Givenchy Takes Inspiration From Korean Street Culture for Suit-Filled SS20

Claire Waight Keller’s debut menswear collection for Givenchy saw her look to an unexpected source for the designer, Korea. Specifically Korean street culture and all that it entails. She said during a press preview about what attracted her to the region, “I find what’s happening incredibly vibrant. Particularly young men in Seoul, who are meticulous about fashion.”

Taking over Villa Palmeri, a grand palace that saw Queen Elizabeth II visit three times and was also once housed Alexandre Dumas, the show was a relaxed and lively affair.

This vibrancy was converted in a tailoring-heavy collection, with suits of several shapes making their way onto the runway, alongside jackets with a velvet/nylon finish and hardware in the form of key chains and other accessories.

Waight Keller is no stranger to tailoring, having worked at Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, the latter of whom she credited with really learning the specifics of tailoring, saying “It was Ralph who gave me a classic education, a good education in tailoring. I was in New York the whole of the ’90s [it was] the best time. So that’s why I wanted to bring what I love, the tailoring. I dipped back to a three-button suit, which felt modern again.” The collection also saw the unveiling of an Onitsuka Tiger collaboration, which featured on several of the looks.

Take a look through the gallery above to see the runway looks and at the gallery below to see the scene backstage.

In other news, we asked if London Fashion Week: Men’s would ever break past the “potential” stage.