The French luxury fashion house makes a case for elevating the ordinary with exceptional details, materials, and craftsmanship
“I really wanted to create a synthesis of powerful, sophisticated femininity, with an interplay of multiple American and Parisian influences, sports and craftsmanship. Next to her stands a contemporary man with an instinct for chic nonchalance. On the runway, both are grounded by a sense of reality,” says Matthew M. Williams, Creative Director of Givenchy, about the French luxury fashion house’s F/W ‘22 ready-to-wear collection.
“Chic nonchalance” might just be another way of saying casual cool, but it’s that “sense of reality” that’s quite interesting. It’s something that’s expressed in the collection even before the clothes went down the runway.
Givenchy’s set design—an elevated, transparent intersection held up by exposed scaffolding—is as urban as it gets. You get the sense that the people that pass through and under this platform are individuals who live and breathe the Metro, from focused go-getters who can’t be bothered to the edgy personalities who thrive in the city.
This particular runway served to highlight clothes that mix luxury and utility—a signature Williams style—through color, fit, silhouette, materials, and details. Rich browns, greens, grays, and blacks figure into outerwear-inspired pieces, ensembles that mix classical tailoring with volumes and disheveled textures. The graphic tees are a nice break from the sleek pieces, but are all within the urban vibe.
Denim also makes for a nice utilitarian contrast with the satins, wools, and flannels. Leather, always a luxurious element, figures into skirts, trousers, outerwear, footwear, and signature bags.
The clothes have that sense of ease and movement, even with the tougher-looking pieces. And when you’re always up and about in the city, those are always important.
