As Hubert De Givenchy turns 80, we take a look at his spectacular career

"I absolutely believe my talent is God-given. I ask God for a lot, but I also thank him. I'm a very demanding believer."

Givenchy, one of the most coveted designer labels in the world, was founded in 1952 by French aristocrat Hubert de Givenchy. His first job in the fashion industry was working for Jacques Fath in Paris in 1945, before collaborating with Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain while at Lucien Lelong in 1946, and finally working for the avant-garde designer Elsa Schiaparelli between 1947 and 1951.
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Today, as Hubert celebrates his 80th birthday, we look back on a star-studded life, famous for starting the phenomenon of the little black dress, designing wardrobes for Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy and for inspiring designers John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Julien Macdonald.

Givenchy became synonymous with Hollywood glamour after Hubert dressed Audrey Hepburn for her breakthrough movie Sabrina. It was Breakfast At Tiffany's, however, that made Givenchy a household name. Although the designer went on to have a close personal relationship with Hepburn, dressing her for most of her movies, it is the little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's that has become iconic in both the arenas of fashion and film. The relationship between Hollywood and high fashion was born.

The other event that brought the house worldwide acclaim was rather a sad one. When John F.Kennedy was assassinated, the world witnessed a mourning Kennedy family all dressed in Givenchy clothes

Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn became close friends after she choose clothes from his collection to wear for the film Sabrina. He said of her: "One thing that struck me about her, apart from her charm and elegance, was her ability to make herself loved and admired by women as well as men. Her image was unique. This is something that other great actresses have been unable to create for themselves."

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