Matthew M. Williams’ ultimate collection for the brand mirrored his recent shift towards more formal attire.
On the men’s side, Williams maintained an elegant aesthetic with loosely tailored suits, some paired with high-buttoned waistcoats, and immaculate workwear separates that largely avoided embellishments. The only exception was the 3D black floral embroidery on a sheer black hooded anorak.
With a refined white tuxedo, he showcased why he is a preferred designer for the red carpet, dressing celebrities such as Jared Leto and Robert Downey Jr., both of whom adorned Givenchy at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Sunday. Renowned for his attention to detail in fabric and craftsmanship, he ingeniously treated wool suiting fabric with resin for enhanced wind and waterproof properties.
Footwear also had an outdoor sensibility. Williams, who’s rarely met a chunky shoe he didn’t like, partnered with Portland-based brand Bogs on two styles made of vulcanized rubber layered over a technical neoprene sock liner: a cropped Chelsea boot and a laced hiking shoe.
No doubt the new Givenchy encyclopedia will prove a handy primer for whoever succeeds Williams. Whether they manage to parlay that heritage into commercial success for the house, which has lagged the explosive growth seen at some fellow LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton brands, is another question.
