Hubert de Givenchy in his atelier at Avenue George. Photo: James de Givenchy, CC BY-SA
Born: February 20, 1927
Birthplace: Beauvais, France
Died: March 10, 2018, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Known for: Glamorous designs, creating the ‘Balloon coat’ and the ‘Baby Doll’ dress in 1958 and later the ‘Little Black Dress’ and of course, for dressing Audrey Hepburn. He was the first designer to use an (unpaid) actress as the face of his fragrance, L’Interdit and Le de Givenchy. Guess who it was? You betcha, Audrey Hepburn. Who said she did it as a favor for her good friend.
Famous Clients: He enjoyed a very long list of prominent patrons- topping that list was Audrey Hepburn and other actresses including Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and Lauren Bacall. There was also a comtess, an empress, two first ladies (Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis and Michèle Duvalier), two opera singers and a smattering of princesses, baronesses and many more celebrities and socialites.
Retail Category: Haute Couture, Prêt-à-Porter (Ready-to-Wear), Fragrance, Accessories
Brands: Givenchy, Parfums Givenchy
Awards: Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur (1983); Medal of l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1992).
Fun Facts: His father was the Marquis of Givenchy, but his older brother inherited the title. He designed interiors for the Ford Motor Company’s Continental Mark and Lincoln Continental from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.
YouTube: Why You Should Know About Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy’s Collaboration by Henry Wilkinson
by Sailko
by Sailko