Cover Suzi de Givenchy wears a Chloé dress and Chanel bangle (Photo: Victor Boccard)

The model of the moment gets up close and personal with Tatler on her unexpected modelling career, beauty standards and why she is on a continuous search

Early in the morning on a sunny day, we met Suzi de Givenchy in the outskirts of Paris, in a photo studio located in the 16th district. The guest model of Tatler’s December issue fashion shoot showed up in a white shirt, jeans and sneakers—a classic effortless chic French girl look—with a big, contagious smile and a cup of espresso in hand.
 
“It’s always good to see people who look like me on set, I love the diversity in the crew today”, she said, expressing her joy at seeing many Asian faces in the production team. With the fashion industry embracing models of different ages, sizes and colours in recent years, de Givenchy’s modelling career has seen a meteoric rise. Having only started modelling in the fall of 2019, the now-55-year-old has walked for Off-White, Balenciaga, AZ Factory and Uma Wang, starred in the spring 2023 campaign for couture house Schiaparelli, graced the cover of several magazines and garnered over 600,000 views on YouTube by giving a home tour of her lofty Paris apartment.

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Tatler Asia
Above Fendi outfit (Photo: Victor Boccard)
Tatler Asia
Above Erdem coat; Christian Louboutin heels (Photo: Victor Boccard)

Of course, modelling career aside, her famous last name also catches attention. “Some people think I’ve married the couturier [Givenchy founder Hubert de Givenchy]. But no, I did not marry someone [who was almost] 50 years old,” she laughs. “My husband was the nephew and godson to the couturier. They have the same name and that’s why people get confused.”
 
In fact, de Givenchy was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the US with her family when she was four. The 20-year-old Suzi met her husband in the City of Love and moved to France where she has since lived for 35 years. “I first met him through a friend. I didn’t even know who Givenchy was. I didn’t really follow fashion or grow up in a family that was into fashion. And of course, afterwards I did. But I had already fallen in love with the person. So that’s the story”, she says.

It’s not always good to have everything planned from A to Z. Sometimes it’s important to live life instinctively, so that you just grab the opportunities that present themselves

- Suzi de Givenchy -

Talking about her move to Europe, de Givenchy attributes it to her upbringing as an immigrant child. “I knew that I didn’t want to stay where I was, in the same, small Long Island town where I had grown up. I wanted to see more of the world and meet different people. I think it was my process of adaptation and that I was always in search of something”, she says. “Because when you grew up in one country and you’re moved to another country, you don’t know where you belong. It wasn’t my choice; it was the choice of my parents. So it was a continuous search for a place to call my own. And when I met my husband, I think I found a safe place.”

After living in Paris for a few years, de Givenchy and her husband moved to the south of France, in between Montpellier and Nice with their first child. “It was a big adventure. He was an interior designer, we started working together and I learned how to work with AutoCAD, Photoshop; I raised three sons; we built a house together—we literally did some of the parts by our own hand”, she says. “If you take into account everything that happened before, you could never imagine that I would end up where I am today. But that’s why I think it’s not always good to have everything planned from A to Z. Sometimes it’s important to live life instinctively, so that you just grab the opportunities that present themselves.”

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In 2016, de Givenchy lost the love of her life when her husband passed away from a heart attack. “Having the example of my mother, who found herself a single mother of four children and in the country where she didn’t speak the language, I really could not not get up. It was just not in my DNA and in my vocabulary to give up”, she recalls. “My children were also a factor behind that, because I didn’t want to give them the example of a woman who went through a traumatic experience and gave up. You’re allowed to lay down for a while and rest, but you must get up when you have to. I did it for the children, for myself, for my mother and for my husband. He would not have wanted me to just lie in bed or on the floor.”

She decided to move up to Paris a year later. The adventurous spirit may have pushed de Givenchy since the beginning, but entering the fashion industry as a model in her 50s was definitely a surprise.

Below, de Givenchy breaks down her new chapter of life as an up-and-coming mature model and what’s next for her.

Tatler Asia
Above Givenchy outfit (Photo: Victor Boccard)

What made you decide to become a model after your husband passed away?
 
It took me six months; I met [Versae Vanni, booking director of modelling agency Next Management] at a dinner and he invited me to work with him. I thought he was just joking.
 
I spoke to my children—not to get their approval but to make sure that they were okay with it, because it is a profession where you are putting yourself out there. And they were very supportive, so I just started. I guess it was good timing too, as I signed with the agency right before Covid. My first job was walking for the Off-White show which was crazy because I didn’t know who they were. My children were like “that’s a cool brand”.

Tatler Asia
Above Schiaparelli robe; Dries Van Noten choker, gloves; Erdem earring (Photo: Victor Boccard)

As a mother of three and someone who entered the industry in their 50s, how would you define a model? And how have you adapted to the industry?

I was so freaking scared at the first show. I really feel for the young women and men. If I were doing it at 20, I would have been too insecure.The fact that I’m doing it now, in my fifties, it’s different because I have a past and I know myself in a certain way.

How do you think beauty standards have evolved over the years?

