As we approach the 65th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, there is one brand we must look through the history of: Hubert de Givenchy. I mean how can the iconic black dress not come to mind the second you think of the iconic film?

The brand was started in 1952 by Hubert Taffin de Givenchy. One of Givenchy’s first muses, and arguably most iconic, was of course Audrey Hepburn. While Givenchy is known for dressing her for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, he also dressed her for multiple other films including How to Steal a Million. Hepburn remained loyal to Givenchy’s designs until her death in 1993. Besides Hepburn, Givenchy also dressed figures such as Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy. 

On top of Hepburn as a muse, Givenchy gained a lot of his inspiration from Cristobal Balenciaga. Givenchy was established in what is known as the golden age of haute couture and fashion in general. Balenciaga was a leader during this era, but Givenchy followed closely in his footsteps as a new designer. Givenchy’s style is often associated with this peak of the fashion era. 

Some of Givenchy’s most iconic pieces include the “Sack Dress” which was featured in the Spring-Summer Collection of 1957. Multiple of Audrey Hepburn’s looks are iconic Givenchy, including outfits she wore off-screen. His designs are known for being elegant, but fresh at the same time. He is known for crafting two-piece looks.

In 1988, he sold his brand to the LVMH group. The brand has now experienced multiple heads, including well-known designer, Alexander McQueen. Riccadro Tisci, who became head in 2005, helped Givenchy have a surge of popularity. Many celebrities began to wear the brand, including Kim Kardashian, who became one of the main muses for modern Givenchy. His aesthetic helped shape the new era of fashion in the 2010s. Clare Waight Keller became the first female head of the brand in 2017. She helped bring the brand back to its roots focusing on silent luxury. 

Now the brand is led by Sarah Burton who took over in September of 2024. Her first collection was released in March 2025 and had its debut at Paris Fashion Week for the Fall/Winter 2025 collections. She focused on the concept of the “modern woman,” paying close attention to tailoring. 

Till next Sunday,

Daisy