Editorial

Givenchy SS18 - Now Online

Urban luxury inspired by Rome

Patch Varsity Jacket | Cuban Fit Check Shirt | Star Detail Jean

Under the new creative direction of Clare Waight Keller, Givenchy turns up the volume for their SS18 collection of luxury apparel and accessories. Easily recognised by a signature exploration of star and stripe motifs, this time imbued with a collection of Roman-inspired graphics, Waight Keller has blended her own aesthetic with the luxury house's DNA to produce a line of streetwear grails with an atmospheric edge.

Patch Varsity Jacket | Cuban Fit Check Shirt | Star Detail Jean

Quoted in Vogue, stating her plans to develop the Givenchy menswear offering to appeal to a broader base, Waight Keller intends to build upon the move towards generation-streetwear's interpretation of sartorialism introduced during the reign of her predecessor, Ricardo Tisci. This newfound appreciation and incorporation of streetwear elements in the output of the iconic French houses is testimony to just how narrow the gap between high fashion and streetwear has become in the age of Yeezy and Off-White.

Bicolour Logo Cap | Romantic Patch Leather MA1 Jacket

The international playground of the on-duty/off-duty style savant, Givenchy's interminably European DNA shone through this collection, seasoned with a sense of Roman classicism and a healthy dose of British grit that's no doubt come from Waight Keller's youth spent in Birmingham, UK. Masterfully cut suiting sits in perfect juxtaposition with terrace-inspired sportswear silhouettes. Tailored jackets are given new life with athluxury striped cuff detailing - an on-brand representation of the high-fashion/low-culture blend of references which has stormed the international streetwear scene over the past few seasons.

Bicolour Logo Cap | Romantic Patch Leather MA1 Jacket | Box Logo Smock Jacket | Long Logo Star Sock | Low Sneaker

Although it is early days in Waight Keller's tenure at Givenchy (Tisci sat at the helm of the house for 12 years prior to announcing his departure in February 2017), a natural symbiosis of the Givenchy style-codes and Waight Keller's personal design identity is bubbling to the surface and the results thus far seem promising. Particularly strong is the brand's latest exploration of street-ready outerwear, where Givenchy's luxury DNA has been masterfully applied across a range of statement silhouettes.

Givenchy SS18 is now available at END.

writerEuan Smart
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