Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy: Stronger than passion, more than love

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

It seems that their meeting was predetermined by fate. And they met in 1953 so that each of them would find himself thanks to another person. Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy have been inseparable for 40 years. They could be on opposite sides of the ocean, but invisibly close. What connected the talented actress and the brilliant fashion designer for several decades, and why, after the departure of Audrey Hepburn, Hubert de Givenchy could not stay in the profession?

Fateful meeting

Audrey Hepburn was already famous in America by the time of her very first visit to the model house of Hubert de Givenchy. The young actress has already played her first starring role in "Roman Holiday", but in France they still did not know about the rising American star, and the film appeared in the French box office a little later.

Audrey did not come to Paris for a tour, she needed to pick up some costumes for her heroine in "Sabrina". The actress spent a long time revising the models of various French couturiers in the hope of seeing just such outfits that she could fall in love with at first sight.

The young fashion designer, who opened his fashion house just a year before Audrey's arrival in Paris, attracted the girl's attention with the freshness and originality of his outfits. It seemed to her that the models of this couturier would suit her perfectly. Time has shown that she was not mistaken.

However, at the moment of the first meeting, the future trendsetter was very disappointed. He expected to see a completely different actress who starred in the movie "Adam's Rib" Only her name was Catherine, and she was the namesake of Audrey. There was no talk of sewing new outfits for the stranger; Hubert de Givenchy suggested that she choose costumes from ready-made models. However, the actress liked the proposed costumes, she selected several of them for filming. They fit perfectly not only to the image of the heroine that Audrey was to play, but also perfectly emphasized the personality of the actress herself.

The film "Sabrina" subsequently won an Oscar for its costumes, but received the prestigious award as the official dresser of the film, Edith Head. But Audrey Hepburn repeatedly mentioned in her interviews that her outfits were from the new collection of the young Parisian fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy. Thanks to this, the couturier gained many new clients, he very quickly gained popularity in the fashion world.

Therefore, when Audrey flew to Paris to apologize to Givenchy, he began to thank the girl for his own fame. This day was the beginning of their lifelong friendship.

Friendship is stronger than love

Now Audrey Hepburn, when signing contracts for participation in the filming, separately stipulated that only Hubert de Givenchy would create all the costumes for her. However, in ordinary life, the famous actress also invariably dressed with her favorite designer and invariably followed his advice.

She has always looked amazingly stylish and elegant, her jewelry perfectly matched with suits and dresses. And even the actress agreed to change her hairstyle, only after consulting with Givenchy. In "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Funny Face", in the films "How to Steal a Million" and "Charade" Audrey shone in Hubert's dresses, and then millions of women from different countries tried to copy her image and style.

Givenchy already had many wealthy and influential clients, including Jacqueline Kennedy, but Audrey was his muse, his inspiration and his friend. A year after the fashion designer and actress met, a Hepburn mannequin appeared in his atelier. All the star outfits were fitted on it and they never had to be altered. As the mannequin itself never had to be altered, the actress retained her figure throughout her life.

Hubert de Givenchy was next to the actress in moments of joy and in those days when it was difficult for her. He was ready to wipe her tears when she broke up with her first husband, he sewed her stunning wedding dress for painting with Andrea Dotti. It was on Hubert's shoulder that Audrey was crying, mourning the death of her newborn baby, and he was holding her son Sean in his arms, becoming his godfather.

When the actress told Hubert about her dream of having her own unique scent, he found an opportunity to invite Francis Farbon, one of the best perfumers, who created an exclusive perfume for “baby Audrey”. When the fragrance "L'Interdit" went on sale a year later, it became a real bestseller. Everyone wanted to try on a star perfume.

End of an era

Hubert de Givenchy was always there for Audrey. He did not leave her even during his illness. His muse, his beloved actress suffered from terrible pain, and he held on to her and only closing the door behind him, he could not hold back his tears. It was obvious that Audrey was leaving, and he was unable to keep her in this world. But he was still ready to fulfill her every whim. When Audrey wanted to visit Switzerland just before her death, he personally sent a private plane for her, taking care of the convenience of the actress.

She passed away in January 1993. After the departure of his muse, Hubert de Givenchy could not create at all. Like she took all his inspiration with her. In 1995, he handed over the management of the fashion house to his successor and retired to a country house. It was only in 2015 that he broke his long silence by publishing a book of sketches of those costumes that the couturier created for his muse. Turning the pages with his own drawings, he seemed to relive every meeting with his baby Audrey. Hubert de Givenchy passed away in March 2018, having outlived his muse for 25 years.

There were muses and Pierre Cardin, who dressed the first beauties of the planet and the most popular artists. It is difficult even to imagine how famous personalities he dressed. They fell in love with him, they worshiped him. But there were only a few women who left the brightest mark on his soul. He is still proud of his acquaintance and friendship with them.