Hubert de Givenchy is a descendent of French nobility, raised by his mother and grandmother, he showed an early interest in fashion design. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and started his career at the House of Fath in 1945. He also designed for Lucien Lelong, Pierre Balmain, Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli. Though he never officially worked for Cristobal Balenciaga, he was his good friend, and a strong influence on young Givenchy's style.

In 1952, Givenchy opened his own design house at the Plaine Monceau in Paris. His first collection took Paris by storm, not due to its opulence, but rather due to its simplicity and grace. His elegant style was personified by Audrey Hepburn who almost exclusively was dressed by Givenchy.