Hubert de Givenchy and His Muse

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Hubert de Givenchy, the French “giant” of haute couture died at the age of 91, at his chateau near Paris. Mr. Givenchy created the style and the elegance for the 20th century. His attention to detail, willing to surprise and amaze with his touch, mark the fashion industry both in Europe and in the world.

His personal muse and dear friend, was Audrey Hepburn. Their professional collaboration started in the early 1950s’. The French connaisseur designed Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe for “Sabrina”, “Funny Face”, “Love in the Afternoon” as well as the iconic looks of Holly Golighlty in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy wedding dress in “Funny Face” 1957

Audrey Hepburn Hubert de Givenchy Fitting
Photograph: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

The strong bond between Givenchy and Hepburn inspired him to create his first perfume “L’interdit”. The designer stated more than once that the actress was his personal muse and inspiration. Hepburn, on the other hand, confessed that “Givenchy’s clothes are the only ones in which I feel myself. He is more than a designer, he is a creator of personality”.

The perfume “L’interdit” Givenchy

Givenchy and Hepburn’s work together grew in a beautiful and respectful friendship filled with grace and elegance. Givenchy designed the dressed with which Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award for her role in “Roman Holiday” 1953 .

Audrey Hepburn wearing Givenchy at the Academy Awards 1953

Givenchy inherited his passion for haute couture from his grandfather. When Hubert was a child, his grandfather promised him to make him see his collection of cloths only if he performed good in school. For both, the grandfather and Hubert, fashion was religion.

Hubert de Givenchy admitted to feel very happy as he did what he dreamt of doing during his life. His idol was Mr. Cristóbal Balenciaga, from whom he gained a lot of inspiration and looked up to. Hubert was seen as a symbol of uniqueness. He was the designer of Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duchess of Windsor.

Givenchy liked to call himself the “eternal apprentice”, forever seeking something new and accomplishing it with a “syrgical precision” and attention to dettail.

Right before his retirement in 1995, he said: “Life is like a book, one has to know when to turn the page.”

Below you can find some of his most beautiful creations for his one and only Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey Hepburn in “Funny Face”

Audrey Hepburn wearing the iconic black and white dress in “Sabrina”

Audrey Hepburn together with husband Mel Ferrer
at the Netherlands’ premiere of “Sabrina” 1954

Audrey Hepburn in “Sabrina” 1954

Audrey Hepburn wearing Givenchy in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” 1961

The connection between Givenchy and Hepburn helped create an era marked by the elegance and the grace of wearing haute couture. The clothes the French master, designed for His Muse, are considered unique and represent the grace of a woman to the finest detail.