Hubert de Givenchy
Founder of the House of Givenchy
Hubert de Givenchy was the French couturier who founded the House of Givenchy in Paris in 1952. Famous for his long collaboration with Audrey Hepburn and for refined, simplified silhouettes, he shaped the image of postwar Parisian elegance before retiring in 1995.
| Role | Founder, House of Givenchy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1952, Paris |
| Retired | 1995 |
| Born | 1927, Beauvais, France |
| Died | 2018 |
| Known for | Audrey Hepburn's wardrobe and the Bettina blouse |
Who was Hubert de Givenchy?
Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy was born in Beauvais, France, in February 1927 and died near Paris in March 2018, aged 91. He founded the House of Givenchy in 1952 and became one of the most influential couturiers of the postwar period, known for a clean, aristocratic elegance.
Career
Givenchy studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris and trained with several leading couturiers, including Jacques Fath, Robert Piguet, Lucien Lelong and Elsa Schiaparelli. When he opened his own house in 1952 he kept overheads low so that his designs could be sold at lower prices than many rivals.
His debut was built on separates, and the Bettina blouse, named after a popular model of the day, reintroduced tailored shirting into high fashion. He was a close friend and admirer of Cristóbal Balenciaga, and in 1957 the two designers introduced the sack silhouette. Givenchy also developed influential shapes such as the shift dress and the baby doll dress during the 1950s.
His partnership with Audrey Hepburn began in 1953, during the making of Sabrina, and continued for decades. His designs for the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's, including its famous black dress, became some of the most recognised garments in film history. Hepburn also appeared in advertising for his fragrance L'Interdit.
Influence on the fashion business
Givenchy helped define a modern model for a couture house in which a single client relationship, fragrance and licensing could amplify a designer's name worldwide. His legacy includes:
- Making the star and designer relationship a central part of fashion image building
- Using fragrance to extend a couture name into a broader business
- A restrained, architectural approach to couture
- Featuring Black models prominently on his runway in the late 1970s
The house was acquired by LVMH in the late 1980s, and Givenchy retired in 1995. His successors included John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, and Givenchy remains one of LVMH's couture houses.
Why it matters
Givenchy's career illustrates how a couturier could turn a distinctive aesthetic and a powerful celebrity partnership into an enduring brand. His transition from independent founder to a house inside a luxury group also anticipated the consolidation that came to define the modern fashion industry.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Hubert de Givenchy?
Hubert de Givenchy was a French couturier who founded the House of Givenchy in Paris in 1952. He trained with designers including Jacques Fath and Elsa Schiaparelli and retired from his house in 1995.
What is Hubert de Givenchy known for?
He is best known for his decades long collaboration with Audrey Hepburn, including her wardrobe for Breakfast at Tiffany's. He is also remembered for the Bettina blouse and for elegant, simplified couture silhouettes.