Carven: Parisian Chic for Your Wardrobe

On Sept. 29, amid the glamorous chaos of Paris Fashion Week, Carven Creative Director Guillaume Henry confirmed a rumor that had been percolating for weeks: He’s leaving the brand at the end of November. Carven, which started in 1945 as a high-society French couture house, has had a chic second life since businessman Henri Sebaoun bought it in 2008 (with some help from private equity firm Turenne Capital). Sebaoun hired Henry, whose first collection made its debut in 2011. Since then, the label has grown to an estimated €45 million ($57 million) in yearly sales, from €20 million in 2008. The company plans to open 10 stores next year; it already has five boutiques in Paris and one in New York. Henry’s aesthetic is ultrafeminine but never girlie, favoring cutout details, prim collars, and playful prints. The clothes are especially good for smaller frames. (French women don’t get fat, etc.) You can shop for Carven on its website and at U.S. department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, and Nordstrom, as well as at boutiques like Intermix. This is the last winter season of Henry’s designs, so splurge on something now, or bid adieu forever.