Chapter Two

EDITH, AUDREY AND GIVENCHY...
three people, three dresses, the story behind the story!

In 1954 Audrey Hepburn was cast in the starring role of the original Sabrina movie. In that movie she is transformed from a shy waif into a sophisticated Parisienne. Edith Head was picked to design the costumes but she and Audrey did not always see eye to eye. Audrey had a style of her own and knew how to dress her very slender figure to its best advantage. She insisted that she pick her own wardrobe. Billy Wilder, the director, consented.

Since her transformation occurred in Paris, Audrey wanted to wear real Parisian Couture clothing. Her friend sent her to see Cristóbal Balenciaga in Paris but he was in the middle of producing his collection and could not help her.  He sent her to Hubert de Givenchy. Givenchy also was in the middle of a collection but allowed Audrey to see his work.  

She picked the three key outfits for the movie from his line... The beautiful collarless suit she returns home in, the gorgeous organza formal with blue embroidered flowers and the now iconic black dress.  Audrey asked him to re-do the neckline of his original black dress to cover her prominent collar bone. It became known as the "boat neck" and caused a sensation among American women. The dress would later be referred to as the "Sabrina'

The costume department had to duplicate Givenchy dresses in case something got ruined.  Edith Head sketched the little black dress and signed her name to it. Everyone assumed it was her own design. She never corrected them.  In fact she accepted the Oscar for the "Best Costume Design" at the Academy Awards. Audrey was horrified and called Givenchy to apologize. She promised him it would never happen again.

Givenchy never said a word until after Edith's death. Only then did he reveal the costumes were actually his designs.

He and Audrey became dear friends and he dressed her personally and professionally for the rest of her life. She wore his gorgeous clothing in Breakfast at Tiffany's

She is quoted as saying... "His are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality."