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Vintage Givenchy Jewelry and Accessories
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Hubert de Givenchy launched his first collection under the Givenchy name in 1952, shortly before he turned 25, after several years as artistic director for the renowned Maison Schiaparelli. Givenchy had left his hometown of Beauvais, France, for...
Hubert de Givenchy launched his first collection under the Givenchy name in 1952, shortly before he turned 25, after several years as artistic director for the renowned Maison Schiaparelli. Givenchy had left his hometown of Beauvais, France, for Paris as a teenager to begin an apprenticeship in couture with Jacques Fath and to study drawing at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, or France’s National School of Fine Art. Following stints at a few other well-known labels, Givenchy joined Schiaparelli in 1947 and was quickly promoted to artistic director of Schiaparelli’s boutique at the Place Vendôme.
Five years later, Givenchy would open his own boutique nearby in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, beginning with an impressive collection of separates, or blouses and skirts that could be worn in various combinations, which was an instant hit. Not long after Dior had reinvigorated the fashion world with his New Look, Givenchy insisted on breaking traditional style codes, starting with the idea of selling interchangeable garments rather than as a single outfit—an idea more popular in New York than Paris.
Model Bettina Graziani, an assistant to Schiaparelli who worked as Givenchy’s head of public relations, opened Givenchy’s first show wearing a white linen top with flounced sleeves whose ruffles were edged with eyelet embroidery by Pierre Brivet, a look that became known as the “Bettina Blouse.” The use of white cotton was both an economic and stylistic choice.
As Givenchy’s career progressed, he became known as a master of simplicity and refined forms, as seen with his first shirtdress, designed in 1955. Later, Givenchy would help democratize fashion by designing more affordable junior sportswear for American manufacturers to produce in partnership with publications like Seventeen and Glamour.
Soon after his debut show, Givenchy met the American actress Audrey Hepburn, who wore several of his pieces in the film “Sabrina,” marking the beginning of their enduring friendship and professional collaboration. Hepburn also donned Givenchy creations in films like “Funny Face” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and in 1957, Hepburn’s face was featured in the advertising for Givenchy’s first perfume, L’interdit. Though Givenchy also dressed other celebrities, such as Jackie Kennedy, Lauren Bacall, and the Duchess of Windsor, his style was most closely associated with Hepburn.
Designer Cristobal Balenciaga also became a close friend and mentor to Givenchy and, in 1959, Givenchy moved his studio to Avenue George V in Paris, across the street from Balenciaga. Givenchy debuted his first colognes for men the same year, called “Eau de Vetyver” and “Monsieur de Givenchy.”
Nearly a decade later, in 1967, the company created its first women’s ready-to-wear line, “Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique,” followed by a ready-to-wear men’s line in 1968 called “Givenchy Gentleman” (a perfume of the same name would debut in 1975). Givenchy’s described his menswear as a mix of classic, structured elegance balanced with casual elements.
Like Elsa Schiaparelli before him, Givenchy expanded his high-quality accessories and costume jewelry in the late 1960s, with typical designs featuring gold- or silver-plating, heavy chains, glass, Lucite, rhinestones, and faux pearls. Vintage Givenchy jewelry was often signed with a stamp of the company name or variation of the “G” logo on the clasps.
In 1988, the Givenchy label became part of the LVMH luxury conglomerate. Hubert de Givenchy stepped down from the house that he founded in 1995, and he passed away in 2018.
Continue readingHubert de Givenchy launched his first collection under the Givenchy name in 1952, shortly before he turned 25, after several years as artistic director for the renowned Maison Schiaparelli. Givenchy had left his hometown of Beauvais, France, for Paris as a teenager to begin an apprenticeship in couture with Jacques Fath and to study drawing at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, or France’s National School of Fine Art. Following stints at a few other well-known labels, Givenchy joined Schiaparelli in 1947 and was quickly promoted to artistic director of Schiaparelli’s boutique at the Place Vendôme.
