France is in mourning for Hubert de Givenchy, one of the most important French designers ever to have lived, who died Saturday at the age of 91.
Founder of the House of Givenchy in Paris, the designer was known for creating clothes that were both feminine and modern, with strong shapes and defined silhouettes. When building his fashion house, his aim was not just to provide women with a single outfit, but with an entire wardrobe complete with perfumes and cosmetics.
Givenchy was famous for his close relationships with style icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Liz Taylor. In her films, Hepburn was rarely seen in an outfit not designed by her good friend, and perhaps his most well-recognized design is the Little Black Dress worn by Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. And like that dress, his reputation and influence on fashion will forever leave an imprint on the cultural zeitgeist of the world.
