Givenchy, Hubert de (James Marcel Taffin) (übĕr` də zhēväNshē`), 1927–, French fashion designer. He established his house of couture in Paris. A disciple of Balenciaga Balenciaga, Cristóbal (krĭstō`bäl bälĕnthyä`gä)
..... Click the link for more information. and assistant designer to Schiaparelli Schiaparelli, Elsa (skyäpärĕl`lē), 1890–1973, French fashion designer, b. Rome.
..... Click the link for more information. , he opened his own house in 1952, selling it to Moët Hennessy–Louis Vuitton in 1988. He remained under contract with them until 1995, when he retired and was replaced by British designer John Galliano. Givenchy's elegant and classic style is noted for its separate skirts and tops; unusual embroidered and printed fabrics; tubular evening dresses; sumptuous ball gowns; jeweled headbands; shawls; the princess silhouette; sleeveless coats; funnel necklines; and his perfumes. He was the designer of Audrey Hepburn's clothes and film costumes.

Givenchy, Hubert de

(born Feb. 21, 1927, Beauvais, Fr.) French fashion designer. After studying art at the École des Beaux-Arts, he designed for the Paris fashion houses of Robert Piguet, Lucien Lelong, and Elsa Schiaparelli. In 1952 he opened his own house and introduced his first collection, featuring separates, high-style coats, and elegant ball gowns. In 1957 he and Cristobal Balenciaga introduced the “sack” silhouette (clothes without waistlines). His designs for Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) popularized the high-bosomed dress without sleeves or belt. In the 1960s his ready-to-wear boutiques brought high fashion at low prices to women throughout the world.