Wonderland.

GIVENCHY HAUTE COUTURE AW18

Givenchy couture show pays homage to the house’s founder.

On Sunday, Clare Waight Keller presented her second collection for Givenchy Haute Couture in the gardens of the National Archives in Paris.

The show celebrated the life and legacy of the house’s founder, Monsieur Hubert de Givenchy, who passed away in March at the age of 91. Entitled “Caraman”, a reference to the townhouse where he opened his couture ateliers in 1959, the collection represented a modern take on his penchant for elegant silhouettes and sharp tailoring.

It was interspersed with clean-cut men’s pieces which, according to a release from the brand, were “inspired by the looks that M. de Givenchy favoured for himself”. Women’s coats and capes also featured chiselled shoulders and men’s tailoring techniques, but were softened with draped silk and feathers.

More widely, the show was a celebration of the glamour of the ‘50s and ‘60s. A book left on every seat contained archival images from the era, including that of Audrey Hepburn, M. de Givenchy’s muse. His affiliation with Hepburn, whom he famously dressed for Breakfast At Tiffany’s, was also referenced through the song “Moon River”, which she performs in the film and was used for the show’s finale.

The collection was both nostalgic and forward-looking (what else could we expect from the woman who designed Meghan Markle’s wedding dress), and we’ve picked out some of the most dreamy looks below.