This two-piece black ensemble comprises of a bodice and a flared skirt, decorated with oriental-style floral motifs and a row of buttons down the front. The bodice is cut wide at the shoulders. The skirt is made from black silk with a greenish sheen and is nipped in at the waist. It is worn over a stiffened black silk petticoat with pleats to help support the weight of the outer skirt.Born to an aristocratic family in 1927, French designer Hubert de Givenchy worked for couturiers Jacques Fath, Robert Piguet, Lucien Lelong and Elsa Schiaparelli before opening his own fashion house in 1952. His debut collection stood out for its unique emphasis on interchangeable separates, which was considered revolutionary at that time. One of Givenchy’s signature pieces was the Bettina blouse, which was named after his public relations manager and French model Bettina Graziani. It was made from cotton shirting and had a wide, stand-up collar and ruffled sleeves. Givenchy’s long time muse was the late Hollywood screen legend, Audrey Hepburn. He designed her wardrobe for many of the films she starred in, including the iconic little black dress she wore in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. In 1988, Givenchy sold his fashion house to the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) group and retired from the couture scene in 1996.
