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A perfect pairing. Helen Jon + the Monogram

We are thrilled to be giving an exclusive preview of the monogram which will be available for select Helen Jon swimwear and resortwear in April. 

As Reese Witherspoon, a true Southern girl at heart, once said, “If it’s not moving - monogram it.” 

Ahhhh, the monogram. A monogram tells a story. Your story, to be exact. And it can add that extra dose of special, of fun, of personality to anything and everything, from stationery to linens to pendants to pajamas. Since all of us at Helen Jon love a good monogram, we thought, “Why not swimwear?” So here it is, a small sneak-peak into just some of the options that are to come.  

You choose the style. You choose the color. Personality-plus. 

A few fun facts about monogramming…

It’s history dates back centuries — it is one of the oldest forms of identification. The word’s origin (because who doesn’t love a good, quick study in etymology?!) is in Late Latin, from the Greek “mon” + gamma letter, resulting in what we all now know to be “Monogram.”


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Originally used exclusively by royalty and aristocrats, the monogram has now expanded into the wide, wide world of bespoke gifts, luggage, sorority must-haves, baby gifts, linens and home goods, to really just about anyone’s anything.
 
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Monograms always seem to be on the left-side of the wearer’s body. Every wonder why? Well, when we shake hands, we cross our bodies, which would obscure the monogram. Same goes for name tag placement… always put those on the left-side too. 
 
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Monogramming’s appeal extends all the way from the elegant world of Louis Vuitton to the peanut-butter-and-banana-sandwich-loving world of Elvis Aaron Presley….
 
Did you know: Louis Vuitton's son Georges was the monogram creator of the now-famous "LV" logo? He developed it to prevent counterfeiting of the Parisian company's designer luggage.


 
And, Elvis’s monogram of choice wasn’t EAP for Elvis Aaron Presley; instead, he used TCB, which stood for “Taking Care of Business.” He often paired those initials with a lightening bolt symbol. Taking care of business, in a flash. Pretty awesome.
 
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A monogram need not always be lettering. Selecting a motif as a symbolic monogram design is a custom that has been practiced for centuries.
 
Napoleon chose a bee, which once represented the ancient sovereigns of France, as a symbol of his Empire. His wife, Josephine, selected a swan, symbolizing purity, love and fidelity, which is ironic - or wishful, persuasive thinking - given the rumors of her infidelity.
 
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Tennis, anyone?
International champion Rene Lacoste's was nicknamed “le crocodile” and Lacoste had a friend draw a crocodile for him which he then embroidered on the blazer he would wear on the tennis court. Always looking for a competitive edge, Lacoste took it to the next level and invented the world’s first modern tennis shirt, a short-sleeve cotton piqué polo. He founded La Chemise Lacoste to produce it. (Prior, tennis players wore long-sleeve stiff-collar shirts). Lacoste’s polo revolutionized sports clothing and was always emblazoned with his signature croc.


 
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While we love a classic in its truest form, many of us want a little extra pop or personalization. With a nod to this, we bring you the Helen Jon monogramming option. We can’t wait to see how you express yourself.

 

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