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1956-1958 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Small boutiques situated on the ground floor of the couture houses became increasingly common in the 1950s. They sold a range of luxury goods such as cosmetics, jewellery, knitwear, accessories and what were called in Paris frivolités. Clients might call in at the boutique following a lengthy fitting to pick up an off-the-peg blouse or some perfume.

Hubert de Givenchy (b. 1927) combined the spirit of the boutique with the quality of traditional couture. Like many couturiers he learnt through placements at various houses. He went from Jacques Fath to Lucien Lelong to Robert Piguet, and then to Elsa Schiaparelli for four years, where he designed 'separates' for her pioneering boutique, before opening his own house in 1952.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Skirt
  • Blouse
Materials and techniques
Fine silk twill
Brief description
Printed silk twill blouse and skirt, Hubert de Givenchy, Paris, 1956-1958
Physical description
A skirt and matching blouse of fine silk twill, printed with small red and pink flowers with black spot centres and green leaves on a cream ground. The blouse has 3/4 length sleeves and fastens at the front with 3 self covered buttons. There are two tuck pleats at the back waist, one of which has now come loose. The blouse has a label at the back inside neck, of black weaving on white, reading: Givenchy Paris Made in France. The skirt appears as six broad panels - 2 at the front, 2 at the back and 1 at each side. However, secondary and overlapping pleats layering underneath these panels add movement and fullness.
Dimensions
  • Skirt footprint diameter: 50cm
  • Waist circumference: 90cm
  • Bust circumference: 105cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'Givenchy Paris Made in France' (Label)
Gallery label
[C panel - 4h] BOUTIQUE AND ACCESSORIES Small shops or boutiques situated on the ground floor of the couture houses became increasingly common. They sold a range of luxury goods such as cosmetics, jewellery, knitwear, accessories and what were called in Paris frivolités. Clients might call in at the boutique following a lengthy fitting to pick up an off-the-peg blouse or some perfume. Eventually, some houses such as Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin opened separate boutiques selling ready-to-wear designs for a growing youth market. [78 words] Blouse Hubert de Givenchy (1927-) Paris About 1956 Givenchy combined the spirit of the boutique with the quality of traditional couture. Like many couturiers he learnt through placements at various houses. He went from Fath to Lelong to Piguet, and then to Elsa Schiaparelli for four years, where he designed 'separates' for her pioneering boutique. [47 words] Printed fine silk twill V&A: T.27:1-2007(22/09/2007)
Object history
This objects was purchased at auction for the V&A 2007 exhibition The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957
Subject depicted
Summary
Small boutiques situated on the ground floor of the couture houses became increasingly common in the 1950s. They sold a range of luxury goods such as cosmetics, jewellery, knitwear, accessories and what were called in Paris frivolités. Clients might call in at the boutique following a lengthy fitting to pick up an off-the-peg blouse or some perfume.

Hubert de Givenchy (b. 1927) combined the spirit of the boutique with the quality of traditional couture. Like many couturiers he learnt through placements at various houses. He went from Jacques Fath to Lucien Lelong to Robert Piguet, and then to Elsa Schiaparelli for four years, where he designed 'separates' for her pioneering boutique, before opening his own house in 1952.
Collection
Accession number
T.27:1, 2-2007

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Record createdJanuary 30, 2008
Record URL
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