The revolution of simplicity.

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Hubert de Givenchy was only 25 when he presented his debut Haute Couture collection at the quivering public of Paris. The collection was a combination of mix and match pieces, that women could wear as they liked. The designs were youthful, zestful and full of fresh ideas, with emphasis on separate light floor-lenght skirts and tops and the accessories, ranging then from coats to ballgowns. The idea was that women could mix and match the separates, thus able of expressing their personal style.



Bettina Graziani joined Givenchy's enterprise, organizing publicity and posing, leaving her work as a top model in Paris. Givenchy dedicated to her the famous Bettina Blouse, a voluminous puff-sleeved blouse made of raw cotton, which will remain the iconic piece of the collection and of the brand for years ahead.



In his designs we can see a totally new and innovative way of dressing women. Second World War had just finished, France had been occupied for over three years, the country and the families were destroyed. Women had to rebuild their lives. They had to work and be comfortable, without sacrificing their femininity. That's the kind of woman Givenchy thought about when designing this collection. He used simple fabrics making them look luxurious. 



It may look classical and traditional if seen now, but it's all about the context. The idea of being elegant but simple, of being able to combine different clothes creating continuously a new style was pioneering and avant-garde in the '50s. Women finally could be stylish, refined and above all comfortable without losing their feminineness. 

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