THE STORY OF JEANNE LANVIN

The eldest of a modest family of eleven children, Jeanne Lanvin was born in Paris on January 1, 1867. From an early age, her independence and strength of character foretold Jeanne’s extraordinary fate.

At the age of thirteen, Jeanne earned her first wages working for a milliner on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. In charge of delivering hats all over Paris by omnibus, she found...

Portrait of Jeanne Lanvin, 1934 © Studio Harcourt / Patrimoine Lanvin

Mother and Daughter

On August 31, 1897, Jeanne Lanvin gave birth to Marguerite: her only child, her greatest love, and her muse. From their close bond was born one of the most famous French fashion houses.

Nothing was too beautiful for Marguerite. The little girl became the first source of inspiration for Jeanne Lanvin, who designed an incredibly sophisticated wardrobe for her from a very early age....

Marie-Blanche de Polignac, circa 1930 © Roger Schall/ Patrimoine Lanvin

A Step Ahead

A true visionary, Jeanne Lanvin captured the spirit of the times throughout her career in order to bring her fashion house to heights of elegance and modernity.

The designer was a pioneer in many fields. It was important for her to forge ahead and never fall behind. A jack of all trades, Jeanne Lanvin developed the brand's business by regularly opening new departments in...

Modèle Sport, Hiver 1928. Gouache Drawing © Patrimoine Lanvin

Travel Journals

The success of Lanvin was unmistakably due to the curiosity, inventiveness, and creative energy of its founder. With each new collection, Jeanne Lanvin sought to reinvent herself and drew inspiration from traveling, the artists of her time, and everything around her.

When she wasn't working on her next collection, Jeanne Lanvin would frequently travel, taking the time to jot down her experiences and inspirations....

Egypt, circa 1930 - © DR / Patrimoine Lanvin.

An Artistic Sensibility

Although she mostly kept to herself, Jeanne Lanvin’s artistic sensibility and creative spirit opened the doors very early on to the most avant-garde artistic circles of her time. The designer would frequently socialize with painters from the Nabis movement, in particular Édouard Vuillard, with whom she shared an obsession with color.

Jeanne Lanvin was also a collector, amassing works by Renoir,...

Jeanne Lanvin at a fitting with Yvonne Printemps, circa 1936 - © DR / Patrimoine Lanvin.

The Lanvin Style

Jeanne Lanvin had many inspirations, but elegance, femininity, and modernity were the designer's key words.

In the 1920s, Lanvin stood out for its use of bold colors combined with innovative decorative techniques. Ribbons, embroideries, pearls, and precious details adorned dresses without ever compromising the ateliers' cutting work and exceptional construction.

The use of black and white was frequently incorporated with the...

Embroideries and beading created in the Lanvin ateliers between 1925 and 1935 - © Patrimoine Lanvin.

Madame Lanvin

The success of Jeanne Lanvin's fashion house lay in her long years of persistent work. Reserved and meticulous, her unique personality made her stand out from her contemporaries.

"Madame," as her staff called her, was a demanding boss who, nevertheless, put great trust in the talented individuals surrounding her. Jeanne Lanvin was self-taught and did not draw. She worked a lot with the materials...

Jeanne Lanvin and a mannequin, 1935 - © New York Times/Rea