Matthew Williams Makes Music Meet Fashion For Givenchy's Fall/Winter 2021 Collection
Matthew Williams' sophomore ready-to-wear collection for Givenchy capitalises on the designer's talent for sports-inspired obscenity with couture flair. While his Spring/Summer 2021 collection focused on tailored silhouettes and accentuating the length of the body, the Fall/Winter show formalises the art of sound into tangible pieces of eccentric and lavish ensembles.
“In many ways, this collection is about a constant tension between two worlds. It’s about finding personal meaning in difficult circumstances; it’s about sincerity in what we do rather than strategy. We wanted to bring a sense of lived reality alongside precision, elegance and extravagance in the clothing and looks. Ultimately, fashion for us is a way of being, feeling and connecting rather than a game to be played. It’s almost like monumentalising the everyday, filling it with emotion–like music you can wear," says Williams.
The pre-recorded show begins on the upper decks of what looks to be an abandoned sound stage. Models run to catch their curtain time before lights beam down on a single woman, kicking off the co-ed collection. Male models in knitted, cat-eared masks and square necklines, while female models showcase cupless bras and sheer garments brandishing the Givenchy logo. Eye-catching accessories include hooved clogs and a leather cantine necklaces, for a drink on the go. Faux fur and leather textures unite throughout the collection, elevating the sportswear influences and creating a series of luxurious garments that celebrate a youthful excess.
It's an aesthetic Williams has cultivated off the runway in tandem with his virtual show. Notable faces like Kim Kardashian, J Balvin, Anne Hathaway, and Laura Dern, as well as models Kate Moss and Kendall Jenner have shared shots in pieces from the collection on social media. Like Kim Jones and Virgil Abloh, as a designer, Williams continues to utilize the relevancy of celebrity influencers as a tool to extend his creative vision in a more accessible way.
This is a modal window.
