Legendary Couturier and Audrey Hepburn Collaborator Hubert de Givenchy Dies at 91
Whether you’re an avid fashion follower, just a casual observer, or someone whose brush with fashion rarely extends beyond the one time you get dressed each morning, chances are you’ve seen at least one outfit created by French designer Hubert de Givenchy—the black sheath dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
The designer, who founded his fashion house in 1952 and is responsible for some of the most iconic dresses seen on screen and off, has passed away at 91. His creative collaboration with Hepburn, which started with his designing costumes for her 1954 film Sabrina, spanned decades and resulted in some of the most memorable onscreen looks for the Oscar-winning actress.
“His are the only clothes in which I am myself,” Audrey Hepburn has reportedly said. “He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality.”
The House of Givenchy, under his creative leadership, came to represent a polished French sophistication, with its leaning on black and white, elegant tailoring, and ladylike silhouettes, and went on to outfit women like Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
A statement on his passing from LVMH (which bought the label back in 1988) highlights some of his lasting contributions to the fashion industry:
“His enduring influence and his approach to style reverberates to this day: with his first couture collection, in 1952, he championed the concept of separates. Two years later he became the first designer to launch a high-end ready-to wear line.”
Since Givenchy’s retiring in 1995, the house has been led by several recognisable names, including John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Riccardo Tisci, whose brooding, goth take on the brand from 2005 to 2017 led to significant commercial and critical success. The label now seems poised to explore a contemporary interpretation of Givenchy’s elegant and sophisticated aesthetic under the guidance of Clare Waight Keller, who took to Instagram to share news of the loss:
“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. My deepest thoughts are with his loved ones in this difficult time.”
May the fashion legend rest in peace.
 highlights some of his lasting contributions to the fashion industry:
"His enduring influence and his approach to style reverberates to this day: with his first couture collection, in 1952, he championed the concept of separates. Two years later he became the first designer to launch a high-end ready-to wear line."
Since Givenchy’s retiring in 1995, the house has been led by several recognisable names, including John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Riccardo Tisci, whose brooding, goth take on the brand from 2005 to 2017 led to significant commercial and critical success. The label now seems poised to explore a contemporary interpretation of Givenchy’s elegant and sophisticated aesthetic under the guidance of Clare Waight Keller, who took to Instagram to share news of the loss:
"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. My deepest thoughts are with his loved ones in this difficult time."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgOXsi_DlFb/?hl=en&taken-by=clarewaightkeller
May the fashion legend rest in peace.
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