At the beginning of his career, Hubert de Givenchy designs a new dress
Drawn on Schiaparelli letterhead, this early sketch by Hubert de Givenchy reflects his formative years (1947–1951) at the iconic atelier. Immersed in avant-garde creativity, he shaped a modern, elegant style that would define French fashion for decades.
This pencil fashion sketch, drawn on letterhead from the Schiaparelli house at 21 Place Vendôme in Paris, takes us back to the early days of Hubert de Givenchy’s promising career. Still unknown to the public at the time, Givenchy worked at Elsa Schiaparelli’s atelier from 1947 to 1951. It was within this bold and avant-garde environment that he learned the codes of Parisian couture while developing a personal vision - refined, elegant, and modern - that would leave a lasting mark on fashion history.
Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel’s great rival, was renowned for her collaborations with surrealist artists and her flair for provocation. In this context, Givenchy was exposed to a creative freedom that he balanced with discipline and precision. The sketch shown here likely illustrates one of his early creations: a structured, feminine, and graphic suit that already demonstrates his sharp sense of silhouette.
Today, Hubert de Givenchy remains a symbol of French elegance. His fashion house, still active, continues to honor his legacy by combining classic sophistication with contemporary vision, and it remains a key ambassador of French style on the world stage.
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