The Enfant Terrible of Haute Couture
“You must, if it's possible, be born with a kind of elegance. It's part of you, of yourself” − Hubert de Givenchy
History
Born in Beauvais, in northern France, in 1927, Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy left his hometown for Paris at the age of 17 to take an apprenticeship at a couture house.
He began at Jacques Fath while also studying drawing at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, the French National School of Fine Art.
He moved to Robert Piguet in 1946 and, briefly, Lucien Lelong in 1947 before joining Elsa Schiaparelli later the same year. Quickly, he became the Artistic Director of the Schiaparelli boutique the Place Vendôme.
In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. For his first collection, he presented “Separates”, looks composed of elegant blouses and breezy skirts that blended architectural lines with the simplicity of the materials. The “enfant terrible of Haute Couture” was born.
This original point of view marked the resounding debut of a four-decade career at his own house. In the summer of 1953, the couturier met Audrey Hepburn, who borrowed several looks for her film Sabrina.
It was the beginning of a long collaboration and profound friendship between the actress and the designer. The same year, in New York, Givenchy met his idol, Cristobal Balenciaga, with whom he became close friends.
In 1957, Audrey Hepburn lent her face to Hubert de Givenchy’s first perfume, L’Interdit, which was dedicated to her. In 1969, the designer created his men’s ready-to-wear line “Givenchy Gentleman”. An aesthete and collector, Hubert de Givenchy still embodies classic elegance with a touch of wit.
After a career spanning more than 40 years, and having become a part of the LVMH group in 1988, Hubert de Givenchy retired in 1995. He would be succeeded by some of fashion’s great creative talents, among them John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien MacDonald, and Riccardo Tisci. On March 10th 2018, Hubert de Givenchy passed away peacefully in Paris, aged 91.
Since spring 2017, Clare Waight Keller has been the artistic director of Haute Couture and women’s and men’s ready-to-wear. With her debut show, on October 1st 2017, Clare Waight Keller established a forward-looking new signature for the house of Givenchy based on the idea of Light in darkness.
On May 19th, 2018, for her wedding to Prince Harry, Ms. Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, wore an elegant Givenchy Haute Couture boatneck wedding gown in double white silk cady with a hand- embroidered veil, both custom designed by artistic director Clare Waight Keller.
The Enfant Terrible of Haute Couture
“You must, if it's possible, be born with a kind of elegance. It's part of you, of yourself” − Hubert de Givenchy
History
Born in Beauvais, in northern France, in 1927, Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy left his hometown for Paris at the age of 17 to take an apprenticeship at a couture house.
He began at Jacques Fath while also studying drawing at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, the French National School of Fine Art.
He moved to Robert Piguet in 1946 and, briefly, Lucien Lelong in 1947 before joining Elsa Schiaparelli later the same year. Quickly, he became the Artistic Director of the Schiaparelli boutique the Place Vendôme.
In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. For his first collection, he presented “Separates”, looks composed of elegant blouses and breezy skirts that blended architectural lines with the simplicity of the materials. The “enfant terrible of Haute Couture” was born.
This original point of view marked the resounding debut of a four-decade career at his own house. In the summer of 1953, the couturier met Audrey Hepburn, who borrowed several looks for her film Sabrina.
It was the beginning of a long collaboration and profound friendship between the actress and the designer. The same year, in New York, Givenchy met his idol, Cristobal Balenciaga, with whom he became close friends.
In 1957, Audrey Hepburn lent her face to Hubert de Givenchy’s first perfume, L’Interdit, which was dedicated to her. In 1969, the designer created his men’s ready-to-wear line “Givenchy Gentleman”. An aesthete and collector, Hubert de Givenchy still embodies classic elegance with a touch of wit.
After a career spanning more than 40 years, and having become a part of the LVMH group in 1988, Hubert de Givenchy retired in 1995. He would be succeeded by some of fashion’s great creative talents, among them John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien MacDonald, and Riccardo Tisci. On March 10th 2018, Hubert de Givenchy passed away peacefully in Paris, aged 91.
Since spring 2017, Clare Waight Keller has been the artistic director of Haute Couture and women’s and men’s ready-to-wear. With her debut show, on October 1st 2017, Clare Waight Keller established a forward-looking new signature for the house of Givenchy based on the idea of Light in darkness.
