I was born in France in Beauvais,Oise on February 21st in 1927 I was born into an aristocratic family. My father died when I was really little, so I was brought up by my mother and my grandmother. It was easy for me to get info my career since my family had a textile company,from this I was able to develop a great taste in fabrics. I knew the properties and appearance of most fabrics. My Most memorable memory of when I decided I wanted to be a designer was when I was 10 and I visited a world fare, I was able to see textiles from all over the world. I then studied in the art school of École des Beaux.
My first job/work experience was for Jacques Fath after him, I worked for Robert Piquet and then Lucien Lelong. I worked along Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior. I also collaborated with Elsa Schiaparelli and made separates for her boutique.
My story really starts to roll when my fashion house was set up in 1952 my first collection got amazing reviews I named it 'Bettina Graziani' for Paris top model. I made a collection of skirts, tailored blouses made from raw Cotten. I used mundane fabrics, material that was not fussy and I focused on cuts those were my elements.
Another amazing story and a great friendship that began was when I met Audrey Hepburn. I was actually expecting her sister Katharine Hepburn. Audrey was looking for outfits for her character Sabrina. I was able to dress her in a black column dress that looked very sophisticated. She played Sabrina in breakfast at Tiffany's in the dress I designed for her a now very well known film. Even from that dress you can pick out and see my aesthetic, that I like making clothes clean and sophisticated focusing on detail and cuts on superb fabrics.
I did 8 films with Audrey all together.
Another remarkable story was when I worked with Cristobal Balenciaga and went in a different direction removing classical architectural restrictions from women and created the 'sac dress.
A loose dress lacking a defined waistline, a really elegant look something fresh, which was really hard to do well.
Other things I did was start my ready to wear collection in 1954. I then also created the iconic 'balloon dress', and my beautiful 'baby doll dress'.
signature styles
Designed separates
The Bettina blouse made out of cotton sharp tailing frivolous seaming. From the first collection.
Little black dress
Sac dress
Balloon dress
Baby doll dress
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Historical houses: Hubert de Givenchy
Non-FictionThis is another history series find out more about Givenchy and his way into his career. Read about Audrey Hepburn and all of Givenchy's signature items.
