Givenchy

Givenchy, the Parisian Haute-Couture House embraces all these qualities. From the delicate spider-web like lace on a couture dress to the hand-stitched lapel of a men’s suit or the shimmering silver reflection on sunglasses, Givenchy has stood for intriguing beauty since 1952, when 'Hubert de Givenchy' opened the couture house.

In 1953, Hubert de Givenchy met and was inspired by Audrey Hepburn, who became the brand’s ambassador. Hepburn had a great influence on Givenchy’s life as she came to represent his ideal woman. Their close relationship over 40 years produced a creative partnership in excellence in traditional haute couture, which is still portrayed in the brand – 50 years later. Films starring Hepburn – Breakfast at Tiffany's, How to Steal a Million, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady and Funny Face convey the refined elegance of Givenchy’s image. Other famous patrons include the Kennedy family, who famously wore Givenchy clothes to the funeral of J.F.K.

A pioneer in many fields, Givenchy was the first designer to present a luxury collection of women’s ready-to-wear (1954).

In 1973, Givenchy presented his first menswear collection under the “Gentleman Givenchy” label. Thirty years later, men’s Ready-to-Wear accounts for nearly 40 percent of sales, and some 100,000 ready-to-wear items produced each season.

In 1988, Givenchy was sold to LVMH, the world’s largest premium brand wine, spirits and fashion company. Shortly thereafter, in 1995, Hubert de Givenchy stepped down and passed the reins of the world’s pre-eminent Haut Couture house to the next generation, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen.

Givenchy’s new fragrance’s, Very Irresistible Givenchy, ambassador is Liv Tyler. Tyler, after Hepburn, has become the contemporary incarnation of the Givenchy woman.

Creative Director of Menswear at Givenchy from 2003, Oswald Boateng, previously of Saville Row, the home of bespoke tailoring in London and previous winner of the Best Male Designer Award at the Trophées de la Mode in Paris and at the British Fashion Awards, is inspired by the “codes” of the brand, “For me, Givenchy is the embodiment of elegance.

I instinctively associate the brand with the French gentleman. However, while the British gentleman is a clearly defined character linked to the history of Saville Row, the French gentleman is a more difficult concept to define and connect with a specific period. I needed to go back to the origins (of Givenchy) as much as possible to better reinterpret it with a contemporary slant.”

Givenchy’s new focus is sporty chic – aiming to make the label both more fun and accessible, whilst maintaining the rigorous excellence of the Givenchy brand name.

The 2005 Givenchy sunglass collection embodies sporty chic. Colour acetate frames, with Swarovski crystal detailing on the temples or refined metallic frames with splashes of colour with Givenchy monogrammed temples.

Givenchy is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter. Like Dior, Givenchy is owned by the European luxury goods giant, LVMH. In 1993, Givenchy achieved a total sales worth of $176 million, making it the second largest apparel division of LVMH after Dior.