Since his appointment at (Jean) Patou last May, the spotlight has been on Guillaume Henry, the couture prince charming. A role he’s played from a very early age: at just 12 years old he received his first sewing machine and it’s a revelation. He earned his stripes at Givenchy and Paule Ka and his career took off at the cusp of his thirties when he took over the artistic direction at Carven. His first collection earned him praise from the entire profession. Then, in 2014, he joined the legendary Nina Ricci.
Would rekindling a brand’s flame become the speciality of the man who’s long been classified as a “young designer”? Now 40, he’s started a new chapter at the legendary fashion brand Patou. For his first collection, front row: Guillaume Henry opted for a warm reception at a traditional fashion show. We discover the pieces on living models, in the presence of the designer. We also discovered an everyday wardrobe sprinkled with couture details which received unanimous acclaim for the critics.
The man who finds his inspiration from the women around him affirms his vision of fashion: practical clothes with inventive twists. More than fashion, a real style. Something tells us that this fairy tale isn’t about to end…
Quick fire questions
on Guillaume Henry’s style
- Inspiration? The women who surround him. When designing, Guillaume Henry likes to imagine the ideal wardrobe for his friends and their mothers. Modern women regardless of their age.
- A constant? Although he’s a ready-to-wear designer, he never forgets about the noble kinship of fashion. At Carven, he wanted to keep the haute couture workshop. And at Patou, he highlights everyone who works behind the scenes in his collection.
- A place? La Place des Petits Pères in Paris. Sitting on the terrace, he tends to spend time people watching the women in his neighbourhood who feed his imagination.
- An emotion? Whether at Carven, Nina Ricci, or now Patou, Guillaume Henry conjures up fantasies by using details, colours or volumes designed to add a twist to simple silhouettes.
Copy rights : Annemarieke van Drimmelen, Vogue
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