Prostitutes as Trendsetters: Ninon de l’Enclos

Seventeenth-century France introduces us to Anne de l’Enclos, nicknamed Ninon after her father, an open-minded man who taught her how to play the flute, to speak Spanish and Italian, to read any book she likes, and even to dress as a boy. Her pious mother was gravely sad about her daughter’s interests, though she gave her regular tours of Parisian salons where Ninon was soaked in musical performances. As a young girl, she ditched the religion and decided to stay an unmarried woman. Being against her ideas, Ninon’s mother wanted to marry her off to a promising gentleman, but Ninon decided to lose her virginity. Without it, her mother couldn’t marry her off against her will.

Ninon defied societal expectations by choosing a life of independence over marriage, becoming a courtesan. She easily blended into Parisian high society due to her fame in salons as a music lover in her childhood. Over her life, she became a well-known author and patron of the arts, known for her beauty, wit and intelligence. Ninon was fluent in multiple languages and well-versed in philosophy. Ninon hosted salons that became the epicentre of Parisian intellectual life, mentoring young talents like François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, to whom she bequeathed 2,000 livers for books and offering support to Molière. Her salons provided a space for artists and intellectuals to present their work, receive critique, and find patrons and solace for those opposing the religious norms. The ideas emerging from her salon influenced the intellectual currents leading up to the Enlightenment. Ninon’s manners and conversational skills set standards in high society.

Both men and women paid visits to Ninon. She would teach them about love and bed-sports, charging only men, while women were free of charge. Many women at the time secretly wanted to be Ninon. She was a cultural icon and celebrated for her challenge to conventional norms regarding women’s roles in society. Women of the aristocracy admired her freedom and confidence and emulated her independent lifestyle and intellectual pursuits.

Ninon had a rule not to keep one lover for longer than three months, which she broke only once. She bore a son to Marquis de Villarceaux with whom she stayed for three years. When she decided to break up with him, she ran away into Paris. He was searching after her in anger, and when he finally found her, Ninon took the scissors, cut her hair and gave him her curly tail. Ninon just invented a new Parisian trending hairstyle—a Ninon bob.

Ninon was praised by King Louis XIV and Queen Christina of Sweden, an intellectual who abdicated the throne, traveled Europe, and supported artists along the way as their patron. She was impressed by Ninon and granted her a private audience while paying a visit to Paris. King Louis VIX, impressed by her intelligence, often asked for her advice. He even had his catchphrase, while not sure about something—“What would Ninon do?”

She lived to the ripe age of 84 years and remained a fixture in Parisian society. She gave birth to several children and left the upbringing to their fathers. A young man who fell in love with her while she was 63 years old shot himself after she revealed she was his mother. Her wit and wisdom were untouched by time, as she continued to live in her writing and famous quotes. One of them suitable for the topic of branding was: “If God had to give a woman wrinkles, He might at least have put them on the soles of her feet.”

Branding takeaway:  Social responsibility and talent spotting

Ninon’s ability to spot and nurture talents like Voltaire gave her lasting influence, while she empowered women free of charge. Brands should emulate this social responsibility by supporting emerging talent in their industry through collaborations, mentorship, or partnerships. This builds credibility and aligns your brand with future innovations. By investing in talent early, you help shape industry trends and position your brand as forward-thinking. Establish authority through thought leadership and creative risks to create an identity that resonates beyond your product, so customers look to you for innovation and trends—just as “What would Ninon do?” became a guiding phrase of her time.

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Prostitutes as Trendsetters: Marie Duplessis

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Prostitutes as Trendsetters: Veronica Franco