Hubert de Givenchy, French fashion icon and designer to the stars dead at 91

Hubert de Givenchy, Hubert de Givenchy, Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy,

Hubert de Givenchy, French fashion designer, best known for designing the wardrobes of Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy, has died at the age of 91.

Givenchy's partner, Philippe Venet, announced his death via the Givenchy fashion house, saying the fashion icon died in his sleep.

"It is with huge sadness that we inform you that Hubert Taffin de Givenchy has died."

His designs shaped fashion in the '50s and '60s, most notably dressing Audrey Hepburn in her "little black dress" for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn, Givenchy
Credit: Breakfast at Tiffany's/YouTube

Hepburn previously said of the designer, “Everyone wants to look beautiful and at least I feel beautiful when I’m in his clothes and they give me great confidence. Which is very helpful, when you’re making a movie or have a difficult scene, at least you know you look right.”

Givenchy opened his own shop Paris in 1952 on Rue Alfred de Vigny in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, after designing for, then unknown, Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior. His first collection focused on mix-and-match, ready-to-wear clothing, much needed in the post-World War II Europe.

The New York Times called this collection, which the 6'6" dark-haired did at just 24 years old, “one of the most phenomenal debuts in the Paris couture.”

His influence is still seen in the wardrobe of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

In his 40-year career, Givenchy was known for his Parisian twist on American clothing. Aside from costume designing, he dressed the elite of Hollywood including Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor. He is also known for outfitting American Royalty, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

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Givenchy retired from fashion design in 1995, leaving the house to  John Galliano. He retired to Château du Jonchet, a listed historic castle in Romilly-sur-Aigre, Eure-et-Loir, near Paris and took great pleasure in collecting 17th and 18th-century bronze and marble sculptures.

In 2017 the House of Givenchy brought on its first female artistic director, Clare Waight Keller. She said of the man in a statemen:

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of a great man and artist I have had the honor to meet and get to know since my appointment at Givenchy,..

“Not only was he one of the most influential fashion figures of our time, whose legacy still influences modern-day dressing, but he also was one of the chicest most charming men I have ever met. The definition of a true gentleman, that will stay with me forever.”

Givenchy's family plans a private funeral and asked that donations be made to UNICEF in his name.


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