Gaultier: zhon paul go-tee-ay
Karl Lagerfeld: Karl logger-feld
Lanvin: lahn-vahn
Miu Miu: mew mew
Narciso Rodriguez: nar-cease-oh rod-ree-guez
Olivier Theyskens: oh-liv-ee-ay tay-skins
Proenza Schouler: pro-enz-ah skoo-lur
Rodarte: row-dart-ay
Salvatore Ferragamo: sal-vuh-tor-ay fair-ah-gamo
Thakoon: tah-koon
Versace: vare-sotch-ay
Yves Saint Laurent: eve sahn lor-ahn
Zac Posen: zac pose-en
All it takes is a little practice and you will be good to go! Don’t worry if you occasionally forget to say a name in a French accent or whatever accent it is typically pronounced with; try your best and no one will know the difference.