Givenchy opened his own fashion house in February 1952. His debut collection was a hit, featuring separates such as long skirts and tailored tops that included the "Bettina blouse," named after model Bettina Graziani.
Hubert de Givenchy
Hubert de Givenchy (born February 20, 1927 in Beauvais, France; died March 10, 2018) was a French fashion designer known for his couture and ready-to-wear designs, particularly those he created for actress Audrey Hepburn.
Givenchy studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and later studied law. At the age of 17, he was apprenticed to Parisian designer Jacques Fath, but he did not remain with Fath for long. During the next eight years, he designed for the major Parisian fashion houses of Robert Piguet, Lucien Lelong, and Elsa Schiaparelli.
Givenchy studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and later studied law. At the age of 17, he was apprenticed to Parisian designer Jacques Fath, but he did not remain with Fath for long. During the next eight years, he designed for the major Parisian fashion houses of Robert Piguet, Lucien Lelong, and Elsa Schiaparelli.
In his subsequent collections, he showcased elegant evening gowns, feminine hats, and tailored suits. The Givenchy name quickly became synonymous with Parisian chic.
In 1953, Givenchy was expecting to meet Katharine Hepburn for a fitting, but Audrey Hepburn arrived instead. The encounter resulted in a lifelong friendship between the two. Givenchy went on to design almost all of Hepburn's wardrobes in her later movies, including Sabrina, Funny Face, and Breakfast at Tiffany's.
As Hepburn's fame grew, so did Givenchy's, and together they became part of the circle of the world's best-dressed women. The designer and his muse created a new kind of beauty that helped develop the sixties-inspired style.
As Hepburn's fame grew, so did Givenchy's, and together they became part of the circle of the world's best-dressed women. The designer and his muse created a new kind of beauty that helped develop the sixties-inspired style.
After selling his business to the luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy in 1988, Givenchy designed for seven more years before retiring and presenting his final collection in 1995.
His successors as head designer were enfant terrible
John Galliano in 1995,
Alexander McQueen in 1996,
Julien MacDonald in 2001,
Ozwald Boateng in 2003,
Riccardo Tisci in 2005,
Clare Waight Keller in 2017,
Matthew Williams in 2020.
John Galliano in 1995,
Alexander McQueen in 1996,
Julien MacDonald in 2001,
Ozwald Boateng in 2003,
Riccardo Tisci in 2005,
Clare Waight Keller in 2017,
Matthew Williams in 2020.
