Designer’s work ‘remains as relevant today as it was then’
French couturier dressed Hepburn in little black dress.
French couturier Hubert de Givenchy, a pioneer of ready-to-wear who designed Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” has died at the age of 91.
The house of Givenchy paid homage to its founder in a statement as “a major personality of the world of French haute couture and a gentleman who symbolized Parisian chic and elegance for more than half a century.”
“He revolutionized interna- tional fashion with the timelessly stylish looks he created for Audrey Hepburn, his great friend and muse for over 40 years,” the house of Givenchy said. “His work remains as relevant today as it was then.”
Along with Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and men- tor Cristobal Balenciaga, Givenchy was part of the elite cadre of Paris-based designers who redefined fashion in the wake of World War II.
A towering man of ele- gance and impeccable man- ners, he forged close friend- ships with his famous clients, from Hollywood screen sirens of the likes of Liz Taylor and Lauren Bacall to women of state, including Jackie Kennedy and Princess Grace of Monaco.
Born into an aristocratic family in the provincial city of Beauvais on Feb. 21, 1927, Givenchy struck out for Paris in his late teens, in the wake of World War II.
Couturier Jacques Fath hired Givenchy on t he strength of his sketches. He spent two years learning the basics of fashion design, from sketching to cutting and fitHepburn would be coming ting haute couture styles. in for a fitting — was expect
After apprenticing with ing the grand Katherine Hepother top names, Givenchy burn. Instead, the diminutive founded his own house in Audrey showed up, dressed 1952. in cigarette pants, a T-shirt
His debut collection ushand sandals. ered in the concept of sepaThus began a decades-long rates — tops and bottoms that friendship that saw Givenchy could be mixed and matched, dress the star in nearly a as opposed to head-to-toe dozen films, including the looks that were the norm 1961 hit “Breakfast at Tiffaamong Paris couture purny’s.” The sleeveless black veyors. evening gown she wore in the
Working on a tight bud- movie, complete with rows of get, Givenchy served up the pearls, elbow-length gloves floor-length skirts and coun- and oversized shades, would try chic blouses in raw white end up becoming Givenchy’s cotton materials normally most famous look. reserved for fittings. Aiming to reach a wider
“Le Grand Hubert,” as he market, Givenchy launched a was often called for his 6-foot, line of upscale ready-to-wear 5-inch frame, became pop- and accessories in the 1960s. ular with privileged haute Its commercial success soon couture customers, and his enabled him to buy out his label soon seduced the likes backers, making him one of of Gloria Guinness, Wallis only a handful of Paris coutuSimpson and Empress Farah riers to own their own label Pahlavi of Iran. outright.
But the client whose name In 1988, he sold the house would become almost syn- to French luxury conglomeronymous with the house was ate LVMH, the parent comAudrey Hepburn, whom he pany of a stable of top fashmet in 1953, when he dressed ion labels that now includes her for the romantic comedy Dior, Celine, Marc Jacobs, “Sabrina.” Pucci and Kenzo.
Legend has it that Givenchy Givenchy retired in 1995. — told only that Mademoiselle