We remember the life of the designer known simply as "Le Grand."

A is for Audrey Hepburn . Many know the story. A year after his fashion house opened, young Givenchy was waiting for Miss Hepburn to try out a costume for a movie. He always had Katharine in mind, he never expected a small, slim woman with big eyes named Audrey would arrive. From that moment began a friendship that would last until the death of the actress. Hepburn wore Givenchy clothing in most of her films (Funny Face, Charade, How to Steal a Million, and Paris When it Sizzles).
B is for Breakfast at Tiffany's. The first scene of the film: Audrey Hepburn getting out of a taxi in front of Tiffany&rsquo;s on an empty Fifth Avenue, in a long black dress with matching gloves that cover her arms to the elbows. She wears four pearl necklaces and oversized glasses. While peering at the shop windows, she sips her coffee and bites into Danish bread. This scene not only describes the title of <a href="https://www.lofficielmexico.com/arte-y-cultura/cinco-libros-famosos-truman-capote">Truman Capote's</a> play, but also immortalizes Givenchy's design of the "classic black dress" in film .

lofficiel-mexico-moda-hubert-de-givenchy-audrey-hepburn-breakfast-at-tiffanys-a-b-c.jpg

C is for Crist&oacute;bal Balenciaga. After his time with couturier Lucien Lelong and Elsa Schiaparelli, he became very close to Balenciaga. It was he who encouraged Givenchy to create his own brand and who taught him the best of Spain. Both were interested in creating looks made with impeccable tailoring applied to cocktail dresses with exquisite fabrics. "Balenciaga was my religion," Givenchy said in an interview.
D is by Design. His garments were the epitome of the romantic and elegant style of the 1950s. With great attention to the structure of the piece and a desire to experiment with different fabrics, he left for history some of the most spectacular dresses made with embroidery.
E is for Strategy. His initial business strategy was practical: the fabrics he used cost a third less than those of his competitors. He was lucky enough to recognize the growth of the American market in time, so he focused on attracting buyers and publishers who would help him put it on the map. Similar to Christian Dior, it granted licenses to create men's and children's clothing. He even collaborated with the Lincoln brand to make a special edition of the famous car.
F is for France. Throughout his career he was recognized as a key pillar in the French fashion industry. His height, his impeccable manners, and his taste for art made him a representative of French chic. "It is through these artists that France shines in the world and there is no doubt that the legacy of Hubert de Givenchy will last forever," President Emmanuel Macron once said.

lofficiel-mexico-moda-a-b-c-hubert-de-givenchy.jpg

G is for Graziani, Bettina. The model was the muse of Givenchy's first collection, which he presented at the age of 24 in February 1952. The Bettina blouse was one of its best-selling garments. Later, the model joined his team as director of public relations .
H is for Heritage. Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy was born on February 21, 1927 in Beauvais France, the son of Lucien Taffin, Marquis de Givenchy and B&eacute;atrice Badin. His mother's family owned the Beauvais tapestry factory and it was after his father's death that he had a rapprochement with the textile business. At age 10 he had his first encounter with pieces by <a href="https://www.lofficielmexico.com/moda/codigos-estilo-coco-chanel">Coco Chanel</a> , Elsa Schiaparelli, and Jeanne Lanvin. His great-grandfather was a set designer for the Elysee Palace and his great-great-grandfather designed sets for the Paris Opera. Creativity was undoubtedly running in his veins.
I is for Irrelevant. In 1997, after presenting his first home collection, <a href="https://www.lofficielmexico.com/moda/alexander-mcqueen">Alexander McQueen</a> declared Hubert de Givenchy's work "irrelevant." During his time as creative director, he took it upon himself to change expectations and poke fun at the exuberance of luxury with dresses in the style of a decadent Marie Antoinette and a 1940s silhouette taken to exaggeration. While it worked for John Galliano to poke fun at Dior a bit, <a href="https://www.lofficielmexico.com/moda/alexander-mcqueen">McQueen's</a> effort was not well received.&nbsp;
J is for Jacques Fath. At 17 he moved to Paris to study at the &Eacute;cole des Beaux-Arts . A year later, he began working with couturier Jacques Fath . From there he came to Robert Piguet's studios and finally in 1946, Lucien Lelong's atelier welcomed him, just after Christian Dior left to establish his brand.
K is for Jacqueline Kennedy. After Audrey, Jacqueline Onassis was his favorite client. Although she had to forgo being dressed in French houses during her early years as first lady, the black suit she wore to John F. Kennedy's funeral in 1963 is a Givenchy creation. Every time she and her husband visited Paris , she would ask him for around 10-15 pieces of clothing, with fittings done in secret. General de Gaulle is known to have complimented Jackie when she was wearing a Hubert dress; the thank-you postcard sent to the designer read: "The general said to me, 'Madame, this afternoon you look like a real Parisian.'"

