Haute couture: a “Love Letter” from Clare Waight Keller to Givenchy

Givenchy presented its haute couture collection for Spring/Summer 2020 with majestic creations by Clare Waight Keller, Artistic Director of the Maison.

The haute couture collection for Spring/Summer 2020 unfolds as a “Love Letter” from Clare Waight Keller to Maison Givenchy. And what better or more romantic way to express this love than flowers? The Givenchy Artistic Director drew on the atmosphere of inspiring gardens, from the green “rooms” of Sissinghurst and the orchards of Monk’s House – Virginia Woolf’s cottage – to Hubert de Givenchy’s own Clos Fiorentina. From these inspirations bloomed floral creations that nurture the beauty of the feminine form.

Allusive volumes evoke the petals of irises, pansies are transformed into refined jacquard and embroidery flourishes in sprays of delicate gypsophila. The pure white of tuberose is joined by blue periwinkle, yellow marigold, violet and dragée pink, before ceding to the deep blacks and shimmering metallics of a nocturnal garden.

Precious fabrics trace voluptuous whorls, contrasting with the finesse of nipped waists or an exposed shoulder. The exceptional savoir-faire of the Givenchy ateliers was showcased in a majestic organza gown with pearl embroidery and a stunning wedding dress in floral lace and a voluminous veil, echoing the outsize floppy hats featured in the show.