Fashion Brands Pronunciation

BVLGARI

BVLGARI is an Italian fine jewelry house first opened in 1884 in Rome. Today, though, it also has leather goods, watches, perfumes, silks (ties and scarves) and more to its name. The name BVLGARI is written in Latin, so the letter that looks like a “V” is actually a “U”. So it’s pronounced Bulgari—BULL(like the animal)-GAHR(as in ‘garden’)-EE(like the letter “e”). In fact, if you type “bvlgari” into Google, it will lead you to the BVLGARI website, which is actually www.bulgari.com.

Chanel

 

This is a VERY important one! Some people might think it’s a no-brainer, but if I hear another person pronounce it “Channel” I will actually lose my mind. The House of Chanel was started in early 20th century France by the one and only Mademoiselle Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel. Chanel has fine women’s sportswear and eveningwear and is run today by Karl Lagerfeld (pronounced “Carl Loggerfelld”). Chanel is properly pronounced “Sha-nelle”, “Sha” like in “shove” and “nelle” like in the name “Nell”. Chanel.

Givenchy

 

It’s true, these French names can be difficult, but this is another important one. Hubert de Givenchy opened the House of Givenchy in 1952, alongside greats like Christian Dior and Balenciaga. He was also the chief designer for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Audrey Hepburn. Though Givenchy himself retired in 1995, the Givenchy Femme line is perpetuated by Italian designer Riccardo Tisci. Givenchy is pronounced with a French “J” sound, a soft “jz” made with the tip of the tongue, almost like saying “shh”. So it’s “jzhiv-on-shee”, since the French “e” makes a long “o” sound, and the “ch” is a “sh” sound. Givenchy.

Hermès

 

Known for its little orange logo, Hermès is a French company begun in 1837 by Emile Hermès. It produces fine leather goods, like handbags and wallets, and fine silk goods, like scarves and ties, among other things like perfume, shoes, jewelry and more. Hermès is pronounced “AIR-MEZZ”, not “HER-MEEZ”. So when you see the little orange logo, you know what to say. Hermès.

Tommy Hilfiger

 

Making his first collection in 1985, Tommy Hilfiger has since grown to include not only menswear and women’s wear, but children’s clothes, bedding, and more. The Hilfiger style is said to be classic Americana, and has many lines of denim and casual wear to back that up. You’d think that since this is an American designer, people might not butcher the pronunciation, but every so often I hear people say “Hillfigure” and it’s just not right. The correct pronunciation of this designer’s last name is “HILL- (like “hills and valleys”)- FIG- (like the fruit) ER (like in the word “nerd”). Hilfiger.

Yves Saint Laurent

 

Though he first worked for Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent introduced his own line in 1962. He invented several items of clothing, like the smoking jacket, the sheer blouse, and the jumpsuit. Though Saint Laurent retired in 2002, the label continues under the creative direction of Stefano Pilati. Saint Laurent believed that “dressing is a way of life” and is one of the most important, influential designers of the 20th century. His first name is pronounced “Eves” like “Christmas and New Year’s Eves”. “Saint Laurent” is his last name, pronounced “SAHN” like in “song” and “LORE-ONT” like “lore” in the word “folklore” and “ONT” like in the word “want.” Yves Saint Laurent.

Now, here are some guidance to pronounce other 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

Dolce & Gabbana: DOLE-chay and gab-BON-na

Gareth Pugh: Gareth Pew

Giles Deacon: Jy-els Dee-kin

Givenchy: Jhee-von-shee

Gucci: GOO-chi

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

Versace: ver-SAH-chay

Yohji Yamamoto: Yo-jee Ya-ma-mo-to 

Zegna: ZANE-ya

bak kate Usop Wilcha,

"Ituler pentingnya Inglish Education!"

 

Well in this case Usop, fashion brands pronunciation ;) Hope this helps! 

Any thoughts or opinions on this? Do share. 

 

p.s: Original post credit to Ami Schaheera (i've did some editing here and there)