Hubert de Givenchy has died at age 91.
The French fashion legend’s cause of death has not been released yet but the news was shared by his partner Philippe Venet, a former couture designer. Givenchy’s legacy spans more than 60 years and it is still relevant today as it was in the 1950s.
Here are eight things to remember him by:
- Givenchy designed most of Audrey Hepburn’s personal and professional wardrobe, including her “little black dress” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
- He first opened his own design house in 1952, known as the Plaine Monceau in Paris.
- He soon released his first collection “Bettina Graziani” after the top model of Paris at the moment, creating an innovative and progressive style that opposed the more conservative approach from Dior.
- Givenchy didn’t have a lot of money starting out so he used cheap fabrics at first.
- The fashion giant also developed a perfume collection for Hepburn called L’Interdit and Le de Givenchy, with the actor serving as the face of the fragrance. It was the first time a star was the face of a fragrance’s advertising campaign and Hepburn did it for free.
- His clients have included Countess Mona von Bismarck, Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall and other celebrities and royalty.
- Givenchy retired from fashion design in 1995.
- The fashion guru’s designs continue to impress in the celebrity world today as this year’s Oscars saw Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman wear a custom Givenchy design.
RIP.
