A New Chapter in Quiet Power
Review of Givenchy Fall 2025 Fashion Show
By Mackenzie Richard
THE COLLECTION
THE VIBE
Heritage Reimagined, Refined Femininity & Strength
Sarah Burton’s debut at Givenchy was always going to be a moment of reckoning. Having spent over a decade crafting the fiercely romantic, gothic vision of McQueen, the question wasn’t whether she could design—it was how she would translate her artistry into the Givenchy lexicon. With Fall 2025, she answered that question with a collection that was deeply attuned to the house’s codes yet undeniably her own.
Departing from one house and embodying another is no small feat. The heavy design hand of a debut collection often raises a larger question:
When we see a designer’s first outing, how much do we expect to see their hand in the work versus the house’s legacy? How do you know what to hold on to, and what gets left on the cutting room floor?
For Burton, her Givenchy collection felt sincere to the house’s ethos without feeling regressive. The hallmarks of Givenchy—architectural silhouettes, refined femininity, and an elegant interplay of structure and fluidity—were all present. The tailoring was sharp yet sensual, outerwear exuded a quiet power, and the dramatic gowns carried an understated grandeur. If her McQueen was about mythology and emotion, her Givenchy was about control and restraint. Yet within that restraint, Burton’s artistry still found its way through—most notably in pieces like the compact mirror dress, which reflected a meticulous eye for craft.
But perhaps the biggest shift was in audience–
Burton’s Givenchy seems to target a woman who values heritage, luxury, and the power of understatement, all while embracing a modern sensibility.
This collection suggests a maturity in her design philosophy, merging her known strengths with the traditional ethos of Givenchy, focusing on broader wearability and timeless appeal. There was a quiet confidence in this approach—one that favored precision over spectacle.
Still, some elements felt like they belonged to another conversation. The introduction of knit textures and flashes of brighter colors felt like intentional disruptions to an otherwise harmonious palette. They added contrast, though they may not resonate with all. Yet, in a debut collection, experimentation is inevitable, and these choices—whether successful or not—hint at Burton’s desire to push Givenchy forward in ways that will unfold in seasons to come.
THE DIRECTION
THE QUOTE
To go forward you have to go back to the beginning. To me, that’s about the atelier. It’s the heart and soul of Givenchy.
– Sarah Burton
THE WRAP UP
Beneath the surface of Burton’s Givenchy lies an ongoing negotiation between heritage and reinvention, house codes, and designer identity.
She stripped Givenchy back to its essence, presenting a collection that was sophisticated, architectural, and unwaveringly elegant.
It wasn’t about theatrics or reinvention for reinvention’s sake, but rather about laying the foundation for a new era. While not every risk landed seamlessly, Burton’s restraint—her ability to honor the past while subtly asserting her own vision—suggests a future for Givenchy that is measured, refined, and quietly compelling.
