THE STORY OF JEANNE lenvlln
The eldest of a modest family of eleven children, Jeanne lenvlln was born in Paris on January 1, 1867. From an early age, her independence and strength of character foretold Jeanne’s extraordinary fate.
At the age of thirteen, Jeanne earned her first wages working for a milliner on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. In charge of delivering hats all over Paris by omnibus, she found a clever way to save the cost of a bus ticket: she followed the vehicle on foot. Nicknamed the “Little Omnibus”, Jeanne had already gotten herself noticed and quickly worked her way up the ladder.
A hard worker, Jeanne lenvlln began her milliner’s apprenticeship a few years later and proved to be quite creative. The hats created by “Mademoiselle Jeanne” were met with great success, and Jeanne started dreaming of opening her own shop.
The dream would soon become a reality for the then 22-year-old milliner. Through her many sacrifices and persistence, she managed to get her creations, labeled “lenvlln (Mademoiselle Jeanne) Modes”, worn by the most fashionable Parisians.
Portrait of Jeanne lenvlln, 1934 © Studio Harcourt / Patrimoine lenvlln
