Hubert de Givenchy dies at age 91

 Givenchy. 1966

He was the inventor of casual chic. Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy, founder of Parisian fashion label Givenchy, died on Saturday 10th March 2018, aged 91. Born in Beauvais, France, in 1927, Hubert de Givenchy made his mark in the history of fashion as one of the pioneers of luxury ready-to-wear. He died in his sleep, his partner Philippe Venet told French news agency AFP on Monday.

The French designer, who used to say he was "a happy man, because I worked at the craft I dreamed about when I was a child," eventually retired in 1995, seven years after his label was bought by LVMH and after a design career spanning 40 years. 

The famed French designer was best known for dressing Audrey Hepburn. The legendary actress wore Givenchy’s designs in several films, including “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Sabrina,” “Funny Face,” and “How to Steal a Million.”

Givenchy created one of the most iconic “little black dresses” in fashion history: the silk gown Hepburn donned in the opening scenes of 1961’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

See this article in the NY Times on "Givenchy and Hepburn: The Original Brand Ambassadors". Ms. Hepburn was quoted as saying of the relationship: 

Givenchy’s clothes are the only ones I feel myself in. He is more than a designer, he is a creator of personality.

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His influence is still very much with us today, whether it be in the casual chic cropped pants, ballet flats, off-the-shoulder tops or formal dresses and gowns we see every year at the Oscars. A feminine differential we can all applaud. Thank you for the style and beauty.