I've been an ardent admirer of Hubert de Givenchy from the day I met him while browsing in the original Henri Bendel emporium on 57th Street. He smiled warmly, was very gracious and we chatted a little about monogram stationery, which I was not buying - I wish - but he was. Mr. Givenchy was a dashing figure at 6'6", with a shock of white hair and classically elegant in his signature green loden coat.
Mr. Givenchy's passing this week has thrown me into waves of nostalgia for the personal grace, style, elegance he exuded and translated into creations for his muse, Audrey Hepburn and other high profile ladies such as Jackie Kennedy and the Duchess of Windsor.
I first learned about Hubert de Givenchy, the French couturier through Audrey Hepburn's movies and yes Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my all time faves and watching it would invariably send me into high-fashion heaven daydreams.
Mr Givenchy and Ms Hepburn enjoyed a remarkable partnership, which began early in their careers and, apparently from the very beginning she wanted him to dress her exclusively for her movies which included "Funny Face," "Love in the Afternoon," "Paris When it Sizzles," "How to Steal a Million," "Charade," and "Love Among Thieves." She has said that Mr. Givenchy's designs gave her the confidence to play her parts, or to step onstage before thousands of people to promote a charity, as retold by Vanessa Friedman, New York Times.
These two, as Vanessa Friedman accurately classifies them, were the Original Brand Ambassadors, that has become the gold standard of almost every brand. However, it's impossible to imagine that kind of partnership which endured for over 40-years could exist today!
And for my lovers of French classic interior design and Renaissance architecture: Hubert de Givenchy lived in elegant splendor in his country estate, Château Du Jonchet, a beautiful Renaissance castle from the early XVIIth century. Built by the architect Gabriel de Lestrade, the château was in a state of ruins in the 1950's and restored by the architect Fernand Pouillon (1912 - 1986). It was later owned by Roger Bellon, owner of pharmaceutical companies of the same name before becoming the retirement home of Mr Givenchy. From This is Glamorous - blog
Le Jonchet Estate in the Loire Valley - World of Interiors December 2012 photography Claire Virieu
Chateau du Jonchet (via the Art of the Room)
The main terrace, photography Pablo Zamora (via The Art of the Room)
Chambre d'Héléne, a guest room decorated with Braquenie 's "Tree of Life." Photography Pascal Chevalier for The Givenchy Style (via The Art of the Room)
This little black dress that launched millions of LBD's - so iconic it sold at Christie's auction December 5 2006 to an anonymous buyer for $923,187..."The little black dress is the hardest thing to realize," Givenchy said, "because you must keep it simple." Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Photograph: Paramount/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock
Givenchy created wardrobes for Audrey Hepburn in films including Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Funny Face. Photograph: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Photography Norman Parkinson
Hubert de Givenchy with his muse and dear friend Audrey Hepburn radiant in red!
Hubert de Givenchy in 2002. Photograph: Noemi Bruzak/AP