RIP....RIP Hubert de Givenchy: Master of Haute Couture, Elegance, Class: A PHOTO DEDICATION

Fashion Designer Hubert de Givenchy

The Fashion World has lost a LEGEND. A Master of Haute Couture, elegance, class and perfection. French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy--yes, THE GIVENCHY--has died, at the age of 91. Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy founded the French fashion house of Givenchy in 1952. Before then, at the age of seventeen, he moved to Paris and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. During the 1940's, he designed for Jacques Fath, Robert Piquet and Lucien Lelong. From 1947-1951, he worked alongside Elsa Schiaparelli. His first collection was inspired by his muse...

French model Bettina Grazziani

During the shoot of the movie "Sabrina", Givenchy met actress Audrey Hepburn in 1953 and then, it was "done and done". The two sealed the deal with their iconic partnership in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961) where she wore his infamous Little Black Dress. They remained friends for forty years until her death in 1993. Givenchy's clients also ranged from Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor to Empress Farah Diba of Iran, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. They paid $25,000-$50,000 a gown (at today's exchange) when ordering a style. In 1989, the brand was sold to LVMH. Hubert de Givenchy officially retired in 1995, handing over the design duties to John Galliano who lasted only briefly and was then succeeded by Alexander McQueen for five years...and Riccardo Tisci from 2005-2017. Givenchy died in his sleep at his Renaissance chateau. Here is my PHOTO DEDICATION to the Master, Hubert de Givenchy:

Hubert de Givenchy with then-fashion model Carla Bruni (and future First Lady of France) as the Finale Bride--Givenchy Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1994

Hubert de Givenchy--with his sketches for the Givenchy Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1994 collection

Givenchy Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1994 (L) worn by a very young Tyra Banks; Spring/Summer 1994 (R) blue silk gazar belted dress.

Givenchy Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1994 (L) and Spring/Summer 1994 (R)

Givenchy Haute Couture Spring/Summer (L) worn by former Miss World Kenya 1984 (and Yves Saint Laurent muse) Khadija Adam Ismail; and Fall/Winter 1994 (R)

Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn:

Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn

1952--Hubert de Givenchy with Audrey Hepburn

1963--Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy Haute Couture

Photoshoot Fab--Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy Haute Couture --1955 (L) and 60's (R)

Sabrina Givenchy--Givenchy sketch and gown--worn by Audrey Hepburn in "Sabrina" (1954)

Funny Face Givenchy--Audrey Hepburn wearing Givenchy in "Funny Face" (1957)

1961 Breakfast at Tifaany's Givenchy Little Black Dress--The dress wasn't so little, in that it was full length, and was designed to highlight her long legs and great shoulders/arms but hide her very thin front neckline. 

Lifelong Friendship: Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn

Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor wore Givenchy Haute Couture for the funeral of her husband, Edward VIII in 1972

1961--U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wore Givenchy Haute Couture (but kept it a secret since the U.S press might deem it "inappropriate" to be wearing a French designer as a U.S. First Lady) when she accompanied her husband, President Kennedy on a State Visit to France and charmed the country--as well as then-President of France Charles de Gaulle at a dinner in Versailles. 

Le Hubert--Hubert de Givenchy at home with his dog

Givenchy Croquis--Fashion sketches from Hubert de Givenchy Haute Couture

RIP Hubert de Givenchy.