Hubert de Givenchy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hubert de Givenchy
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Givenchy in 1972
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| Born | 20 February 1927 Beauvais, France
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| Died | 10 March 2018 (aged 91) Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Education | École des Beaux-Arts |
| Known for | Little black dress |
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Label(s)
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Givenchy |
| Relatives | James de Givenchy (nephew) |
| Awards | Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (1983) Medal of l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1992) |
Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy (pronounced: [ybɛʁ də ʒivɑ̃ʃi]; 20 February 1927 – 10 March 2018) was a famous French fashion designer. He started the luxury fashion and perfume company called Givenchy in 1952.
Givenchy is well-known for designing many clothes for the actress Audrey Hepburn. He also created outfits for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, who was the First Lady of the United States. In 1970, he was added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.
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Hubert de Givenchy's Early Life
Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy was born on February 20, 1927, in Beauvais, France. He came from a noble French family. His father, Lucien Taffin de Givenchy, passed away when Hubert was only three years old.
After his father's death, Hubert was raised by his mother and his grandmother. His grandmother, Marguerite Dieterle Badin, came from a family of artists. Her husband, Jules Badin, owned and directed famous tapestry factories. Hubert's great-grandfather was a set designer. This artistic background likely influenced Hubert's love for design.
When he was 17, Givenchy moved to Paris. There, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, a famous art school.
Givenchy's Fashion Career
Givenchy began his fashion career working for other designers. In 1945, he designed for Jacques Fath. Later, he worked with Robert Piguet and Lucien Lelong. During this time, he worked alongside other future famous designers like Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior. From 1947 to 1951, he worked for the unique designer Elsa Schiaparelli.
Starting His Own Fashion House
In 1952, Hubert de Givenchy opened his own design house in Paris. He started by focusing on versatile clothing pieces made from simple cotton. His first collection was named "Bettina Graziani" after a top model of the time.
Givenchy's designs were fresh and new, different from the more traditional styles of other designers like Dior. At just 25 years old, he was one of the youngest and most forward-thinking designers in Paris. He often used less expensive fabrics at first due to money reasons. However, his creative designs always caught people's attention.
Working with Audrey Hepburn
Givenchy first met the famous actress Audrey Hepburn in 1953. This was during the filming of Sabrina. Their meeting began a very important partnership in fashion history.
He designed many of Audrey Hepburn's clothes for her movies and personal life. One of his most famous designs is the little black dress she wore in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Givenchy also created his first perfume collection especially for Audrey Hepburn. These perfumes were called L'Interdit and Le de Givenchy. Audrey Hepburn became the face of these perfumes. This was the first time a celebrity was used to advertise a fragrance.
Meeting Cristóbal Balenciaga
Around this time, Givenchy also met his fashion hero, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Balenciaga was a highly respected designer. Givenchy found inspiration not only from high fashion but also from new and exciting places like the Limbo boutique in New York City.
Famous Clients and Influence
Many important and famous women wore Givenchy's designs. His clients included:
- Lauren Bacall
- Ingrid Bergman
- Maria Callas
- Marlene Dietrich
- Grace Kelly
- Sophia Loren
- Jeanne Moreau
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- Empress Farah Pahlavi
- The Duchess of Windsor
During the 1950s and early 1960s, Givenchy was one of the most important fashion designers. He was very influential. In 1954, he launched his ready-to-wear collection. These clothes were comfortable but also very stylish.
He is known for introducing the "sack dress" in 1957. This was a loose-fitting dress with a narrow hem. Other designers quickly copied this style. He also created the unique 'balloon coat' and the 'baby doll' dress in 1958. These designs showed his new ideas in fashion. In 1969, he also started a men's clothing line.
Changes in Fashion
As fashion changed in the 1960s and 1970s, with the rise of miniskirts and casual styles, Givenchy's designs remained more formal. He was seen by some as a designer for older, wealthy women. He didn't show skirts above the knee until 1971.
However, in the late 1970s and 1980s, more formal styles came back into fashion. Givenchy's work became popular again. He created elegant ballgowns, cocktail dresses, and tailored suits. His designs were very popular with wealthy clients of that time.
Givenchy and Lincoln Cars
From 1976 to 1987, the Lincoln Motor Company in the US offered a special "Givenchy Edition" of some of its cars. These included the Continental Mark series and the Lincoln Continental. This showed how famous and respected the Givenchy name had become.
Company Changes
In 1981, the House of Givenchy was divided. The perfume part of the company went to Veuve Clicquot. Later, in 1989, the fashion part was bought by LVMH. Today, LVMH owns both the fashion and perfume parts of Givenchy.
In 1988, Givenchy held a special show of his past designs at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in California.
Givenchy's Later Life and Legacy
Hubert de Givenchy retired from fashion design in 1995.
After retiring, he lived at the Château du Jonchet, a historic castle near Paris. He spent his time collecting beautiful 17th and 18th-century sculptures. In 2010, he gave a speech at the Oxford Union. In 2014, he organized a private sale of artworks from his collection at Christie's in Paris.
In January 2007, the French Post Office released postage stamps for Valentine's Day that Givenchy designed. In October 2014, a large exhibition of ninety-five of his designs was held at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, Spain.
Hubert de Givenchy passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 10, 2018, at his chateau near Paris. He was 91 years old. He was buried in Passy Cemetery in Paris. His legacy as a master of elegance and style continues to influence fashion today.
Images for kids
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Givenchy in 1972
See also
In Spanish: Hubert de Givenchy para niños
