Designers That Changed Fashion: Hubert de Givenchy

Continuing the series of “Designers That Changed Fashion”, I am highlighting a famous designer who is loved by many. Hubert de Givenchy created some of the most timeless designs that we all still love and appreciate even to this day. However, I have a few thoughts as to how Givenchy differentiated himself from everyone else.

Some of the most iconic looks of any film or character have been designer by Hubert de Givenchy. Remember Breakfast at Tiffanies? Of course, it helped that he had a fabulous model in Audrey Hepburn to help him get his name into the films and to slowly become the face of his brand.

However, in order to have such an well known career a designer must have a capturing feeling to it and not just a bunch or pretty faces. What really differentiated Givenchy from all of the other designers of his time was, in my opinion, the structure of each look.

Just look at the shoulders on the yellow and pink sketch above. The sleeves add just a little extra power to the overall look. Another great example of this structure Givenchy used is the classic black evening gown from Breakfast at Tiffanies. The volume at the waist where the long skirt begins is part of the defining shape that he knew would add just a little more allure to the Holly Golightly.

Tailoring was definitely a strong suit for Givenchy and made for a way to add more drama to a design without making the look over dramatic. If there were more fabric added to the looks from Givenchy, like what Edith Head seemed to use, it would have ruined the tailoring that Givenchy mastered. The drama for Givenchy was never in the fabrics used, it was always in the tailoring.

Another reason the specific tailoring Givenchy used was so amazing is because it really made the women who wore his designs feel empowered. There is something so intriguing about the woman who were a Givenchy, and that is exactly what made Hubert de Givenchy such a talented designer.

Much Love,

Sarah