Hubert de Givenchy

Hubert de Givenchy ( born February 20, 1927 in Beauvais, Count Hubert James Marcel Complete name Taffin de Givenchy ) is a French fashion designer, couturier and designer. The internationally well-known fashion and cosmetics company Givenchy was founded by him in 1952 in Paris.

Life

Hubert de Givenchy was born in 1927 in Beauvais into a wealthy noble family. His father, Lucien Taffin de Givenchy (1888-1930), was the Marquis de Givenchy, The noble title went to his father's death at Hubert's older brother Jean Claude (1925-2009) on. After the early death of his father due to a flu disease Givenchy brothers grew up with her mother and grandmother. Impressed by the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937 it was clear to the ten -year-old Hubert, wanting "something with fashion " do. He first studied law, but then enrolled at the École des Beaux -Arts in Paris. His first works in the fashion industry, he designed in 1945 for Jacques Fath in Paris; then followed designs for Lucien Lelong (1946 ), Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior. Finally, he worked from 1947 to 1951 for the then " Modezarin " and avant-garde designer Elsa Schiaparelli.

Opened in 1952, de Givenchy his first studio at the Plaine Monceau in Paris and set up a collection for Bettina Graziani ( a former Paris flagship ) from; Here he contributed an innovative rate against the more conservative collections from Dior. At 25, he was the youngest designer of the progressive Paris fashion scene emerging. His first collections were created for financial reasons rather simple materials, but produced in the trade press constantly stir.

The name of Givenchy is also very closely linked with the film actress Audrey Hepburn, who de Givenchy in 1953 for the filming of Sabrina met: He equipped the actress both privately as well as in their movies ( Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, and others) on 40 years with individually designed costumes. The worn by Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's Givenchy dress was bought in 2006 for € 692,000 at Christie's in London by an anonymous bidder and is considered the most expensive fabric of film history. For Hepburn de Givenchy developed his first perfume collection, which he dedicated to her. In addition, Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy were among his most well-known customers. Jacky Kennedy had to make her mourning dress for the funeral of John F. Kennedy by de Givenchy.

1953 years met de Givenchy in New York his great idol, the Spanish fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, who had already influenced Paco Rabanne. Balenciaga was de Givenchy's mentor and supported him, although both have never worked together. In 1968 Givenchy its first " public " Prêt -à- porter collection Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique out, after years previously excluded the press from sale technical calculus of his fashion shows. Following followed men's collections.

1988 de Givenchy sold his fashion company to LVMH. He took in 1995 at the urging of the management of LVMH with a fashion show farewell to the catwalks of the world. He served until 1996, however, interim chief designer in the house which he founded. In its place were other designers in a row.

End of October 1997 took over de Givenchy for the auction house Christie's to 2002, the position of the President of the French subsidiary. He also served as president of the French division of the World Monuments Fund and is responsible for the preservation of the gardens of the Château de Versailles. Since 1999 he has been President of the then rather, Spanish Cristóbal Balenciaga Foundation. In 2011 he was awarded for his efforts to the memory of Balenciaga by the Spanish Minister of Culture, the Order of Merit Orden de las Artes y las Letras de España. De Givenchy lives on his 1975 acquired country house from the 17th century called the Château du Jonchet in Romilly -sur- Aigre in Cloyes -sur -le- Loir, about 150 km south-west of Paris. He also owns a townhouse in Paris, Rue de Grenelle and a villa on the Cap Ferrat.

Style

Givenchy preferred in his collections mostly bright colors: Pink, yellow, spring green, royal blue and bright red combinations that were cut in clear factual lines and plain black ( Givenchy also one of the co-inventors of the classic " little black dress "). His women's collections were characterized by oversized hat designs, often hidden face.

Perfumes - Chronology

(W = female, M = male )