Bold and avant-garde, Givenchy’s Fall/Winter 2021 collection is a fierce, rebellious take on elevated streetwear, luxury intertwined with austerity, lavishness dosed with the raw beauty of humanity.

In a sleek, rain-drenched black runway, smoky-eyed models storm the catwalk to a heavy, fast beat, invoking the urgency of the collection, the juxtaposition of utility and finesse, intimacy and armor. In a color palette of warm, monochrome neutrals, Givenchy celebrates the classical and the radical, fusing together the delicate designs of the label with a practical, contemporary bending of the rules that transcend time.

“In many ways, this collection is about a constant tension between two worlds,” said Creative Director Matthew Williams. “It’s about finding personal meaning in difficult circumstances; it’s about sincerity in what we do rather than strategy. We wanted to bring a sense of lived reality alongside precision, elegance and extravagance in the clothing and looks.”

The dynamic between sensuality and functionality come together with the Fall/Winter collection, playing on harmonies and digressions. Faux fur and real shearling envelope the wearer in an embrace, warm and comforting, emphasized by exaggerated silhouettes and layered volumes; in a divergence on form and shape, cropped leather and tight knits cling to the figure, exposing stretches of skin or sculpting it like fitted armor, accentuating the waist in contrast to oversized outerwear expanding the shoulders.

Attention to detail elevates the collection to the tradition Givenchy. Where long lines and lean figures are faced with tension at wide volumes and silhouettes, tailoring is embellished with intimate drapery and fine embroidery. The relationship between garments and wearer is visible in every look: though seeped in a neutral color palette, the skin of the wearer becomes part of the garments themselves, a bare breast paired with a torso, the column of neck to sternum underpins an open blazer, the suggestion of flesh is whispered under a nearly-sheer, skin-tight turtleneck. 

Standout looks of the collection pay keen attention to silhouette, anticipating the body beneath the garment. A long, sheer black slip dress with silver embellishments is both intimate and removed, elevated beyond touch; an oversized cream puffer is exaggerated and wide, a hint of lushness disguised as streetwear; an asymmetrical knit top is torn all over, equal parts black fabric and bare skin. 

The collection’s accessories uphold the dramatic armor of the collection, modern paladins for the everyday. Metal hardware is a strong underlying motif across the unisex pieces, as are monogrammed chains and locks. White hoods, caps, gauntlets and gloves underscore the functionality of the collection, the wearable nature of the sophisticated pieces.

“Ultimately, fashion for us is a way of being, feeling and connecting rather than a game to be played,” said Matthew Willams. “It’s almost like monumentalizing the everyday, filling it with emotion—like music you can wear.”

Shop Givenchy and view the Fall/Winter 2021 collection here