Fashion Faux Paux

It's sale season everywhere *hallelujah!* and fashion name dropping is necessary, if not essential! But the only thing about fashion that hurts more than clear bra straps is bad fashion name pronunciation! Ok, and muffin-tops too. Eew!

Ladies and gentlemen, do not make the fashion faux pas (pronounce "foe pah", by the way) of mispronouncing designer labels. Yes, I understand these are difficult to pronounce names, and that most of us are not French/Italian native speakers. But there is a whole world of resources out there! Ask a fashionista friend, Google it, check on Vogue forum, there is no excuse to say you are wearing a "Loh-bo-tIN", and carrying a "Low-Wee".

Correct pronunciation, in and beyond fashion, is one of my pet peeve (next only to spelling). Unless I've already got it right, I never attempt to say it or pronounce the label. Lately while shopping with my girlfriends, I've been asked to help pronounce certain designer names. I'm glad my secret obsession with articulation finally comes in handy, and fashionably!

I've consolidated a list of popular designer labels with the correct pronunciation that will help with one's designer names struggle. This is the ultimate fashionista's list to avoid fashion faux paux when label-dropping in future!

A
Agnes B. : Ahn-nyaz-beh
Andrew Gn: Andrew Jen (rhymes with “ten”)
Anteprima: On-tay-pre-ma
Anya Hindmarch: Ahn-ya Heind-march

B
Badgley Mischka: Badge-lee Meesh-ka
Bebe: Bee-bee
Balenciaga: Bah-len-see-AH-gah
Bally: BAH-li
Balmain: Bal-mah
Bottega Veneta: Bo-tega Ven-e-ta
Bulgari: Bool-gah-ree
Burberry Prorsum: Bur-bur-ree Pror-some

C
Cacharel: Cash-er-el
Carolina Herrera: Caro-leena Hair-era
Cerruti: Cher-ru-tee
Chanel: Sha-Nel
Chopard: Sho PAR
Christian Louboutin: Kris-tian loo-boo-tahn (soft N)
Christian Lacroix: Kris-tian LAH-kwa
Christian Dior: Kris-tian Dee-yor
Commes des Garcons: Comb day Garse-on

D
Diane von Furstenberg: Diane Von Fur-sten-berg
Dolce & Gabbana: Dole-chay and Gah-Bah-na
Dries Van Noten: Dress Vahn NOH-tehn

E
Elie Saab: EH-li Zahb
Emanuel Ungaro: Ee-MAN-noo-el OON-Gah-ro
Emilio Pucci: Ehm-ee-lee-o Poo-chee
Emporio Armani: Em-POHR-yo AR-mah-ni
Ermenegildo Zegna: Ehr-MAN-ni-jil-do ZEYN-ya
Etro: EHT-tro

F
Fendi: Fend-ee
Furla: Foor-la

G
Giuseppe Zanotti: Gee-zepee Zanottee
Givenchy: Jee-von-shee
Gianfranco Ferre: Jawn-franco Fair-ay
Gucci: Goo-chee
Guy Laroche: Ghee Lah-Rosh

H
Helmut Lang: HEL-moot Lung
Hermès: Air-mehz
Hervé Léger: Air-vay Lay-jay

I
Issey Miyake: Eees-Ay Me-Yah-Kee

J
Jean Paul Gaultier: Jawn Paul Goat-ee-ay

L
Lanvin: Lon-VAN
Loewe: Low-ey-vay
Longchamp: Long-shum
Louis Vuitton: Loo-ee Voo-ee-ton

M
Manolo Blahnik: Ma-no-low Blah-nick
Missoni: Miss-own-ee
Miu Miu: Myu Myu
Moschino: Mo-ski-no

N
Narciso Rodriguez: Nar-siss-so Ro-dree-gez

P
Prada: Pra-Da
Pierre Cardin: Pee-air Car-dahn
Proenza Schouler: Pro-enza Skool-er

R
Ralph Lauren: Ralph Lauren (rhymes with "foreign")
Roberto Cavalli: Ro-BER-to KA-VA-lee
Rochas: Ro-Shahs

S
Sonia Rykiel: Sonia Ree-kee-eel

T
Thakoon: Ta-koon
Thierry Mugler: Tee-air-ree Moog-lay

V
Vacheron Constantin: Va-sha-Ron Con-ston-Tahn
Versace: Ver-sah-chee

Y
Yves Saint Laurent: Eve-sahn-Laur-ahnt

Z
Zac Posen: Poe-zen

Lately, all the major fashion houses are distinguishing themselves from the mainstream with haute coutour. This is some serious business -- and word -- one should investigate. Let's say it right once and for all.

Haute Coutour: /ot kutyʁ/ "Oat coot-Tour"

Here's also a link I found on YouTube that says it all, literally. From Hermès to Lacriox, hear it the way it oughtta be said! Au revoir, fashion faux paux!