Don't mention Audrey

When Riccardo Tisci was interviewing for the spot of creative director at Givenchy, he did not mention Audrey Hepburn once. Hepburn had been Givenchy's muse, and her style had been regurgitated repeatedly.

Apparently president and chairman Marco Gobbetti was suitably impressed by Tisci's originality. "He was the one who didn't make a single reference to Audrey Hepburn, Mr de Givenchy's muse, whose tyle was tremendously used here in the past," he told AFP, admitting that he had interviewed "about 20" candidates to replace Julien Macdonald. "Success is not a question of money or a large number of boutiques. It's all about finding the right blend. I saw many creative people with a lot of talent, but the difficulty lies in applying that talent to an actual job."

Gobbetti was equally impressed with Tisci's willingness to put his own label on hold to concentrate on the Givenchy job. "He's a real couturier," he continued. "He has a gift for energising his teams. Womenswear sales are going to shoot up very quickly."

www.givenchy.fr
12 July 2005

Liv's the new Audrey

For the first time since Audrey Hepburn was the face of Givenchy, a moviestar has stepped in to take her place. Gorgeous actress Liv Tyler is the face of the new Very Irresistible Givenchy Sensual Eau de Parfum and the Very Irresistible Givenchy for men.

She was in New York last week for the launch of the scents. It was the first public appearance of its kind since the birth of her son six months ago.

"I've been busy being a mom," she told Fashion Wire Daily. "I wanted to focus on doing that the best I could for these past six months…Now it's time to get my body back in shape and get back to work."

Tyler shot the new men's fragrance campaign with photographer Peter Lindberg in the Meatpacking District a few weeks ago. The pair had never worked together before, but the results are remarkable. "I was shy about my body and he made me feel good. He was so sweet!" Tyler said. In the campaign Tyler is pictured standing behind a male model, smiling shyly his way. During the shoot she was never actually stading behind a male model. He was figured in digitally.

When Tyler was asked about her legendary predecessor, Audrey Hepburn, she responded: "There is no way to even compete with her. I'm flattered to even be compared to her, but I can't even compete." In answer to the qestion why she thought Givenchy has chosen her, she said: "I'm American and spontaneous and I think Givenchy likes that mixed with their classic French style."

The new Very Irresistible Sensual Eau de Parfum is a more intense and rose-tinged version of the original. Even the men's scent has a rose tint to it. This unique rose will soon be coined the "Live" rose by Givenchy. She will be flown to France for a special rose naming ceremony. Tyler's publicist was giddy at the thought. "I can't believe they are naming a rose after you," she said.

www.givenchy.com
22 June 2005

Givenchy Appoints Successor

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has confirmed Riccardo Tisci as Givenchy's fifth designer in 10 years. Marco Gobbetti, chief executive officer of Givenchy, said Tisci signed a three-year contract and would move to Paris to begin work immediately on a winter couture collection and pre-spring ready-to-wear. It has not yet been decided if Givenchy, which has sat on fashion's sidelines since the exit of Julien Macdonald in April, will be back on the couture runway in July.

Monday's announcement ends one of the longest designer searches in recent memory, with candidates said to range from Richard Chai and Zac Posen in New York to Giles Deacon and Roland Mouret in London. Alber Elbaz, who renewed his contract at Lanvin last August, resisted aggressive courting by LVMH.

After years working for other designers and firms - including Antonio Berardi, Stefano Guerriero, Missoni and Ratti - Tisci signed a three-year contract to do the Ruffo Research collection, which had been a platform for the likes of Sophia Kokosalaki, Veronique Branquinho and Raf Simons. Tisci succeeds a string of designers who have, to varying degrees, encountered some bumps on the road to brand rejuvenation following the 1995 retirement of founder Hubert de Givenchy.

After a brief stint by John Galliano, who moved on to Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen tried his hand. But his eclectic collections - space aliens one season, rockabilly the next - failed to galvanize the house. Macdonald went back to a style rooted in French elegance and sophistication, but did not win much acclaim. More recently, the spotlight at Givenchy has shone on men's wear, where the artistic director is Ozwald Boateng.

2 March 2005

Boateng Appointed At Givenchy

Ozwald Boateng's appointment as Givenchy's first menswear creative director should pave the way for the opening of its own standalone stores. Although Boateng's work for LVMH-owned Givenchy and his own clothing line will be kept separate, he will no doubt benefit from the increased exposure, and the chance to head a major fashion house further elevates Boateng to the top level of designers.

At present there is one Ozwald Boateng store in Vigo Street, off Savile Row, and negotiations are underway for a second London store. The company is in talks over a concession with a major department store and another store in a city in the north of England. The business is further looking towards opening in America, most probably in New York.

Boateng's debut collection for Givenchy will be shown in July next year.

16 December 2003