æBorn in 1927, Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy founded his namesake House in 1953. That same year, he presented a collection that would leave an indelible mark on fashion history: his ñseparatesî _ elegant blouses and light skirts blending architectural lines and simplicity _ met with enormous success in light of the more constricted looks of the day. The ñenfant terrible of Haute Coutureî was born. Spare lines, slender hips, slim silhouettes and swan-like necks won over actresses from around the world. In 1955, Hubert de Givenchy presented his first shirtdress; the evolution toward lanterns-shapes would become iconic. æ Audrey Hepburn, as the designerÍs muse, accompanied him in inventing a style that would redefine standards of beauty. In 1969, the launch of the ñGivenchy Gentlemanî line would become a reference in menÍs fashion. After a career spanning more than 40 years, and having become a part of the LVMH group in 1988, Hubert de Givenchy retired in 1995. He would be succeeded by some of fashionÍs great creative talents, among them John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien MacDonald, and Riccardo Tisci. In spring 2017, Clare Waight Keller was named artistic director of Haute Couture and womenÍs and menÍs ready-to-wear.