Givenchy
The Label
Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy launched the label in 1952 as a line of simple, light separates. Two years later he debuted a full ready-to-wear collection. A meeting to fit a young Audrey Hepburn was the start of a close 40-year relationship; he used her as the face of his first perfume, L’Interdit, and she became the first actress to sell a scent. Givenchy went on to launch a men’s line in 1973, and by 1976 has expanded into fabrics, furnishings, shoes, jewelry, and a Ford Lincoln Continental car. The brand joined LVMH in 1988. Liv Tyler is now the new face of Givenchy’s latest women’s fragrance, Very Irresistible.
The Look
Clean and minimalist sportswear with unusual detailing, jersey dresses with adaptable necklines, zippered jackets, lean pants, and for evening liquid gowns and light cashmere coats.
The Designer
At 17 Givenchy left his hometown of Beauvais for Paris, where he worked as an apprentice for Jacques Fath. He then took a design position at Robert Piguet and worked for couturier Elsa Schiaparelli as her first assistant before leaving to start his own label. After Givenchy stepped down, top talents John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien McDonald helmed the house. Finally, in spring 2005, the relatively unknown Riccardo Tisci took on the role of creative director—the 30-year-old Italian-born Tisci studied at Central Saint Martins in London, and had previously done work for Antonio Berardi, Coccapani, and Ruffo Research, and an eponymous label.
