Hubert de Givenchy was born to a wealthy family 1927 in Beauvais, France. He studied at the ƒcole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His first job in the fashion industry was when he worked for Jacques Fath in Paris in 1945. He then worked briefly for Robert Piguet and for Lucien Lelong (1946) [where he worked with Lelong's assistants, Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior, and finally for Elsa Schiaparelli (1947- 1951).

Balenciaga was his mentor, although he never worked for him, whose atelier was just across the avenue George V.

Hubert De Givenchy

He opened the House of Givenchy in 1952. He named his first collection for Bettina Graziani, Paris's top model. The noteworthy in this first collection was his generous use of white cotton shirting, which had an economic as well as an aesthetic rationale: the shirting was as inexpensive as it was fresh-looking. The Bettina blouse Givenchy used in later years as his signature was part of this cotton group, and it has reappeared on and off in more simplified and refined incarnations. His style was marked by innovativeness, contrary to the more conservative designs by Dior.

Two women represent the typical Givenchy ( Givenchy handbags ) style of the 50s and 60s: Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. Givenchy created almost all the wardrobe worn by Hepburn in several of her most beloved roles, starting with Sabrina (1954). He also developed his first perfume collection for her (L'Interdit and Le de Givenchy). By furnishing Hollywood movie stars beginning in 1953, Givenchy achieved a popularity like never before. In 1955, he introduced separates and then the Orlon-fabric to the haute couture. His designs are elegant and refined.

In 1988, Givenchy sold his business to Mo‘t Hennessy-Louis Vuitton (LVMH) for financial reasons. Until his retirement in 1995, he remained head of design, always working in a white "lab coat". Givenchy is a collector of antique furniture, Louis XIV through French Empire.

when he retired , LVMH appointed John Galliano to replaced him. After a brief stint by Galliano, a five year stay from Alexander McQueen and a term from 2001 to 2004 by Julian MacDonald, Givenchy women's ready to wear and haute couture has been headed by Riccardo Tisci since 2005.