House of Lanvin, named after its original designer and founder, Jeanne Lanvin, is the oldest fashion house that remains in existence today. Lanvin was born in 1867 to a middle class family in Paris, France. As the eldest of eleven children, she helped her family all throughout her teen years by working as an assistant dressmaker at the french House of Talbot. Soon after, at the age of 16, she became an apprentice milliner in Paris, where her dedication and talents were quickly recognized and promoted. In 1890, with the help of a few admirers of her talents, Lanvin opened a Millinery shop in the Rue de Faubourge St. Honore. Paris.
In 1895, Jeanne Lanvin married Emilio di Pietro, an Italian nobleman. Two years later, the couple gave birth to their first and only daughter, Marguerite di Pietro, someone who became crucial in Lanvin's personal life as well as business. When looking at Lanvin's logo, is evident the picture portrays a woman and a girl holding hands as they play, this logo represents Lanvin's love hfor her daughter and muse. Although up to this point in Lanvin's life, her experience and dedication was mostly directed at millinery, deep down she had always had a passion for couture, when Marguerite was born, she became smitten with the idea of dressing her and would create beautiful dresses. Soon Jeanne was attracting the likes of mothers who not only wanted to dress their baby girls in Lanvin's beautiful designs, but they also wanted versions made for themselves as well. As her reputation grew, Jeanne decided to move on from her millinery shop and concentrate on the construction of high fashion clothing.
In 1909, Lanvin joined the Syndicat de la Couture, a federation for elite fashion designers, something that established her formal status as a high couture designer. Shortly after, she was quickly recognized as one of the most influential designers of the 1920's and 1930's, designing for names such as Marlene Dietrich, Mary Pickford, and Yvonne Printemps. Lavin became known for her fine craftsmanship and her exceptional use of embroidery. Her designs contained a shade of blue so often, that it eventually became to be known as the "Lanvin Blue", it was a deep robins egg shade inspired by medieval stained glass, a beautiful and sophisticated shade that became her trademark. When choosing fabrics, colors, and ornamentation, Lanvin would only go for those she deemed would enhance a woman’s femininity, beauty, and youthfulness.
Jeanne Lanvin was primarily an artist, and business person second. She poured her heart and soul into each design, taking her time to make sure the fabrics and colors chosen were the very best. The Robe de Style dress, fitted at bodice with a full midi length skirt, was her most popular design. The popular dress style was also inspiration for Christian Dior's new look. She was a role model not only to her daughter, which she raised to be an inspirational idol, but to many women which were also implementing liberal ways to succeed in a world owned by men. The Lanvin house still survives today as one of the most successful fashion houses, with most of its earning coming from cosmetics and fragrances. Soon after Jeanne's death, daughter Marguerite took over the house's finances and creative routes. Today, Alber Elbaz, House of Lanvin's Creative Director remains true to Jeanne's vision of the brand; feminine, play and sophisticated. It is no doubt the house still remains a living success in the fashion world.
