British designer Sarah Burton embraced a monochrome palette for her debut as Givenchy’s chief designer on Friday at Paris Fashion Week, drawing inspiration from the fashion house’s 1950s heritage.
Burton, who stepped into the role in September last year, presented her Fall/Winter 2025 collection inside Givenchy’s historic headquarters in Paris’s affluent eighth district.
“To move forward, you must return to the beginning,” she stated in the show’s accompanying notes.
The collection featured sculptural overcoats and jackets that blended the elegance of the 1950s with contemporary oversized proportions. Primarily composed of black, white, and grey, the lineup included tweed coats, tutu-style skirts, and bursts of vibrant yellow—a color fashion insiders predict will be a key trend.
A grounded 51-year-old from northern England, Burton gained prominence as creative director of Alexander McQueen in London, a position she assumed following the founder’s passing in 2010.
“Givenchy has an extraordinary history,” she told Vogue last month, explaining her move to the LVMH-owned house. “I was drawn to it because it’s an intimate brand, and it’s in Paris.”
Her appointment is part of a wave of shifts among luxury fashion houses. Several major labels, including Chanel, Tom Ford, Dries Van Noten, Dior menswear, Bottega Veneta, Celine, Martin Margiela, and Gucci, are either welcoming new creative leads or seeking fresh talent.
Speculation also surrounds Dior womenswear creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, who is rumored to be departing.
Luxury fashion faces headwinds, with declining demand—most notably in China—alongside economic uncertainty and inflation weighing on developed markets.
Image Credits: Launchmetrics