Chunky chains but always with an elegant twist

Take the elegance of that little black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961) and cross it with the geometry of yellow and white chains and you have the Givenchy jewel: bold, almost architectural shapes connecting and cascading in chain necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Hubert de Givenchy founded his eponymous haute couture maison in Paris in 1952. From the outset, his collections struck a chord with the European and American fashion critics in search of something new; the linen and raw-cotton skirts and layered blouses of his first collection, Les Séparables, structured the female silhouette with sharp lines but brought freedom with their multitude of pairing options. Givenchy was an instant success.

Unsurprisingly, Givenchy was the first high-fashion designer to launch a prêt-à-porter collection: Givenchy Université. Gentleman Givenchy, his menswear line, soon followed and the brand expanded exponentially through the 1970s, adding jewellery, shoes, perfume, tableware and hotel interiors to its oeuvre.

Famous faces flocked to Givenchy. Audrey Hepburn flaunted the latest Givenchy looks both on and off screen; she even gained her own perfume – named “L’Interdit” (from the French for forbidden) after she “forbade” Givenchy to commercialise it – which mixed a floral softness with more powerful, woody scents.

This marriage of the soft and the punchy forms the elegance for which Givenchy jewels are known. Curved shapes meet at clean, sharp points in its 1980s jewels, a form that is mirrored in its studded padlocks and ear cuffs today. Chains will always reign supreme at Givenchy: interlocking Gs twist together in bright yellow metal – pair with an LBD and your outfit is complete.

If you’re searching for the Givenchy jewel of your dreams, reach out to our Concierge team and let our specialists hunt for you.