Ensemble

Hubert de Givenchy|House of Givenchy

fall/winter 1963–64 · wool · Costume Institute

The relaxed attitudes of the 1960s could be achieved in couture day wear. Hubert de Givenchy excelled in a style associated with such nonchalant fashion paladins as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Audrey Hepburn. Learning from his mentor, Balenciaga, Givenchy offered a seemingly unstructured two-piece dress - which he dubbed "split level" - indebted to the Balenciaga sack. For necessary articulation of details, he employed "souplesse" instead of a tailor's dart, allowing a supplementary soft fold of material to give shape to these unassuming and chic tops. These ensembles (Alternate: 1979.435.9a, b) by Givenchy were the "working uniforms" of Diana Vreeland, then editor of Vogue magazine in New York.

Artist

Hubert de Givenchy|House of Givenchy

Date

fall/winter 1963–64

Medium

wool

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Diana Vreeland, 1979