It's a fabulous thing to give life to fabric, to make something move well, the harmony of colour.
- Givenchy.
Early Life :
Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy was born on February 20, 1927. He was born in the city of Beauvais in northern France. His father's name is Lucien and mother Beatrice Taffin de Givenchy. He had an elder brother named, Jean-Claude de Givenchy ( 1925-2009 ), who inherited the family's marquessate and eventually became the president of Parfums Givenchy.
Hubert de Givenchy's father Lucien died of influenza in 1930. After his father's death, he was raised by his mother and maternal Grandmother Marguerite Dieterle Badin ( 1853-1940 ). His maternal grandfather's family has a very close connection with arts. Hubert de Givenchy inherited his passion for fashion designing from his family.
Fashion Career :
At a very young age of 17, Givenchy left his hometown and moved to Paris to pursue his dreams of entering into the fashion world in the year 1944. He studied at Ecole des Beaux-Arts. In the year 1945, through his family connections, he got an opportunity to work as an apprentice to designer Jacques Fath. Hence his very first designs were done for Jacques Fath. Later, he also worked for famous french couture houses of Lucien Lelong, Robert Piguet and Elsa Schiaparelli respectively.
Hubert de Givenchy opened his first design house in the year 1952 at Plaine Monceau in Paris. His style includes innovation, contrary to designs if Dior. He cut all the overheads to maintain the prices as low as possible. His debut collection was a massive hit, which included long skirts and tailored tops like " Bettina Blouse " which was named after the model Bettina Graziani. His later collections, he designed elegant evening gowns, feminine hats.
In the year 1953, two persons entered his life. He met British actress, Audrey Hepburn in this year during the shoot of Sabrina. He also met his idol Cristobal Balenciaga, a Spanish designer. In mid 1950's both designers teamed up to introduce a new silhouette called the 'Sack'.
He went on to design the attire of Audrey Hepburn for the movies 'Funny Face (1957)' and 'Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)'. Their friendship grew as the years pass by. The ongoing relationship saw Givenchy design almost all of her wardrobe. As Hepburn's fame grew, so did Givenchy's, together made her world's best dressed woman. Together they inspired the sixties style.
Givenchy also used Hepburn as the face of his fragrance, L'interdit. This was the very first time, an actress allowed her face to be used for a perfume. In the year 1973, Givenchy launched his first men's line named 'Gentleman Givenchy'. His clients list includes Daissy Fellowes, Jacques Kennedy Onassis, Sophia Loren, Greta Garbo, Babe Paley, Lee Radziwill, Nona Hendryx etc.
Givenchy joined LVMH in 1988. In the year 1991, he celebrated his 40 years in fashion, holding an exhibition at the Palais Galliera in Paris. He retired in the year 1995. He was succeeded as head designer by John Galliano in January 1996, by Alexander McQueen in October 1996, by Julien Mcdonald in 2001, by Ozwald Boateng from 2003-2005. Finally in the year 2005, Riccardo Tisci was finally appointed as head designer. In January 2007, the French post office issued postage stamps for Valentine's day designed by Hubert de Givenchy.
Death :
Hubert de Givenchy died in sleep at the Renaissance Chateau near Paris on March 10, 2018.