On May 19th, 2018, for her wedding to Prince Harry, Ms. Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, wore an elegant Givenchy Haute Couture boatneck wedding gown in double white silk cady with a hand- embroidered veil, both custom designed by artistic director Clare Waight Keller.
Givenchy Fold women's teardrop sunglasses, with a minimalist black metal frame, copper-colored lenses and dark turtle acetate end pieces. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod. Sold with a hard case.
GV Solar unisex drop-shaped sunglasses in metal with a ruthenium finish, with a plain metal graphic bar on the bridge, smoked brown lenses and brown havana acetate end pieces. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod. Sold with a hard case.
GV Solar unisex teardrop sunglasses in metal with a gold finish, with a graphic bar in solid metal on the bridge, smoked gray lenses and black acetate terminals. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod. Sold with a hard case.
Round 4G Square women's sunglasses in black acetate with smoked lenses. Crystal acetate temples with golden metal core and engraved 4G motif. Golden 4G Square logo on the temples. Sold with a hard case.
Round 4G Square women's sunglasses in dark tortoiseshell acetate with brown lenses. Crystal acetate temples with golden metal core and engraved 4G motif. Golden 4G Square logo on the temples. Sold with a hard case.
Women's 4G Square sunglasses in brown turtle acetate with brown lenses. Crystal black acetate temples, golden metal core and engraved 4G motif. Golden 4G Square logo on the temples. Sold with a hard case.
4G Square women's sunglasses in black acetate with smoked lenses. Crystal acetate temples with golden metal core and engraved 4G motif. Golden 4G Square logo on the temples. Sold with a hard case.
GV Light sunglasses with a square frame in black acetate, with smoked gray lenses, gold-plated metal temples and black acetate tips. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod.
GV Light sunglasses with a square frame in injected orange and honey-colored acetate with a dégradé effect, with a decorative carving on the side of the circles, smoked gray lenses, gold-plated metal temples and black acetate ends. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod. Sold with a hard case.
Unisex GV Slim sunglasses in metal with a gold finish, with graphic frame with flat bridge, gray mirror lenses and black acetate end pieces. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod.
Unisex GV Slim sunglasses in metal with a silver finish, with graphic frame with flat bridge, gray mirror lenses and black acetate end pieces. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod. Sold with a hard case.
Givenchy Silhouette women's oversized round sunglasses in Optyl, with pink, brown and dégradé crystal frames, perforated black temples with a 4G metal tag with a gold finish, shaded brown lenses and a bridge with a gold-finished metal insert. Sold with a hard case.
Givenchy Silhouette women's oversized round sunglasses in Optyl, with blue, brown and dégradé crystal frames, perforated black temples with a 4G metal tag with a gold finish, shaded blue lenses and a bridge with a gold-finished metal insert. Sold with a hard case.
Givenchy Silhouette women's oversized round sunglasses in black Optyl, with pierced temples with a 4G metal tag with a gold finish, shaded gray lenses and a bridge with a gold-finished metal insert. Sold with a hard case.
Givenchy Silhouette women's oversized square sunglasses in black Optyl, with pierced temples with a 4G metal tag with a gold finish, shaded brown lenses and a bridge with a gold-finished metal insert. Sold with a hard case.
Women's 4G Square sunglasses in dark tortoiseshell acetate with shaded brown lenses. Crystal acetate temples with golden metal core and engraved 4G motif. Golden 4G Square logo on the temples. Sold with a hard case.
Givenchy Slim women's sunglasses in black acetate, with graphic frame, straight bridge, shaded gray lenses and gold GIVENCHY signature on the left rod.
GV Slim sunglasses in brown Havana acetate, with graphic frame with flat bridge and lenses in metallic gray and smoked green dégradé effect. Crystal acetate temples with gold-colored metal core and engraved 4G motif. GIVENCHY signature in gold on the temples. Sold with a hard case.
Round 4G Square women's sunglasses in ivory acetate with bronze-colored mirrored lenses. Crystal acetate temples with golden metal core and engraved 4G motif. Golden 4G Square logo on the temples. Sold with a hard case.
Givenchy Fold women's teardrop sunglasses, with a minimalist metal bridge frame with a silver finish, shaded blue-gray lenses and black acetate terminals. Signature GIVENCHY engraved on the left rod. Sold with a hard case.
Acetate and metal sunglasses, with gold-plated frame and temples, smoky brown lenses and brown Havana terminals.