Fashion career profile
Jeanne Lanvin
Jeanne Lanvin (1867–1946) began her Paris career as a milliner and opened her own hat shop, Mademoiselle Jeanne Modes, in 1889. The business moved to rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1893, where the house would remain closely identified with its founder. The birth of her daughter Marguerite informed an early children’s wardrobe, and Lanvin expanded into children’s clothing in 1908 before adding young women’s and women’s collections the following year. In 1909 she joined the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, marking the house’s place in Paris couture. Lanvin’s work grew beyond dresses into embroidery, textiles, interiors, fragrance and menswear; in 1926 she introduced a made-to-measure menswear department. Her practice combined a precise eye for color and ornament with business leadership across multiple product categories. The Lanvin archive preserves her sketches and garments, while the robe de style, Lanvin blue and Arpège remain associated with her legacy.
- Role
- Founder and Creative Director
- Nationality
- French
- Career appointments
- 1
- Fashion houses
- 1
- First shop: Mademoiselle Jeanne Modes opened in Paris in 1889Lanvin began with millinery before expanding into a couture house and a multi-category fashion business. · Lanvin
- House address: Moved to rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1893The address became central to the identity and long history of the Lanvin house. · Lanvin
- Couture: Joined the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in 1909This marks the house’s formal place in the Paris couture system. · Palais Galliera
- Expansion: Children’s department in 1908; women’s and young women’s collections in 1909The expansion developed from garments Lanvin first made for her daughter Marguerite. · Lanvin
- Menswear: Introduced made-to-measure menswear in 1926The menswear department extended the house beyond its womenswear and children’s lines. · Lanvin
- 1889 — Opens her Paris hat shopMademoiselle Jeanne Modes establishes the business that grows into the Lanvin house.
- 1893 — Moves to rue du Faubourg Saint-HonoréThe house takes the Paris address with which it becomes closely associated.
- 1908 — Adds children’s clothingA children’s department grows from garments Lanvin made for her daughter Marguerite.
- 1909 — Joins the Chambre Syndicale de la CoutureLanvin’s house enters the Paris couture system and expands into women’s collections.
- 1926 — Introduces made-to-measure menswearThe house expands into a new category while remaining founder-led.
- 1889–1946 — Founder and Creative Director — LanvinHistorical appointment · Lanvin