lofficiel-mexico-moda-a-b-c-hubert-givenchy-blusa-bettina-de-givenchy.jpg

L is for Legacy. Givenchy sold the brand to luxury conglomerate LVMH in 1988 and continued to design until his retirement in 1995. Hours after he announced his departure, the company named Britain's John Galliano as his successor. The designer stayed in the house for a year and was replaced by another genius: <a href="https://www.lofficielmexico.com/moda/alexander-mcqueen">Alexander McQueen</a>. A decade later, in 2005, Riccardo Tisci arrived and turned the house into a brand that combined haute couture and streetwear with hoodies bearing prints of sharks or Rottweilers. After Tisci included Kim Kardashian as a muse, Mr. Givenchy declared to Women's Wear Daily: &ldquo;I suffer. What is happening does not make me happy. In the end, you are proud of your name."
M is for Muses. Although his favorite was Audrey Hepburn,&nbsp;Givenchy dressed the Duchess of Windsor (who also wore a Givenchy gown to her husband's funeral), <a href="https://www.lofficielmexico.com/belleza/looks-iconicos-grace-kelly">Grace Kelly</a>, Greta Garbo, Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich &nbsp;Elizabeth Taylor, and Ingrid Bergman.
N is for Noir. The origin of the "little black dress" is attributed to <a href="https://www.lofficielmexico.com/moda/codigos-estilo-coco-chanel">Coco Chanel</a> and Jean Patou. The idea behind this garment is to be the infallible complement to a woman's wardrobe--a simple and elegant piece. In popular history the most famous example is Hubert de Givenchy's iconic creation for Breakfast at Tiffany's. Thousands of people have tried to replicate it and the original model sold in 2006 for $923,187 at a Christie's auction in London. In Riccardo Tisci's collections, black was one of the main colors. The Antigona bag in this color was the bestseller of its time.

Lofficiel-mexico-moda-hubert-de-givenchy-Audrey-Hepburn-Audrey-Sabrina.jpg

Or is it by Origin. On March 3, 1952, Hubert de Givenchy was named "the new name for Paris ." The young designer opened his little shop at 8 Rue Alfred de Vigny, a store for modern women, selling pieces that could be worn to match or be interchangeable with others to create different outfits. The collection was popularly known as Les Separables.
P is for Perfume. The first scent of the house was L'interdit. Audrey Hepburn was the face of the perfume; at that time it was not common for actresses to associate with brands to promote sales, so the union was a commercial success. Years later, in 2007, the brand launched the fragrance Very Irresistible, with ads starring Liv Tyler--the campaign's creative concept was a tribute to Audrey.
Q is for Quote.
"The dress must follow the woman's body, not the body after the dress."

lofficiel-mexico-moda-a-b-c-hubert-de-givenchy-la-maison-givenchy.jpg

R is for Retirement. Following his retirement from fashion in 1995, Mr. Givenchy went on to remain active as an art and antiques expert for Christie's at the Ch&acirc;teau de Versailles and the Louvre museum, in addition to giving occasional talks at universities like Oxford.
S is for Sabrina. During the production process of the film Sabrina, Audrey Hepburn insisted that Hubert dress her. The designer made different sketches including a dress with a neckline that became known as &ldquo;d&eacute;collet&eacute; Sabrina &rdquo;. Costume designer Edith Head received the Oscar for her designs in that film and in her speech she never mentioned Hubert or acknowledged his contribution to costume design. Audrey was furious and from then on she didn't let anyone else dress her in her movies.
T is for Male Tailoring. In 1969, Hubert introduced the Gentleman Givenchy men's line with collections inspired by the works of Georges Braque and Joan Mir&oacute;. In the 70s, though, he decided to dedicate himself completely to the haute couture line for women. It was under Tisci that the brand returned to focus on the gentleman of the house.
U is for Unparalleled. Hubert de Givenchy was the last survivor of a generation of designers who established their haute couture houses in postwar Paris, created personal relationships with their clients, and designed collections for specific women or muses. The best example in today's cinema to understand that time is the character of Daniel Day-Lewis in the Oscar-nominated film Phantom Thread.
V is for Philippe Venet.&nbsp;"There are few careers in fashion like Hubert de Givenchy," said Philippe Venet, the designer's partner for more than six decades. It was he who announced the death of the couturier. They met when Venet went to work at Givenchy's atelier, and despite having his own firm for a few years, he abandoned his career to be his assistant.

Lofficiel-mexico-moda-hubert-de-givenchy-Audrey-Hepburn-Audrey-Sabrina-01.jpg

W is for Clare Waight Keller. In 2017, the maison appointed Clare Waight Keller as creative director, the first woman to ever hold the role. Upon the news of the founder's death, she declared: &ldquo;Not only was he one of the most influential icons in fashion, whose legacy remains to this day, but he was also one of the most charming men I have ever met. He was a true gentleman and will remain with me forever."
X is for Eccentricity. He was polite, kind, but enormously eccentric. He never had a phone, did not carry his wallet, and did not perform any daily tasks. His partner Philippe Venet was in charge of all this.
Z is for Zeal. He always described himself as an "eternal learner", constantly seeking inspiration and ideas. When he retired in 1995, he told his close friends, &ldquo;I've stopped making clothes but not making discoveries. Life is like a book: one must know when it is time to turn the page."

The ABC of Monsieur Hubert de Givenchy

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

Septième Rebelle: 'Un Jour Á La Fois' Holiday 2025 Collection

Fashion

Allbirds Finally Makes Its Way to the Philippines

Fashion

Inside Loewe’s Art-Infused Store in Cebu

Culture

Who Is Drew Starkey? Meet the Hollywood Heartthrob and Netflix Star

Beauty

Devotion Redefined: A Deeper, More Intense Olfactory Journey with Dolce & Gabbana

Culture

Experience a Japanese Christmas at Mitsukoshi BGC

Hommes

The Dior and KAWS Capsule Is a Bold Fusion of Art and Fashion

Culture

Moët & Chandon Unveils a Sparkling Start to the Festive Season