Givenchy
Thursday 3 July 2008
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Because you can't have depths without surfaces.
Linda Grant, thinking about clothes, books and other matters.
Linda Grant, thinking about clothes, books and other matters.
About me
Linda Grant is a novelist and journalist. She won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2000 and the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage in 2006. She writes for the Guardian, Telegraph and Vogue. Her latest novel, The Clothes on Their Backs was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. For further information including upcoming literary festivals bookstore readings etc see her website at www.lindagrant.co.uk
My other blog
Buchmendel - some words from books
Books by Linda Grant
- The Thoughtful Dresser Non-Fiction 2009)
- For further information see www.linda.grant.co.uk
- The Clothes on Their Backs (Fiction 2008)
- The People on the Street (Winner of the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage 2006)
- Still Here (Fiction 2002)
- When I Lived in Modern Times (Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2000)
- Remind Me Who I Am Again (Non-fiction 1998)
- The Cast Iron Shore (Fiction 1996)
- Sexing the Millenium (Non-Fiction 1993)
This blog believes
'A good handbag makes the outfit.'
'Only the rich can afford cheap shoes'
'The only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you're skint.'
'A new dress is a great help in all circumstances.' (Noel Streatfeild)
'The only true and lasting meaning of the struggle for life lies in the individual, in his modest peculiarities and his right to these peculiarities.' (Vasily Grossman, Life and Fate.)
'Only the rich can afford cheap shoes'
'The only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you're skint.'
'A new dress is a great help in all circumstances.' (Noel Streatfeild)
'The only true and lasting meaning of the struggle for life lies in the individual, in his modest peculiarities and his right to these peculiarities.' (Vasily Grossman, Life and Fate.)
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9 comments:
And what of poor Hubert de Givenchy. He has the misfortune to still be alive to see this rubbish!
Who is designing at Givenchy these days? Do we know? I used to think it was bad enough when Julien Macdonald was there cutting his teeth, with his two tier collections, ie. partly his monstrosities and partly some very nice adaptations of the old style.
It's time to get Albers in!
Riccardo Tisci designs for Givenchy.
Mr Tisci needs to write at least 100 times
"Less is More"
I always though couture should be more about the quality and cut of a garment, (not unlike your new dress)not this over egged dogs dinner. Maybe however, this is what the new monied rich from Russia and the East desire.
Compare this to the recent Resort show by Galliano for Dior, which was quite lovely and inspiring.
And I meant to add, I could see Audrey in Dior these days.
Well, Tisci seems to be scoring with people like the Olsen twins and other downtown-NYC fashionista types who like their clothes faux-goth and "edgy," so apparently the company is going with it. But yes, it is a crying shame to see M. de Givenchy's name attached to these Halloween costumes.
Such dross will be forgotten. Audrey will remain, a hundred years on.
While I think this collection wasn't great, frankly Audrey Hepburn belongs to the past. Hubert de Givenchy along w/ other living designers (Valentino now, Emmanuel Ungaro, and recently YSL) sold their houses, so it is what it is.
The worst thing about today is this need to keep all this holding on to the past.
In response to the above comment, it is the quality of the work of the current designers that is in question, not the fact that they are not in keeping with the past. Lanvin has managed to reappropriate its position as a leading Paris fashion house because its designer is competent, forward thinking and talented. I would suggest that the popularity of the unwearable monstrocities of the Givenchy collection amongst celebrities is because of its past reputation, not inspite of it.
I cannot see the Givenchy collection as modern, forward thinking, avant garde or any other qualities one associates with high fashion. It is lumpy, ill proportioned, heavy, unflattering and frankly rather tired looking. All this has been done years ago by Rei Kawakubo in a much more delicate, refined and witty manner.
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