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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 13 March 2018
French couturier Hubert de Givenchy dies at 91

By SYLVIE CORBET companion and friends.
Associated Press Aiming to reach a wid-
PARIS (AP) — French cou- er market, Givenchy
turier Hubert de Givenchy, launched a line of upscale
a pioneer of ready-to-wear ready-to-wear and ac-
who designed Audrey cessories in the 1960s. Its
Hepburn’s little black dress commercial success soon
in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” enabled him to buy out his
has died at the age of 91. backers, making him one
The house of Givenchy of only a handful of Paris
paid homage to its founder couturiers to own their own
in a statement as “a major label outright.
personality of the world of In 1988, he sold the house
French haute couture and to French luxury conglom-
a gentleman who symbol- erate LVMH, the parent
ized Parisian chic and el- company of a stable of
egance for more than half top fashion labels that now
a century.” includes Dior, Celine, Marc
“He revolutionized inter- Jacobs, Pucci and Kenzo.
national fashion with the Givenchy retired in 1995,
timelessly stylish looks he and was succeeded by
created for Audrey Hep- In this June 4 2007 file photo, French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy leaves the Saint-Louis John Galliano, Alexander
burn, his great friend and en l’Ile church in Paris. McQueen, Julien Macdon-
muse for over 40 years,” Associated Press ald, Italy’s Riccardo Tisci
the house of Givenchy and its current chief de-
said. “His work remains as other top names, Given- Givenchy dress the star in signer, Clare Waight Keller,
relevant today as it was chy founded his own house nearly a dozen films, includ- the first woman in the role.
then.” in 1952. ing the 1961 hit “Breakfast Waight Keller, at the helm
Along with Christian Dior, His debut collection ush- at Tiffany’s.” The sleeveless of the brand since last
Yves Saint Laurent and ered in the concept of black evening gown she year, said on her official
mentor Cristobal Balen- separates — tops and bot- wore in the movie, com- Instagram account she is
ciaga, Givenchy was part toms that could be mixed plete with rows of pearls, “deeply saddened by the
of the elite cadre of Paris- and matched, as opposed elbow-length gloves and loss of a great man and
based designers who rede- to head-to-toe looks that oversized shades, would artist I have had the honor
fined fashion in the wake were the norm among Par- end up becoming Given- to meet.”“Not only was he
of World War II. is couture purveyors. chy’s most famous look. one of the most influential
Givenchy, speaking last Working on a tight bud- The French president’s of- fashion figures of our time,
year at an exhibition of get, Givenchy served up fice praised Givenchy as whose legacy still influ-
his creations at the City of the floor-length skirts and a designer whose name ences modern day dress-
Lace and Fashion in Cal- country chic blouses in raw became an emblem for ing, but he also was one of
ais, said that “too much white cotton materials nor- French elegance, with one the chicest most charming
artifice” detracts from mally reserved for fittings. principle: “to respect and men I have ever met,” she
clothing.“A piece of mate- “Le Grand Hubert,” as he celebrate the woman’s wrote.
rial has a life. You must nev- was often called for his body.” Bernard Arnault, CEO of
er upset it, if you want the 6-foot, 5-inch (1.96 meters) His classical approach LVMH, said he is “deeply
material to speak,” he said. frame, became popular eventually “led him to no saddened” by Givenchy’s
A towering man of ele- with privileged haute cou- longer see himself in more death.
gance and impeccable ture customers, and his la- unstructured styles” taking “He was among those de-
manners, he forged close bel soon seduced the likes over the fashion world, the signers who placed Paris
friendships with his famous of Gloria Guinness, Wallis Elysee Palace statement firmly at the heart of world
clients, from Hollywood Simpson and Empress Far- said. In this July 26, 2006, file pho- fashion post 1950 while cre-
screen sirens of the likes of ah Pahlavi of Iran. “France loses a master, to, model Romilly Collins ating a unique personality
Liz Taylor and Lauren Bacall But the client whose name the Master of elegance, of wears the black Givenchy for his own fashion label,”
to women of state, includ- would become almost syn- creation, of invention,” the dress made for actress Au- according to a statement
ing Jackie Kennedy and onymous with the house statement said, sharing the drey Hepburn in the classic released by LVMH.
Princess Grace of Monaco. was Audrey Hepburn, condolences of President 1961 film “Breakfast at Tif- Givenchy is survived by his
Born into an aristocratic whom he met in 1953, Emmanuel Macron and his fany’s” in central London. companion, French coutu-
family in the provincial city when he dressed her for wife, Brigitte, to Givenchy’s Associated Press rier Philippe Venet.q
of Beauvais on Feb. 21, the romantic comedy ___
1927, Givenchy struck out “Sabrina.”Legend has it
for Paris in his late teens, in that Givenchy — told only
the wake of World War II. that Mademoiselle Hep-
Couturier Jacques Fath burn would be coming in
hired Givenchy on the for a fitting — was expect-
strength of his sketches. ing the grand Katharine
He spent two years learn- Hepburn. Instead, the di-
ing the basics of fashion minutive Audrey showed
design, from sketching to up, dressed in cigarette
cutting and fitting haute pants, a T-shirt and sandals.
couture styles. Thus began a decades-
After apprenticing with long friendship that saw