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.
GV Double Wire sunglasses with square frame in gold-finish metal and gray gradient-effect lenses. Double bar arms with laser-engraved 4G emblem and black acetate sleeves. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Double Wire sunglasses with square frame in silver-finish metal and mirrored brown and gray gradient-effect lenses. Double bar temples with laser-engraved 4G emblem and transparent gray acetate tips. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Eclipse unisex sunglasses with frame and temples in black metal, blue frames in a single piece with floating effect, black metallic plaque with 4G emblem engraved on the bridge and black acetate tips. UV protection rating 2. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Eclipse unisex sunglasses with frame and temples in gold-finish metal, gray frames in a single piece with floating effect, metallic plaque with 4G emblem engraved on the bridge and black acetate tips. UV protection rating 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Vision unisex aviator sunglasses with rounded frame and temples in black metal, graphic bridge, gray glass inserts on the temples, gray lenses, and black acetate tips. UV protection rating 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Vision unisex aviator sunglasses with rounded frame and temples in gold-finish metal, graphic bridge, brown and silver mirrored glass inserts on the temples, brown and silver mirrored lenses, and transparent yellow acetate tips. UV protection rating 2. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Mesh unisex sunglasses with frame in palladium-finish and gold-finish metal, palladium-finish metallic mesh insert with small plaque and 4G emblem on the bridge, photochromic blue lenses and Havana brown acetate tips with engraved Double G emblem. UV protection rating 1. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Light unisex sunglasses with Havana acetate frame, temples and straight bridge in a single piece of gold-finish metal, brown gradient-effect lenses and black acetate tips. GIVENCHY signature engraved on the temples. UV protection rating: 2. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV3 sunglasses with square frame in dark Havana acetate with brown gradient-effect lenses and Double G piece in gold-finish metal on the temples. UV protection rating: 2. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV3 sunglasses with square frame in black acetate with gray gradient-effect lenses and Double G piece in gold-finish metal on the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV3 sunglasses with square frame in Havana and honey acetate with brown gradient-effect lenses and Double G piece in gold-finish metal on the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV3 sunglasses with square frame in dark blue and transparent blue acetate with blue gradient-effect lenses and Double G piece in gold-finish metal on the temples. UV protection rating: 2. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV3 sunglasses with rounded frame in dark Havana acetate with green lenses and Double G piece in gold-finish metal on the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV3 sunglasses with rounded frame in black acetate with gray lenses and Double G piece in gold-finish metal on the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV3 sunglasses with rounded frame in burgundy acetate with brown gradient-effect lenses and Double G piece in gold-finish metal on the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Bow sunglasses with gold-finish metal frame, red tortoiseshell metal rims, red and gold curved double bridge, gray gradient-effect lenses and tortoiseshell acetate tips. 4G Square emblem engraved on the sides and GIVENCHY signature engraved on the top of the temples. UV protection rating: 2. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Bow sunglasses in gold-finish metal with curved double bridge, gray gradient-effect lenses and black acetate tips. 4G Square emblem engraved on the sides and GIVENCHY signature engraved on the top of the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
Caravane GV Navigator sunglasses in matte black metal with mirrored gray lenses and black acetate tips. 4G Square emblem engraved on the sides and GIVENCHY signature engraved on the top of the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
Caravane GV Navigator sunglasses in black ruthenium-finish metal with blue lenses and tortoiseshell acetate tips. 4G Square emblem engraved on the sides and GIVENCHY signature engraved on the top of the temples. UV protection rating: 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Vision futuristic sunglasses with rectangular frame and temples in dark ruthenium-finish metal, graphic bridge, mirrored gray nylon inserts on the temples and gray lenses. UV protection rating 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.
GV Mesh aviator sunglasses with rounded frame in matte black-finish metal, metallic mesh insert with small plaque and 4G emblem on the bridge, mirrored gray and gold gradient lenses and Havana brown acetate tips. 4G Square emblem and GIVENCHY PARIS signature engraved on the temples. UV protection rating 3. Sunglasses come in a hard case.