Givenchy SS23’ Fashion Show: The Models Walked on Water!
For his very first exclusively male show for Givenchy, Matthew M. Williams did not disappoint.
On the second day of Paris Fashion Week, Creative Director Matthew M. Williams staged his first menswear show for Givenchy. The Spring/Summer 2023 collection was inspired by the people closest to Williams, including the artists, designers and musicians who inspired him, acting as both the modern world of menswear and Givenchy’s legacy of craftsmanship.
The runway show began with monochromatic ensembles with easy-to-wear cargo silhouettes, face masks and outerwear. Bright pieces followed that came in the form of moto pants, knee-length shorts and tracksuits.
“You know; I think everything about the brand is based on reality. I could see this guy, what he looks like, existing on the street. And to me, that’s a modern approach to fashion,” Williams said. The house logo dominated most of the items, including jackets, blouses, pants, handbags and more.
Although this runway was characterized by a purely neutral and monochromatic palette, there were also occasional pops of colour and bold prints in mint green and camouflage.
Unveiling the collection, Williams said:
“Menswear was, quite naturally, the way I discovered fashion. In my practice at Givenchy, my men’s collections came from an instinctive starting point. This show is a reflection of myself and the men who surround me, from my close friends to the artists who inspired my work. It’s a dialogue with the time and culture that shape the way men dress today and tomorrow: the way new generations embrace and evolve the archetypes and dress codes of the past through their own progressive outlook. It’s a thrilling evolution and the reason I have chosen this moment to stage a stand-alone men’s show for Givenchy.”
Throughout the collection, the idea of wear was championed. Some of the camouflage items were constructed with white camouflage covered with ripstop nylon. As they were worn, the white camouflage underneath became visible. Elsewhere, over-dyed outer jackets and military parkas referenced their original fluorescent colours through their linings.
Accessories were prominent stars of this collection. Models adorned themselves with Givenchy’s special G-Cut glasses, chain-link necklaces and bracelets, and balaclavas.
Another highlight of the collection was the footwear, including the recently unveiled TK-MX sneaker. Constructed with a mesh and synthetic leather upper, the silhouette came in a range of colour combinations ranging from subtle black or white to bold silver and yellow, silver and green and black and yellow designs.