September 9, 2015
Don’t Embarrass Yourself During Fashion Week: 12 Frequently Mispronounced Words
New York Fashion Week has arrived. With fashion influences from around the world, including Italian, African, French and beyond, taking over NYC fashion runways, the timing couldn’t be better to get caught up on a few of fashion’s most frequently mispronounced words.
[Related: Top Independent Fashion Week Events]
Here are some of the most common mispronounced fashion designer names and fabrics, and the correct way to say them.
Designers
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Known for its red lacquered soles, Christian Louboutin, is pronounced CHRISTIAN LOO-BOO-TAN.
HERMES
French designer Hermes is pronounced ER-MEZ.
LOUIS VUITTON
The iconic French fashion house is pronounced LOO-WEE VWEE-TAHN.
YVES SAINT LAURENT
The iconic French designer is pronounced: EVE-SAN-LAU-RON. (Note: In 2012, the company rebranded its ready to wear collection as Saint Laurent Paris)
RALPH LAUREN
The American designer’s brand is pronounced Ralph LA-REN.
BVLGARI
The Italian luxury jewelry company famous for its luxury watches, perfumes and leather goods, is pronounced BUL-GAREE.
MANOLO BLAHNIKÂ
Most people would think the movie Sex and the City put Manolo’s on the lists of fashion must haves, but the designer has been around since 1972. Manolo Blahnik is pronounced muh-NO-low BLAH-nick.Â
GIVENCHY
The luxury French brand, known for its haute couture clothing, perfume, and cosmetics, is pronounced zhee-von-she.
Fabrics | Patterns |Designs
CHARMEUSE
A soft, delicate silk fabric and a favorite for many wedding dress designers. Charmeuse is pronounced SHAHR-MOOS.
ESPADRILLES
A casual summer shoe known for its  cotton fabric and flat or high-heeled sole made of jude rope, can be a tongue twister. Espadrilles are pronounced ES-PUH-DRILS
CHAMBRAY
Another fabric favorite for many designers, Chambray is a plain woven fabric that can be made from cotton, silk, or manufactured fibers, but is most commonly cotton. It incorporates a colored warp (often blue) and white filling yarns. Chambray is pronounced SHAM-BRAY
ARGYLE
Argyle, a pattern most associated with socks, is known for its diamond shaped patterns, Argyle is pronounced AHR-GAHYL.
BERET
The iconic and stylish hat of France is pronounced BUH-REY.
Source: Fabric.com, AOL & Allure.