12 Fascinating Facts About Hubert de Givenchy

Do you want to know some fascinating facts about Hubert de Givenchy?

The opulent clothing and fragrance company Givenchy was established in 1952 by French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy. He was renowned for creating a large portion of Audrey Hepburn’s professional and personal wardrobe and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy’s attire.

Since its founding in 1952, Givenchy has been sensually reinterpreting the standards of elegance, grace, and femininity through its renowned collections for both men and women. The French fashion brand became known for its high caliber of knowledge and devotion to its creations.

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In the ageless realm of Givenchy, casual style, aristocratic elegance, and femininity come together. Hubert de Givenchy was known for such distinctive style, making sure his creations and fashion house rose to the top and played a significant part in global fashion.

Although the history of his great fashion and creations speaks for itself, a few startling facts about Monsieur de Givenchy himself may surprise you.

Read on to find out more fascinating facts about Hubert de Givenchy.

12 Fascinating Facts About Hubert de Givenchy

1. Hubert de Givenchy was an aristocrat

He was born Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy in the French city of Beauvais in 1927 to an affluent family. His father’s lineage of nobility dates back to the 18th century, while his mother’s lineage of artistic professions was inherited.

Despite coming from an aristocratic background, Givenchy’s beginnings in fashion were anything but luxurious and opulent.

2. Givenchy’s love for fabrics was influenced by his mother and grandmother

Hubert de Givenchy was primarily raised by his mother and maternal grandmother, from whom he received his love of fabrics after his father’s death in 1930.

At the age of 17, encouraged, Givenchy left his birthplace for the exciting chances of Paris.

3. Fashion design wasn’t Hubert de Givenchy’s first choice

Hubert de Givenchy first studied art before switching to law. He pursued a career in law but subsequently realized he lacked the necessary enthusiasm.

Fashion had always been his true love, however. So, at the tender age of 17, he moved to Paris to pursue his passion and started working as a trainee for a Parisian fashion designer.

4. Givenchy worked for and with several fashion designers before he founded his own fashion house

He studied art at the French National School of Fine Arts while working as an intern for fashion designer Jacques Fath. He eventually worked as a designer for Robert Piguet’s fashion house for the following eight years.

Givenchy also collaborated with Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, and Pierre Balmain over the years. These encounters aided him in starting his own couture house that he’d named after himself after years of hard effort and talent development.

5. The choice of fabric was his edge

Because he had a limited budget, he made his clothes out of shirting instead of the more expensive fabrics like silk that are usually used to finish prototype designs.

His creative notion of designing items that can be combined and matched to create a wardrobe with more adaptability offered him an edge in addition to the difference in materials.

Buyers adored his cotton shirtings, and after the release of his first collection, he could pay back his backers and take absolute rights to his namesake couture firm.

His fashion house displayed a variety of intricately embroidered fabrics, unique accessories, and elegant jackets and outfits. Many of his designs immediately rose to desirable items in high fashion after being worn by well-known models.

6. The lab coat was his uniform

His employees referred to Givenchy as Monsieur, and he always wore the white lab coat that served as his atelier uniform.

As a tribute to the design guru, all the tailors and clothing designers during Givenchy’s last fashion show replicated his look by wearing white lab coats and taking their final bow together.

7. Audrey Hepburn was his muse

Givenchy’s first thought when offered to work on a film project was that he would be working with the legendary Katherine Hepburn. The film was Sabrina, released in 1955. For the part of Sabrina, it was revealed that Audrey Hepburn would play the role.

Fortunately, the well-known fashion designer and the hit star got along very well. Audrey Hepburn became Givenchy’s muse, and the both of them worked their fashion magic on and off the screen during their time together.

8. He created the little black dress

Givenchy’s most well-known creation for Hepburn was the little black dress she wore in the 1961 romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s, where she co-starred with actor George Peppard.

In the film’s well-known opening sequence, Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly is shown exiting a yellow taxi while holding a coffee and croissant and admiring the windows of the upscale Tiffany and Co. jewelry store.

Despite Coco Chanel’s launch of the idea in the 1920s, Givenchy’s black cocktail-style dress was the most contemporary rendition of the little black dress and is regarded as one of the most influential gowns in the history of 20th-century apparel and costume design.

9. The little black dress has been updated by numerous designers

The original black Givenchy dress, which was shorter and never worn in the movie, is being kept in Givenchy’s archives.

Numerous designers have updated the little black dress throughout the years and, in their own unique ways, continued the creative vision of the prestigious French house.

Each designer gave the famous outfit their unique take, from McQueen’s leather rendition that updates the shift pattern to Waight Keller’s more literal depiction for her debut Haute Couture collection at the reins of the storied fashion business.

10. Men’s clothing wasn’t part of Givenchy’s plan

When his fashion house initially started, Givenchy did not create menswear. It wasn’t until 1969 that the first men’s line, dubbed “Givenchy Gentleman,” was created. This expansion of the trademark would be profitable for their operations.

Hubert de Givenchy had spent more than 40 years creating imaginative women’s clothing in various options and fashions. Wearers now have a voice in the style of their overall wardrobe as a result of this.

Hubert de Givenchy eventually produced men’s shirts made of various materials, then he invited everyone to select their favorites.

11. Hubert de Givenchy was close to many famous women

In essence, the 1960s equivalent of today’s influencers were Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Princess Grace Kelly, Bettina Graziani, and most notably – Audrey Hepburn.

Hubert de Givenchy recognized the importance of dressing them. He immediately rose to fame by outfitting celebrities in fashionable Parisian attire.

His most famous association was with Audrey Hepburn, whom he first met in 1953 and dressed for several motion pictures, including Sabrina and the now-iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The actress’ association with the designer lasted until her passing at age 63. Givenchy once recalled their first encounter as being with “this very slender person with wonderful eyes, short hair, strong eyebrows, very tiny trousers, ballerina shoes, and a little T-shirt.”

12. Balenciaga had a special place in Givenchy’s heart

In 1953, two years after Givenchy established his couture firm, Hubert de Givenchy met Cristóbal Balenciaga. Although Givenchy never officially served as an apprentice for Balenciaga, the veteran designer was his mentor and influenced his business choices and style.

Early in the 1960s, fashion reviewers started criticizing Givenchy for relying too much on Balenciaga-instigated trends. Despite this, both couturiers continued to have great success, and each had a sizable following in France and the US.