Five years later, Givenchy would open his own boutique nearby in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, beginning with an impressive collection of separates, or blouses and skirts that could be worn in various combinations, which was an instant hit. Not long after Dior had reinvigorated the fashion world with his New Look, Givenchy insisted on breaking traditional style codes, starting with the idea of selling interchangeable garments rather than as a single outfit—an idea more popular in New York than Paris.
Model Bettina Graziani, an assistant to Schiaparelli who worked as Givenchy’s head of public relations, opened Givenchy’s first show wearing a white linen top with flounced sleeves whose ruffles were edged with eyelet embroidery by Pierre Brivet, a look that became known as the “Bettina Blouse.” The use of white cotton was both an economic and stylistic choice.
As Givenchy’s career progressed, he became known as a master of simplicity and refined forms, as seen with his first shirtdress, designed in 1955. Later, Givenchy would help democratize fashion by designing more affordable junior sportswear for American manufacturers to produce in partnership with publications like Seventeen and Glamour.
Soon after his debut show, Givenchy met the American actress Audrey Hepburn, who wore several of his pieces in the film “Sabrina,” marking the beginning of...
Hubert de Givenchy launched his first collection under the Givenchy name in 1952, shortly before he turned 25, after several years as artistic director for the renowned Maison Schiaparelli. Givenchy had left his hometown of Beauvais, France, for Paris as a teenager to begin an apprenticeship in couture with Jacques Fath and to study drawing at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, or France’s National School of Fine Art. Following stints at a few other well-known labels, Givenchy joined Schiaparelli in 1947 and was quickly promoted to artistic director of Schiaparelli’s boutique at the Place Vendôme.
Five years later, Givenchy would open his own boutique nearby in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, beginning with an impressive collection of separates, or blouses and skirts that could be worn in various combinations, which was an instant hit. Not long after Dior had reinvigorated the fashion world with his New Look, Givenchy insisted on breaking traditional style codes, starting with the idea of selling interchangeable garments rather than as a single outfit—an idea more popular in New York than Paris.
Model Bettina Graziani, an assistant to Schiaparelli who worked as Givenchy’s head of public relations, opened Givenchy’s first show wearing a white linen top with flounced sleeves whose ruffles were edged with eyelet embroidery by Pierre Brivet, a look that became known as the “Bettina Blouse.” The use of white cotton was both an economic and stylistic choice.
As Givenchy’s career progressed, he became known as a master of simplicity and refined forms, as seen with his first shirtdress, designed in 1955. Later, Givenchy would help democratize fashion by designing more affordable junior sportswear for American manufacturers to produce in partnership with publications like Seventeen and Glamour.
Soon after his debut show, Givenchy met the American actress Audrey Hepburn, who wore several of his pieces in the film “Sabrina,” marking the beginning of their enduring friendship and professional collaboration. Hepburn also donned Givenchy creations in films like “Funny Face” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and in 1957, Hepburn’s face was featured in the advertising for Givenchy’s first perfume, L’interdit. Though Givenchy also dressed other celebrities, such as Jackie Kennedy, Lauren Bacall, and the Duchess of Windsor, his style was most closely associated with Hepburn.
Designer Cristobal Balenciaga also became a close friend and mentor to Givenchy and, in 1959, Givenchy moved his studio to Avenue George V in Paris, across the street from Balenciaga. Givenchy debuted his first colognes for men the same year, called “Eau de Vetyver” and “Monsieur de Givenchy.”
Nearly a decade later, in 1967, the company created its first women’s ready-to-wear line, “Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique,” followed by a ready-to-wear men’s line in 1968 called “Givenchy Gentleman” (a perfume of the same name would debut in 1975). Givenchy’s described his menswear as a mix of classic, structured elegance balanced with casual elements.
Like Elsa Schiaparelli before him, Givenchy expanded his high-quality accessories and costume jewelry in the late 1960s, with typical designs featuring gold- or silver-plating, heavy chains, glass, Lucite, rhinestones, and faux pearls. Vintage Givenchy jewelry was often signed with a stamp of the company name or variation of the “G” logo on the clasps.
In 1988, the Givenchy label became part of the LVMH luxury conglomerate. Hubert de Givenchy stepped down from the house that he founded in 1995, and he passed away in 2018.
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