In its 65 years of existence, the house of Givenchy — a brand known for its women’s wear — has never had a woman at its helm. All that will change on May 2, when Clare Waight Keller, formerly of Chloé, steps up to replace Riccardo Tisci. (Something tells us LVMH executives are taking a harder look at female candidates, given Maria Grazia Chiuri’s success at Dior.)
Tisci, Givenchy’s artistic director of 12 years, left the brand in February. The Instagram sensation is known for his hard-edged, Gothic aesthetic, his love of streetwear and his high-profile client/muse/friend list, which includes Beyoncé, Ciara, the Kardashian-Jenners and the Hadids. Thus, many were taken in by the rumors that Off-White’s Virgil Abloh, a fellow Kanye affiliate, would fill Tisci’s spot and keep things moving in a similar direction.
However, Waight Keller’s appointment seems to signal a new direction for the house. At Chloé, the designer offered up an alternative to couture: beautifully executed pieces with a feminine, haute-hippie, 70s vibe. She’s known to keep a low profile, preferring time with her family over time with the fashion crowd. In fact, Reuters originally reported that Waight Keller did not renew her Chloé contract due to the challenges of commuting between London and Paris while parenting her three children. Not so. In fact, Waight Keller’s work responsibilities will double at Givenchy, where she’ll produce eight collections a year, rather than four.
Waight Keller will oversee women’s ready-to-wear, men’s, accessories and couture. It’ll be her first time working with an haute couture atelier and we, like Givenchy chief executive Philippe Fortunato, are confident she’ll knock it out of the park. “I am very excited to see Clare bring her singular sense of elegance and modernity to Givenchy,” Fortunato told WWD. “By exploring our maison’s 65-year heritage and the outstanding savoir-faire of its ateliers, I am convinced Clare will help Givenchy reach its full potential.”
The designer’s first show for Givenchy will take place this coming October, during Paris Fashion Week. We can’t Waight. (Sorry.)
[ via WWD ]
