Clare Waight Keller is flying high. Her women’s collection for Givenchy is one of the hottest properties in fashion and even won her the much-coveted British Womenswear Designer of The Year award at the 2018 Fashion Awards. The house’s signature accessories are becoming new classics in their own right, and the menswear side of the brand just had its first solo showing since Waight Keller’s appointment as artistic director. In brief – there’s a lot happening, and pretty much all of it is great.
Yesterday’s AW19 presentation was also the first time Waight Keller signed off a full men’s collection, but judging by the proficient levels in menswear language on show – this was something she’s been preparing for her whole career. Seemingly classic lines in tailoring and just the right amount of youth injected into these endlessly elegant clothes – this collection knows what it is and who it’s for. Existing in this world with aspiration to total perfection, the Givenchy boy, pardon man is comfortable with taking time in order to achieve exactly the look he wants to portray him. An antidote to fast fashion, nothing about his wardrobe is throwaway. It’s all thought-out to the finest details – from the everyday jackets, bum bags and trainers, all the way to the lush coats and crisp tailoring. Oh, the tailoring… Pure perfection. The 1970s silhouette of a slim, single-button jacket with a wide lapel, worn with a matching, high-waisted flare trouser. In white, teal and red. The red one, worn with a fuschia shirt – this was a clear contender for the look of the season. And one worth saving months of rent for.
