Philippe VENET was born in May 22, 1929 in Lyon, France. At the age of 14, he became an apprentice to Pierre COURT, a well-respected couturier based in Lyon. In 1951, when he was 22, he moved to Paris, and joined the house of Elsa Schiaparelli. Two years later in 1953, he moved to the house of Givenchy. He worked alongside Hubert de GIVENCHY assisting him in designing all throughout the 50's, particularly the garments worn by Audrey HEPBURN for her films. VENET opened his own couture house in 1962; Distinctive pieces from the 1960s were his kite coats; in the 1970s were geometric patterns, oversized capes, and jackets in flannel and reversible wools; his suits and coats in the 1980s and 1990s were fun and flirtatious, in refreshing colors. VENET's eveningwear has often been inspired by flora and fauna; the overall eveningwear look is generally romantic but sophisticated, smart but with a hint of naughtiness, and designed for a wealthy clientéle. Philippe VENET was awarded the Dé d'Or award in January 1985. This award not only recognized his aesthetic contribution to the fashion industry but applauded the detailed attention he brought to every aspect of the business, closely monitoring the creation of each outfit and personally attending all the fittings. In the middle and late 1990s VENET divided his time between France and the United States. A third of his clients were American, and he presented annual collections in both Los Angeles and New York. Expansion near the end of the century included a new menswear line to complement his womenswear ranges.