01 August, 2008

Jacqueline de Ribes

Comtesse Jacqueline de Ribes, born 1931 in Paris as Jacqueline de Beaumont. She grew up in an atmosphere of French aristocratic wealth and elegance. At the age of 17, she married Edouard vicomte de Ribes, a rich and successful banker, who subsequently became Count de Ribes.
Raymundo de Larrain and Jacqueline de Ribes

By the age of 25, she was appearing on the lists of best-dressed women, having consistently worn haute couture clothing all her life. She has been the muse of many designers such as Valentino and Guy Laroche. Always on the International Best Dressed List in 1962 she entered its Hall of Fame. She was also one of the guests who attended Alexis von Rosenberg, Baron de Redé famous "Bal des Têtes" in 1957 and the "Oriental ball" in 1969, both at the Hôtel Lambert.

Considered one of the most elegant woman in France, in 1983 was voted the "Most Stylish Woman in the World" by the magazine Town and Country. Although she was interested in designing, her upbringing did not encourage women of her class to work. So her longing to have a salon of her own was not fulfilled until she was well into her 40's. Her first collection was shown in Paris and New York in 1983. Her aura of discreet grandeur and innate sense of good taste, ensured that the gowns she designed were greatly admired by the ladies of her society. She retired from designing in 1994 for health reasons.
In 1999 Jean-Paul Gaultier dedicated his collection to Jacqueline as the quintessence of Parisian elegance. She was very pleased about this.
Jacqueline de Ribes has been mentioned in several books about society and fashion. She still lives in Paris.