Fashion drawing by Hubert de Givenchy working for Elsa Schiaparelli (between 1944 and 1952)

At the beginning of his career, working for Elsa Schiaparelli, Hubert de Givenchy imagines a new dress.

• Fashion design by Hubert de Givenchy when he worked for Elsa Schiaparelli.
• A leaf.
• In French.
• +/- 21 cm x 27 cm.
• Paris, between 1944 and 1952.
• Bottom left corner torn, but in excellent general condition.
• Unique piece .

My dear Elsa,

I remembered you today, on a cold autumn afternoon with orange leaves, when I was walking through the streets of Paris, still a little aimless, thinking only about which restaurant I would choose for my dinner that night. In this humble letter, I will not be a poet boasting about your smile, but I do need to tell you something that occurred to me.

It was around five in the afternoon, and the artificial light from the houses mixed with the golden end-of-day sky. Everything was so peaceful that it almost bored me, until I saw a lady walking on the other side of the path. She was, indeed, a beautiful woman, however, to be honest, she looked almost deformed. A somewhat rococo dress covered her curves, the kind my grandmother wore to our country lunches. An absurdly tight waist, which marked more than artificial curves, made me question whether the one who was passing in front of me was really a woman. But what would she be like if the fabric that covered her body exalted her nature? Less sinuous and more elegant.

That said, I had an indomitable desire to draw. I grabbed the mechanical pencil, which I always carry in my pocket, and the first piece of paper I had within my reach: a napkin from a charming cafe. Yes, I had to sit down and order something to eat, justifying such an abrupt use of the poor napkin on the table. And, from then on, a muse took possession of me, I drew and drew without seeing the passage of time. It was already night when I finally put down the pen. I returned home with a small treasure tucked away in my pocket. This is a small treasure that I now humbly share with you.

I apologize for interrupting your trip with work matters. However, I had to get this letter into your hands. Obviously, I was careful to transfer that modest draft to a page with all the trappings. After all, a lady like you certainly deserves more than a dirty napkin. However, the drawing I am giving you, along with this letter, was born from that moment of inspiration.

I tell you all this because, as I transferred my drawing to this paper that is now in your hands, I thought about how useful it could be to you. I dream that this drawing will serve as inspiration for us to launch a new collection. I know how much the incessant competition that Coco Chanel insists on is bothering you. Well, I feel that, with this collection, she will no longer be able to say that you are “that Italian artist who makes clothes”. You have to admit that you are THE greatest artist in all of Europe, and that you have fashion at your feet. I hope you don't take this bold dream of mine seriously, but the years of working with you have made me more than admire you. Therefore, I will also understand if you believe that all this was nothing more than a sweet illusion of a dreamy mind. However, full of hope, I eagerly await your response.

From your great admirer,

Hubert de Givenchy

The text above is 100% fictional, but the drawing is 100% original. Each autograph document, especially drawings, has known elements and others that we have to imagine... it's part of the magic of the discipline, from my point of view.

Hubert de Givenchy (1927 - 2018) was a great figure in French fashion and Givenchy remains a global company.

This drawing is particularly interesting - and rare - because it was created by Givenchy at the beginning of his career, when he worked for Elsa Schiaparelli.