There is a good reason the name Hubert de Givenchy is mentioned alongside Christian Dior and Cristobal Balenciaga. Givenchy belongs to the group of the greatest couturiers of the 20th century, whose work has had a significant impact on contemporary fashion. How did his path to fame look like?
Hubert de Givenchy – the creator of the golden era of haute couture
Few people know that Hubert Givenchy started working in fashion at a very young age. At seventeen, he worked in one of Paris's ateliers, from where his career quickly gained momentum. Among others, he worked in the fashion house of Piguet, with Lucien Lelong, and with the eccentric Elsa Schiaparelli. He honed his tailoring skills among the best, so it is no wonder that soon after opening his own fashion house, Hubert de Givenchy attracted the attention of the entire fashion industry.
Like every designer creating fashion in the 1950s, Hubert Givenchy designed haute couture. However, unlike his competitors, he offered clothes that were versatile and suitable for many different occasions. Although he masterfully experimented with cutting and construction, his creations were designed for women who wanted to have beautiful clothes for everyday wear. Just like Christian Dior, Givenchy knew what women wanted. Post-war times were marked by a fondness for beautiful outfits and the golden era of haute couture. Givenchy, Dior, and Balenciaga were visionaries and creators of dreamed reality.
Hubert Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn – the most stylish duo of all time
In the 50s and 60s, when the Givenchy atelier was flourishing, Count Hubert de Givenchy also began designing film costumes. To this day, the creations made by the Parisian designer are considered milestones in film costume design. In Hollywood, Givenchy also met his muse and one of his best friends, Audrey Hepburn, with whom he had an extraordinary relationship. He first dressed Audrey for the movie "Sabrina". He then designed a beautifully embroidered ball gown for her, which quickly became the object of women's dreams worldwide.
Three years later, he met Audrey Hepburn again on the set of "Funny Face". However, it was the already legendary "Breakfast at Tiffany's" that brought both of them great fame and splendor. Holly's black dress was a link between old and new times. On one hand, it was elegant and feminine, on the other, modern and perfect for any occasion – this is how the little black dress was born, which is still found in every woman's wardrobe.
Givenchy slippers and boots – how did the Paris fashion house change?
Today, the Givenchy fashion house has visibly changed its way of creating fashion and trends. Although Riccardo Tisci's era brought the brand much fame and media interest, Hubert de Givenchy openly commented that he did not understand the way his fashion house was run. The designer who passed away last year certainly did not understand the world in which Givenchy slippers gained the same fame as the haute couture designs once did.
However, there is no doubt that shoes with the label of the French fashion house, like Givenchy boots or the aforementioned Givenchy slippers, are very popular with fashion lovers worldwide today. They perfectly fit into current trends and are the icing on the cake of every modern styling.
The designs of the Givenchy fashion house have undergone very visible changes over the past decades. It is currently difficult to continue what Hubert de Givenchy once started. The times of haute couture and creations that take your breath away have irretrievably passed and have been replaced by quickly changing trends and directions in fashion. The Givenchy fashion house, with designer Clare Waight Keller at the helm, is doing well in this new reality and, whenever possible, draws inspiration from its archives, in which the spirit of Hubert Givenchy is still present.
