Happy Birthday Givenchy

Hubert de Givenchy at work.  Image: museudelperfum.com

Happy Birthday Hubert de Givenchy! 

Givenchy was born this day in 1927. He is a fashion designer who has dressed some of the most iconic stars of the 20th century including Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Wallis Simpson and of course his muse, Audrey Hepburn. 

Givenchy had a long friendship with Hepburn which began on the movie set of "Sabrina" in 1953 and continued until her death in 1993. Givenchy created Hepburn's wardrobes for almost all of the movies she made after Sabrina. He also designed clothing for Hepburn's personal wardrobe and was responsible for creating her signture look.

Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy in the 1970's.

Happy Valentine's Day/YSL Hearts

Some of my favorite Valentines cards are actually New Year's cards created by Yves Saint Laurent and sent to members of his close circle of friends. He created the cards for 30 years and always incorporated the word "love" in them.

His earliest cards were pen and ink drawings.

His later cards were often collages

Polly Mellen, a former fashion editor at Vogue Magazine for 28 years, was a close friend of Saint Laurent, and displays her treasured cards en masse ... in her powder room! 

Vogue, April 2009

Love and hearts were seen not only in Saint Laurent's cards but were also a leitmotif in his designs. 

Hearts could be seen in Saint Laurent's clothing designs ...........

Yves Saint Laurent Spring 1987 collection. Wool suit with red satin heart lapel.

1980s suit jacket

.....and in his jewelry designs.

1985 Yves Saint Laurent earrings.

Yves Saint Laurent 1980s earrings.

Bride at the end of Yves Saint Laurent's 1983 couture runway show wearing his signature heart shaped pendant necklace.

Happy Valentine's Day! Be sure to wear your heart on your sleeve! oxoxoxo