AP – Guests in unwieldy heels navigated the cobbles to enter the historic Ecole Militaire grounds, passing a giant, minimalist black ‘GIVENCHY’ sign and guests imbibing ginger shots and detox tea. The purified vibe matched the pared-down white décor.
The collection itself was harder to pin down. It could be described as a tale of two Givenchys.
The first was a display of superb minimalist tailoring that designer Matthew M Williams said “has a different hand to it” – and was made in collaboration with the house couture atelier.
The second was a tale of being a tad busy: an aesthetic – inspired by an image of painter Lucien Freud throwing a coat over paint-spattered work boots – that dominated the 52-look show with its urban style, haphazard layering, jarring colours and intentionally mismatched garments.
The short burst of monochromatic suits beginning the show introduced a welcome new direction for the house under Williams’ tenure. It was a shame that this theme was not developed more as the display progressed.
