Givenchy

Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy, designer and fragrance creator, was born in 1927 in Beauvais, France. Givenchy was raised by his grandfather, a tapestry maker. At the young age of 17 Givenchy moved to Paris and began his apprenticeship with Parisian designer Jacques Fath, but he did not remain with Fath for long, during the next eight years he designed for the major Parisian fashion houses of Robert Piguet, Lucien Lelong (recommended by Christian Dior), and Elsa Schiaparelli.

After gaining experience from such great names, Givenchy opened his own house in 1952 and maintained very low overhead costs in order to lower the prices of his designs. Givenchy’s first collection, featuring light skirts and puff-sleeved blouses made from raw cotton previously reserved for fittings only, flawlessly detailed separates, high-style coats, and elegant ball gowns, these gained immediate international recognition. His designs used imaginative accessories, silk prints, and embroidered fabrics. His “Bettina blouse,” named for a popular model, reintroduced tailored shirting into high fashion. Two years later Hubert de Givenchy was the first major fashion designer to present a luxury ready-to-wear line, Givenchy Universit. More than any other, this was a designer who maintained close relations with his famous clients. No surprise there, he wanted to dress women, all women. From Paris to New York, Hubert de Givenchy’s fashions came out of the salons and down into the street. In 1953 one of Hubert de Givenchy’s designs was featured on the cover of Life magazine.

One of the first well-known celebrities he designed for was Audrey Hepburn. In the 1961 movie ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ brought into vogue the high bosomed princess dress without sleeves or a belt. Other celebrities include Lauren Bacall, Babe Paley, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlne Dietrich, Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, Princess Grace of Monaco and Wallis Simpson, for whom the designer created special covers, to preserve the Duchesses envied orders from prying eyes. They were made in Windsor blue.

In 1973 Givenchy created a men’s fashion line, Gentleman Givenchy. The houses diversification happened naturally with the designer running his talented eye over collections of table linen, furnishing fabrics, shoes and jewellery. Givenchy travelled widely, from Washington to Tokyo, promotional gala to institutional exhibition, the designer saw things big. He handled globalisation as the perfect man of the world that he is. Givenchy was always a man of his time.

Givenchy fragrances are designed to show a wide range of feelings. Ysatis perfume was launched in 1984, Amarige perfume in 1991; and Organza fragrance in 1996, each to critical acclaim. Very Irresistible Givenchy, launched in 2003 and promoted by actress Liv Tyler, combines both femininity and boldness in a unique perfume. Ange Ou Démon perfume is described by the company as “an exceptional fragrance between dream and extreme refinement.” Givenchy's men's fragrance line began with Monsieur de Givenchy cologne, launched in 1959. Additional scents followed, with Givenchy Gentleman in 1975, Xeryus in the 1980s, and Pi in the 1990s. Blue Label cologne for men, is a fresh, dynamic scent.

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