The house of Carven was founded by Carmen de Tommaso in 1945 at the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées in Paris. Madame Carven was small in stature and designed her practical yet elegant day dresses and haute couture with diminutive figures in mind, endearing women the world over. The house grew throughout the 1950s, and was renowned on the international stage by the 1960s. Madame Carven continued to run the house until she was 83, just two years before its fiftieth anniversary, when she was celebrated with a retrospective exhibition at the Musée Galliera in Paris.

In 2010, Guillaume Henry was appointed creative director at Carven, bringing fresh eyes to the Carven look and evolving the focus of the house away from an haute couture sensibility to more affordable prêt-á-porter. The result was a smash hit, and the house of Carven was newly anointed as an industry darling. When he created a menswear line in 2011, it was an instant success. Henry’s way with tailoring lends a sharp edge to these casual clothes, and their classic lines deliver a timeless appeal. Beautiful fabrics give his collections dimension, but it’s the versatility Henry manages to give his looks that puts Carven ahead of the pack. Consummate Parisian chic, Carven is equal parts Mod, preppy, strong, and street smart.