HUBERT DE GIVENCHY left his home in Beauvais, just outside of Paris, at the age of 17 for the opportunities offered in the City of Light. There, he enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts and began his career as an apprentice. In 1952, he established his couture house, la Maison Givenchy, and two years later in 1954, became the first couturier to present a luxury ready-to-wear line. He would meet his iconic muse, Audrey Hepburn, in 1953, and the two would remain close friends for over 40 years, until her death in 1993.
Givenchy sold his business to Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey in 1988, and retired in 1995. Today, at 88 years of age, he lives in a country estate — Le Jonchet — a beautiful Renaissance castle from the early XVIIth century. Built by the architect Gabriel de Lestrade, the château was in a state of ruins in the 1950’s, and restored by the architect Fernand Pouillon (1912 – 1986). It was later owned by Roger Bellon, owner of pharmaceutical companies of the same name and is now currently the retirement home of the renown couturier. Click through for a glimpse of his incredible style . . .
The light-filled study of Philippe Venet, Givenchy’s companion, at Château du Jonchet | (via The Art of the Room)
The atelier at Château du Jonchet, from the French book “L’esprit des lieux” by Christiane de Nicolaÿ-Mazery; the bronze deer is by François Pompon | (via Pinterest)
The main terrace, from the Spanish edition of Vanity Fair; photography by Pablo Zamora. | (via The Art of the Room)
A guest bedroom at Château du Jonchet, from the French book “L’esprit des lieux” by Christiane de Nicolaÿ-Mazery | (via Pinterest)
The grounds at Château du Jonchet, photography by Claire de Virieu. | (via The Art of the Room )
(via The Art of the Room)
The grounds at Château du Jonchet, photography by Claire de Virieu. | (via The Art of the Room)
A tablescape at Givenchy’s La Jonchet manor, 1988 | (via Veranda)
Château du Jonchet | (via The Art of the Room)
Châmbre d’Hélène, a guest room decorated with Braquenié’s “Tree of Life”. Photo by Pascal Chevallier for The Givenchy Style. | (via The Art of the Room)
The dining room at Le Jonchet with walls covered in hand-painted Chinese paper
18th-century chinoiserie panels in the dining room. | (via The Art of the Room)
“Tables are piled with decades of photographs, letters, momentos, sketches and personal caprices in the Givenchy’s studio. A bas-relief of a dove by Giacometti surmounts the fireplace.” From the Spanish edition of Vanity Fair; photography by Pablo Zamora. | (via The Art of the Room)
Photo by Pascal Chevallier for The Givenchy Style. | (via The Art of the Room)
The salon at Le Jonchet, photo by Michael Dunne, 1988 | (via The Art of the Room)
Givenchy at Château du Jonchet, photo by Michael Dunne, 1988. | (via The Art of the Room)
Audrey Hepburn with Hubert de Givenchy in Paris in 1982, photographed by Norman Parkinson. | (via Fashion News)
Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy photographed by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff after enjoying an evening at Maxim’s in Paris, France, March 12, 1979. | (via Rare Audrey Hepburn)
Source: thisisglamorous
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