Comtesse Jacqueline de Ribes (born 14 July 1929 in Paris, France) is a French socialite and fashion designer. She is also a member of the International Best Dressed List since 1962.[1]
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She was born 1929 in Paris as Jacqueline Bonnin de La Bonninière de Beaumont. Her parents were Jean de Beaumont, comte Bonnin de la Bonninière de Beaumont, and his wife Paule de Rivaud de La Raffinière. She grew up in an atmosphere of French aristocratic wealth and elegance.
In 1948, she married Edouard, vicomte de Ribes (born 1923), a rich and successful banker, who subsequently became comte de Ribes. They have two children, a daughter Madame Elisabeth Stark (born 1949) and a son vicomte Jean de Ribes (born 1952).
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 was consistently named to the International Best Dressed List. She was one of the guests who attended Carlos de Beistegui famous "Le Bal oriental" in 1951, Alexis von Rosenberg, Baron de Rédé famous "Bal des Têtes" in 1957 and the "Oriental bal" in 1969, both at the Hôtel Lambert. She was also invited to Truman Capote's "Black and White Ball" in 1966.
| Year | Title | Host and hostess | Location or city |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Le Bal du Siècle | Carlos de Beistegui | Palazzo Labia, Venice |
| 1957 | Bal des Têtes | Alexis von Rosenberg, Baron de Rédé | Hôtel Lambert, Paris |
| 1965 | My Fair Lady Ball | Madame. Hélène Rochas | Paris |
| 1966 | Black and White Ball | Mr. Truman Capote | Plaza Hotel, New York |
| 1968 | The Patiño Ball | Monseiur. Antenor Patiño and Madame. Beatriz Patiño | La Quinta, Estoril, Portugal |
| 1968 | La Dolce Vita Ball | Monseiur. Pierre Schlumberger and Madame. São Schlumberger | Quinta do Vinagre, Colares (Sintra), Portugal |
| 1969 | Oriental Bal | Alexis von Rosenberg, Baron de Rédé | Hôtel Lambert, Paris |
| 1971 | The Proust Bal | Baroness Marie-Hélène de Rothschild and Baron Guy de Rothschild | Château de Ferrières |
She has been the muse of many designers such as Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and Guy Laroche.
Although she was interested in designing and had always considered Coco Chanel one of her heroes,[2] 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 fifties. Her first collection was shown in Paris and New York in 1983.[3] 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. She lives now in Paris.
In April 2010 the French President Nicolas Sarkozy decorated her as a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur at the Elysée Palace.