French fashion icon Givenchy dead at 91

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS

French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy, famous for styling actress Audrey Hepburn and U.S. first lady Jackie Kennedy, has died at the age of 91, his family announced on Monday.

The French aristocrat, who founded the house of Givenchy in 1952, died on Saturday.

Under the ownership of luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton since 1988, the house of Givenchy issued a statement paying homage to its founder.

"The House of Givenchy is sad to report the passing of its founder Hubert de Givenchy, a major personality of the world of French Haute Couture and a gentleman who symbolized Parisian chic and elegance for more than half a century. He will be greatly missed."

One of Givenchy's most famous clothes horses was actress Audrey Hepburn, who wore his designs and the iconic "little black dress" in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's and Charade, among other films.

Givenchy worked alongside the then-unknown Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior after World War II.