Givenchy

Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy, a renowned fashion designer, is born into a wealthy and aristocratic family in Beauvais, France.

At the age of 10, Givenchy attempted to run away from home to meet his idol, Cristóbal Balenciaga. This incident convinced Givenchy's mother to allow him to pursue his fashion dream instead of becoming a lawyer.

Givenchy relocates to Paris and enrolls at the École des Beaux-Arts to pursue his studies.

In 1945, Givenchy secured his first job in the fashion industry by working as an apprentice for Jacques Fath.

In 1946, Hubert de Givenchy joined the fashion house of Robert Piguet, gaining valuable experience in the industry before establishing his own brand. This experience played a crucial role in shaping his future career.

In 1947, Givenchy had a professional experience at Lucien Lelong's fashion house, collaborating with Lelong's assistants Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior.

Givenchy presented his first-ever collection on February 2nd, 1952, introducing the forward-thinking 'separates' collection that revolutionized fashion with elegant blouses and light skirts as wearable individual pieces.

In 1953, Hubert de Givenchy met Audrey Hepburn, who became his muse and the face of his brand. Together, they revolutionized the fashion industry by embracing a lighter and less restricted style, introducing new designs like the shirtdress and lantern shape.

Hubert de Givenchy designed the iconic little black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, solidifying their enduring collaboration and creating a timeless fashion moment.

In 1955, Grace Kelly wore a Givenchy dress to the Academy Awards where she received an Oscar for her role in The Country Girl. This event solidified Givenchy's reputation as a designer for the stars.

In 1956, both Cristóbal Balenciaga and Hubert de Givenchy showcased their collections in New York during a charity gala. This event helped raise funds for the American hospital in Paris.

Givenchy ventured into the fragrance world in 1957 with the launch of GIVENCHY L’Interdit, a perfume originally created exclusively for Audrey Hepburn. The scent made history as Hepburn became the first actress to represent a fragrance.

Givenchy created the iconic Baby Doll Dress in 1958, inspired by a dream of liberating women from constrictive clothing and advocating for quick and fluid movement.

In 1959, Givenchy's fashion house moved to a new location on Avenue George V in Paris, France, solidifying its presence in the heart of the fashion capital.

The little black dress from 1961 worn by Audrey Hepburn in the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' is one of Givenchy's most famous pieces. It became iconic and is a significant moment in fashion history.

In 1969, Givenchy introduced his first men’s wear collection called 'Givenchy Gentleman.'

In 1976, Givenchy established Givenchy Inc., a New York-based office and showroom.

In 1982, Audrey Hepburn collaborated with fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy, creating iconic and timeless looks that influenced the fashion industry.

In 1985, Jacques Lang, the French minister of Culture, presented an Oscar to Hubert de Givenchy during a celebration at the Opera in Paris, dedicated to the art of elegance.

In 1988, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton acquired the prestigious House of Givenchy, marking a significant moment in the fashion industry.

Givenchy debuted its skincare and makeup lines in 1989, offering innovative formulas for skincare and launching the Le Prisme Visage face powder.

A retrospective exhibition showcasing the 40-year history of the Givenchy fashion house is organized at the Palais Galliera in Paris.

Hubert de Givenchy presents his final couture collection and officially retires from the fashion industry. John Galliano is appointed as his successor, marking a significant transition in the leadership of the Givenchy brand.

In 2001, Julien Macdonald took over as the creative director of GIVENCHY, succeeding McQueen.

In 2005, Riccardo Tisci took over Givenchy and completely transformed the company with a fresh new look, elevating the brand to a new status.

In 2006, Givenchy curated a show at the Mona Bismarck Foundation titled 'Bismarck and Balenciaga: Shared Perfection', showcasing the connection between the two iconic figures.

Givenchy was greatly influenced by his friend and mentor, Cristóbal Balenciaga, who inspired his design philosophy and practice. Givenchy once expressed that Balenciaga was like a religion to him.

In 2010, Givenchy curated a fashion exhibition titled “Cristobal Balenciaga, Venet, Givenchy at Château de Haroué.”

Givenchy designs have been showcased on red carpet events by various celebrities, such as Rooney Mara at the 2012 Academy Awards and Madonna for her performances.

In 2016, Riccardo Tisci launched a sportswear collaboration with Nike called NikeLab x RT: Training Redefined. The collaboration was aimed at Olympic athletes for the 2016 Summer Olympics as well as everyday gym users.

The House of Givenchy announced the appointment of Clare Waight Keller as artistic director, effective 2 May 2017. Waight Keller took on creative responsibilities for Women's and Men's Ready-to-wear, accessories collections, and Haute Couture.

Hubert de Givenchy, the renowned fashion designer, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on March 10, 2018, in Paris, marking the end of an era in the fashion industry.

Meghan Markle wore a gown designed by Clare Waight Keller at her wedding to Prince Harry on 19 May 2018.

In May 2019, Givenchy announced that singer Ariana Grande would be the new face of its Fall and Winter campaign. The campaign was unveiled in July of the same year.

A brief overview of the life and achievements of the fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy.

On February 10, 2021, K-pop group Aespa was appointed as the ambassador for Givenchy, marking them as the first K-pop artist to be chosen for such a role by the French fashion house.

Givenchy's early success was attributed to the collaboration between the designer Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy and the iconic actress Audrey Hepburn, who served as his muse.

In November 2023, Givenchy announced that Matthew Williams would be leaving his position as the creative director at the end of 2023.