Givenchy is a luxury haute couture fashion house based in Paris, France. Their designs and expertise attracted a wave of Hollywood icons and Royalty.
Audrey Hepburn, The Grace of Monaco, Wallis Simpson, Lauren Bacall and others became brand ambassadors for the fashion house which propelled them to new levels of popularity.
The story of Givenchy is full of companionship and continually establishing a new style. Who is Givenchy?
Hubert de Givenchy left his hometown at the age of 17 to follow his dreams. He began his fashion career at the French National School of Fine Art and apprenticed at Jacques Fath.
Givenchy worked with Robert Piguet, who trained Christian Dior, along with Lelong and the Madame Schiaparelli.
Trivia - At Madame Schiaparelli's boutique, he became the artistic director.
Despite learning from fashion greats, he desired to create his own label. Givenchy felt a need to create a modern and current style so started Givenchy in 1952.
Supported by a team which included Bettina Graziani, Philippe Venet and others, they changed the fashion world with an iconic debut collection called 'The Separates'
Bettina opened the show and the “Bettina blouse” became a standout. Full of youth and freshness, this linen blouse dazzled the crowds. Elegant blouses, light skirts and simple design - The birth of haute couture's horrible child. It won the admiration of world-famous actresses.
The 'Separates' collection freed women from the constrictive looks of the day and became a major success factor for Givenchy and became the blueprint for future successes.
With their expertise and innovation, take a look at some of Givenchy's most famous designs.
Baby Doll Dress (1958)
Inspired by close friend Balenciaga, Givenchy created the Baby Doll Dress to liberate women weighed down by fabrics. The ultra-light dress contained no padding or corseting.
Balloon Coat (1958)
This wool coat became known as the "Balloon Coat". This dress came at the turn of the sixties and influenced fashion of that decade with its sloped shoulders and wide silhouette.
Hepburn LBD in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
The most famous LBD? The evening gown worn by Hepburn in the film won the designer a Best Costume Design Oscar nomination! Their relationship transformed the lives of both Hepburn and Givenchy. You can read about it in our future blog post: Hepburn and Givenchy - A Love Affair.
Jackie Kennedy - Givenchy Gown
The First Lady donned a Givenchy dress on her visit to Paris to meet the French President, Charles de Gaulle in 1961,
Givenchy has a certain flair when they create a new design. They become immortal and inspire a wave of new designs bearing similar elements.
Another dress which caught the world's attention belonged to Givenchy when Megan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018. The dress sent the world's media, social media and numerous viewers into meltdown.
As fashion stories go, Givenchy is one of the most elegant.
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