Germaine Guérin Clients
For decades, Germaine Guérin was worn by elegant women the world over. Paul Reboux once said that while each creation from the House was different, they all shared the same bold and understated elegance, a true signature. The same could be said of Germaine Guérin’s clientele: whether aristocrats, royals, artists, patrons, industry leaders, philanthropists or first ladies, they all share a spirit of independence, strength of character and refinement that made them legends.
H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco and Prince Rainier III, 1965 ©Allstar Picture Library
H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco
An Academy Award–winning actress, she chose love and a destiny beyond Hollywood to become a princess. From Philadelphia to the French Riviera, Grace Kelly embodied a refined simplicity, at once approachable and untouchable. In Monaco, she became the face of a serene modernity: a mother, an icon, an ambassador of French art de vivre. Always impeccable, never ostentatious, she turned restraint into strength, and her style into legend. More than a princess, she remains a lasting reference: free, graceful, timeless.
Audrey Hepburn & Mel Ferrer, Paris, 1965
Audrey Hepburn
Behind the movie icon was a committed, fiercely free woman who chose simplicity without ever giving up elegance. Her style, now legendary, wasn’t the result of effort but of conviction: that delicacy can be a strength and restraint commands respect. Her silhouette told the story of an era, but above all a way of being in the world: independent, unique, and unwavering.
Georgina Bingen & André Citroën, Paris, 1928 ©Agence Rol/BNF Gallica
Georgina Bingen Citroën
Better known as Madame André Citroën, Georgina Bingen met her future husband in autumn 1913 at the Touquet casino. They shared a passion for opera, gambling and fine things, leading a life of refinement without excess. In 1925, they took part in a bold stunt that became legendary: lighting up the Eiffel Tower with the letters Citroën. This daring operation lasted nearly ten years and made its mark on the history of advertising and Paris.
Maria Callas, Paris, 1966 © Cardenas/Sipa Press
maria callas
A free, intense, and fiercely modern woman, Maria Callas shaped her own legend as much as she embodied her roles. Photographed here in Paris with her Toy Poodle, her gaze is direct, her bearing commanding. A diva on stage, independent in life, she followed no path but her own. Every image of her speaks of quiet strength: an elegance that never sought to please, only to stay true to itself.
Claude Pompidou, Georges Pompidou & Richard Nixon, USA, 1970
Claude Pompidou
Not one for the media spotlight, Claude Pompidou favoured discretion over publicity. Yet in 1970, during the official visit of the presidential couple to the United States, at 58, she made the front pages. While the press buzzed about the infamous hemline controversy, she effortlessly embodied French sophistication and the spirit of a fashion world in flux. Every bag and clutch she carried on that trip was signed Germaine Guérin. A passionate lover of modern art and a discerning collector, she was the one who introduced modernity to the Élysée, bringing contemporary art in with as much confidence as elegance.
The Duchess of Windsor, Diana Vreeland & Margaret Case, NYC, 1965 ©Penske Media
The Duchess of Windsor
American, divorced and elusive, Wallis Simpson challenged the established order and shook a monarchy. But beyond the scandal, she established herself as an absolute style icon, with sharp refinement and an appearance perfected down to the smallest detail. In Paris, where she settled after Edward VIII’s abdication, she became a haute couture icon admired for her discerning eye, flawless silhouettes, and bold choices. Never a queen, but always sovereign of herself, her image and her time.
HH The Maharani of Baroda, 1965, India
The Maharani of Baroda
Born Sita Devi, this princess of the Thousand and One Nights captivated from the 1950s onward with her style, boldness, and a gaze firmly turned towards the West. Nicknamed “the Wallis Simpson of India,” she embodied sovereign elegance, free choices, and the delicate art of defying conventions with grace. Adorned with the rarest jewels and always impeccably dressed, she charmed Paris, Venice, and London with instinctive ease. More than a title, she carried a vision: cosmopolitan, independent, and intensely modern.
María Félix, Prix de Diane, Chantilly, 1973
María Félix
Neither docile nor discreet, María Félix always refused to conform to the roles expected of her, on screen and in life. Her gaze, direct and commanding, left no room for doubt. She wore her jewellery like armour, her beauty as a choice, and her freedom as a promise kept. In Paris, where she enjoyed having her dresses made and selecting her bags, she imposed a style defined by precision and boldness. More than an actress, she was a statement for powerful, whole and untamable women.