Growing up, I had never seen images of Asian women in fashion magazines. I remember the first time I saw an Asian actress, she was in the Mickey Rourke film from the ’80s and she was on the cover of Elle magazine in the US, and I was like “oh my god, this is incredible”.

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Tatler Asia
Above Prada outfit; Paco Rabanne bag (on the table) (Photo: Victor Boccard)
Tatler Asia
Above Dior outfit (Photo: Victor Boccard)

Do you see the industry differently now that you’re working in it?

I did a casting one time for a beauty brand where they had shades of foundation for 30 or 40 different skin tones, and they needed a model for each skin tone, so that’s positive. Brands nowadays are looking for real people to sport their clothes, they want people with more character, they don’t want hangers.

One of my goals is to work with an international beauty brand that also reaches Asia, specifically to show that there are other possibilities beyond pale white skin without wrinkles or spots—I have spots (laughs).

What are your thoughts on diversity in the fashion industry?
 
I think there’s definitely more work to be done, especially in the Asian market, because it’s probably one of the most diversified [continents]. Each region has different ethnicities, but when you see the beauty and fashion industry or even musicians and actors, you don’t see the same diversity [in beauty standard] as in Europe. Maybe it exists but I don’t see it that much, so that’s something that I would like to change.

In case you missed it: The Fashion Industry Is Diverse, But Is It Inclusive?

Tatler Asia
Above Paco Rabanne dress; Dries Van Noten boots (Photo: Victor Boccard)

What has been your happiest modelling experience in the past year?
 
I was very happy to have participated more on digital platforms. I've found that I do like being in front of the camera, but I really liked being in front of a moving camera as well—it’s something I’ve discovered about myself. Because I get to be a little silly and something other than myself.

Tell us about some of your favourite projects.
 
Just recently, working with Schiaparelli was incredible. One of my husband’s uncle’s first jobs was with Elsa Schiaparelli, so I was very pleased that there’s a family link. I also got to work with Balenciaga, who was a mentor [of Hubert de Givenchy]—it was quite touching.

Tatler Asia
Above Marine Serre jumpsuit; Weinsanto dress (Photo: Victor Boccard)
Tatler Asia
Above Chanel outfit (Photo: Victor Boccard)

Any other memorable experience in the past year?
 
I got to go to Milan for the first time for work, which was quite lovely, as I really love Italy. On the personal front, I think it’s the fact that my eldest son got to come out of China and visit because we hadn’t seen him in person for almost three years.
 
What are your hopes and goals for the new year?
 
On a professional level, I feel I have been able to build a stronger relationship with the people I work with, and I hope I can continue that momentum. And I hope I have more time to explore my creative side with my personal projects.
 
I’ve been trying my hand at writing, journaling and analogue photos [since the pandemic]. I’m working on something that kind of mixes my photos and my words.

Tatler Asia
Above Robert Wun outfit (Photo: Victor Boccard)
Tatler Asia
Above Robert Wun outfit (Photo: Victor Boccard)

Now that you’re starting to build up a social media profile too, how do you feel about social media? Do you enjoy sharing content?
 
I’m starting to build the community and I’m appreciative because I see that I have followers who are very loyal. I don’t really understand how the algorithm works but it’s quite interesting. I find it more as a tool for work but not so much for private life. It’s fascinating that you can get job opportunities through Instagram DMs.

Tell us about some of the memorable DMs you’ve received.
 
Sometimes I get tears in my eyes, especially when I share things about [my life] because I try not to share too much of my personal world. But it is a personal page for work. For example, for my children or the passing of my husband or our wedding anniversary, I’ll post something but it’s very subtle. But I’ve received messages from people who told me that their mother—or even themselves— faced the same situation and my story inspires them. I really am touched by people who say they can feel the positivity from my page. And that’s the main reason why I’m doing what I’m doing.

Since you are becoming an influencer—albeit unintentionally—in the community, how do you plan to use it to establish a voice?
 
Because this is all new, I am still finding my voice—it’s constantly evolving. We have a very powerful tool that needs to be used in a powerful way. In 2023, my goal is to hopefully find my voice and use it in a positive way.

Credits

Photography  

Victor Boccard

Art Direction  

Kelly Chan Wing Kiu

Styling  

Cherry Mui

Hair  

Yoan Lopez at Hosdey Agency

Make-Up  

Alicia Hosdey at Hosdey Agency

Model  

Suzi de Givenchy at D’management Group Milan

Set Design  

Clara + Nicoplinio at World Plus Agency

Prop Styling  

Accent Chair by Monstrum Studio

Artwork  

Knitwear Design by Aikomoto

Stylist's Assistant  

Iulian Caraman

Hair  

Assistance by Evgeny Zubov at Hosdey Agency

Make-up Assistant  

Camille Lam at Hosdey Agency

Art Direction  

Assistance by Mai Line Phung

Photographer's Assistant  

Yoel

Lighting  

Jules Lanzaro and Mathis Betmalle

Videography  

Raphaël Bourdin

Artwork  

Music by Seiji Champollion

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