The British designer is best known for designing the wedding dress of the Princess of Wales in 2011.
Givenchy has a new creative director! On Monday, September 9, French luxury goods company LVMH announced that Sarah Burton, a longtime-Alexander McQueen designer, will be taking on the post. Burton is most famous for designing the Princess of Wales’ 2011 wedding dress.
The choice of the seasoned British designer, who joins Givenchy after nearly three decades at rival Kering, “signals a new aesthetic direction for the label,” said a Reuters report. She replaces Matthew M. Williams, who left Givenchy in December after three years. Her predecessor is known for his streetwear-inspired collections, impeccable tailoring, and embellished shoes and bags.
Burton, meanwhile, is famed for her deconstructed styles at Alexander McQueen, and carrying on the legacy of the label’s founder, Lee McQueen following his death. She arrived at the fashion house as an intern in 1996, and returned as soon as she graduated. She worked closely with McQueen until his passing, before being chosen to take over as creative director in 2010, a position she held for 13 years.
During her time at the house, she made a huge impact on the global fashion industry and amassed prestigious awards, as per an article on Harper’s Bazaar. It was, however, the Princess of Wales’ breathtaking wedding dress which cemented Burton’s place in the upper echelons of the fashion industry.
Under her direction, the French fashion house will “continue to innovate and captivate an extensive audience across the world stage”, Givenchy CEO Alessandro Valenti said in a statement.
Her appointment at Givenchy, founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy, comes as the fashion industry grapples with a global downturn in luxury spending, particularly in China, where a property crisis has dampened appetite for high-end goods.
Givenchy is known for sparking the idea of the perfect “little black dress” as a wardrobe staple, after designing one for Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Kering late last year, as part of an expansion drive at McQueen led by CEO Gianfilippo Testa, replaced Burton with a relatively unknown designer, Sean McGirr.
Burton’s first collection for Givenchy will likely be presented during Paris Fashion Week in February 2025, LVMH said.
