Inside the House of Givenchy
The House of Givenchy—one of the world’s most revered haute couture houses—has been pushing the boundaries of elegance, sophistication, and femininity since it was founded in 1952.
From Givenchy’s groundbreaking first collection of women’s separates to the luxe beauty products we turn to today, Givenchy continues to redefine standards of beauty as we know them.
Born in 1927 in northern France, Hubert de Givenchy moved to Paris at age 17 to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. He worked for iconic fashion designers like Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, and Elsa Schiaparelli before opening his own design house. Almost overnight, Givenchy became known for his elegant separates, sleek tailoring, and avant-garde designs.
Givenchy’s Foray into Fragrance
Scent has the power to trigger profound emotions and invoke long-forgotten memories. Givenchy regarded fragrance as the final touch to an outfit—a powerful way to communicate one’s character and captivate a room. In 1957, Givenchy debuted his first fragrance, L’Interdit, as a natural extension of his distinctive couture. To this day, Givenchy fragrances are sensual expressions of individuality with a subtle dose of the unexpected.
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The First Beauty Collection
In 1989, Givenchy expanded on his holistic approach to style with skincare and makeup collections. This first makeup collection included Le Prisme Visage, a silky pressed powder with four hues for highlighting, contouring, color-correcting, and mattifying the skin. Le Prisme Visage eventually led to the creation of Prisme Libre, the cult-classic loose setting and finishing powder, in 2006.
Nicolas Degennes Joins Givenchy
Makeup artist Nicolas Degennes became Givenchy’s Artistic Director for Colors and Makeup in 1999. Drawing on the avant-garde spirit of Givenchy’s runway looks, Degennes introduced the Couture Line in 2013, which includes iconic formulas like Le Rouge Lipstick. Through opulent textures, bold colors, and the belief that the best canvas is a flawless complexion, Nicolas Degennes elevates makeup into the ultimate luxury accessory.
Givenchy Today
Givenchy continues to blaze new trails in the worlds of fashion, beauty, and fragrance, carrying on a legacy of innovation that began over 60 years ago.