Latest news with #Givenchy
Hypebeast
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Matthew M. Williams Reintroduces Himself as an Independent With New Namesake Project
Summary After stepping away from his role as Creative Director atGivenchyand refocusing on his own pioneering streetwear labelALYX,Matthew M. Williamsis embarking on a profoundly personal and liberating direction that includes the launch of his new namesake project. This venture marks a pivotal moment for the designer, signaling a return to unadulterated creative independence, where the very act of crafting clothing is re-centered on an intrinsic value rather than external pressures. For Williams, this new chapter is less about chasing trends and more about reclaiming autonomy. Adamant about calling the Matthew M. Williams namesake a project and not a brand, the designer sets out to create high-quality staples that are in fact, wearable. Recounting his two decades in the industry toHypebeast,Williams is ready to share with the world the pieces he truly believes in, as an independent. Having spent years navigating the high-stakes demands of a heritage luxury house like Givenchy and building the distinct identity of ALYX, his eponymous brand represents a deliberate pivot towards an unfiltered vision. Here, the emphasis shifts from institutional directives or rapid collection cycles to a more intimate exploration of what truly gives clothing worth – a focus on its enduring quality, tactile experience and the quiet power it holds for the wearer. The departure from Givenchy in January 2024, where he introduced a more utilitarian and streetwear-infused sensibility to haute couture, was a natural progression. Yet, the creation of Matthew M. Williams signifies something deeper than just leaving a corporate role. It's also a nuanced distinction from ALYX, which, while deeply personal, became synonymous with a specific industrial-luxe, hardware-heavy aesthetic that resonated heavily within the streetwear zeitgeist. His new brand, therefore, is poised to transcend the immediate categories he's previously defined. Expect a more mature, perhaps even more minimalist, approach where raw materiality, precise construction and a subtle tension between toughness and elegance will be explored without the constraints of established brand codes or the inherent expectations of a particular subculture. This is Williams distilling his vision to its purest form, focusing on the essence of design and the creation of garments that possess an inherent, rather than perceived value. He views his suppliers as his direct partners, working with specialists from all over the world, including a denim mill in Japan, an American jersey expert and shoemakers from Spain. It's about forging a direct connection between creator and wearer, where each piece is a testament to Williams' singular perspective, unburdened by outside interpretations or commercial compromises. When Williams announced in early June that he would be launching a new namesake project, he honed in on adding a personal connection to the brand from the get-go. With no big PR agency involved, every conversation, including withHypebeast, was done on his own accord and coordination. During Paris Fashion Week,Hypebeastwas invited to get a first-hand inspection at the collection, viewing every detail up close. When discussing his inspiration and construction process, Williams spoke of his learnings from working with some of the best suppliers in the world when he was at Givenchy and with ALYX, which made him determined to create great pieces he wants to wear. Ensuring value is at top of mind, Williams' initial release sees pairs of impeccable Japanese denim forged into everyday pairs of jeans and a simple, yet staple white tee. Williams is all in on this project, being in the driver's seat at every turn. This move underscores a growing desire among established designers to re-engage with the core principles of creation, crafting a legacy defined by authentic expression and a relentless pursuit of sartorial integrity. Matthew M. Williams is not just a new label but a testament to the enduring allure of true creative freedom. Check out a selection of exclusive lookbook images Williams provided forHypebeastthat feature himself and his partner Giorgia von Albertini modelling the pieces.
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Through adversity, a new aesthetic: The Princess of Wales' fashion evolution
Earlier this year, when Catherine (or Kate, as she is more affectionately known), the Princess of Wales, returned to the public eye after her treatment for cancer, The Sunday Times of London reported that she was doing so with a caveat: She wanted to focus on her work, not her clothes. Her office would no longer share information about what she wore. Cue shock and horror. Even if it was understandable, given what she had been through, and even if the report was later disputed by the palace itself, it sent tremors through the fashion-watching community. That was partly because the princess could change the fortunes of a designer or a brand simply by wearing a dress. And it was partly because she had long used her place in the attention economy to shine a light not just on British products, but on issues including sustainability by remaking and rewearing pieces from her closet, and even renting the occasional evening gown. Mostly, though, it was because clothes are an expression of her role as a symbol – of the country and that fine line between continuity and modernisation. Stepping back from one suggested she was stepping back from the other. It's a weird thing to essentially be an avatar, but it's the job. Her jackets are more tailored and her silhouette more streamlined in her daily outfits. Photo: AgencyRead more: Style reigns supreme: Catherine, Princess of Wales, proves she's still got it As her appearance at the Wimbledon men's and women's finals, and at the French state visit, demonstrated, however, Kate may be more selective about her appearances (she did skip Ascot), but she is no less strategic. She is simply being Kate 3.0. There she was, after all, at the state visit, welcoming Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron in a blush-coloured Dior suit with a New Look jacket and a skirt covered in net, just brushing her calves. The brand is both classic French and about to be led by a designer from Northern Ireland who was trained in Britain. It was a considered nod to political alliance (the kind she has practised since marrying Prince William) that she repeated at the French state banquet, wearing a red Givenchy gown with a built-in cape sweeping down from her shoulders. It was regal, sure, but also strategic, given that Givenchy is now designed by Sarah Burton, the British designer who made Kate's wedding gown and who has been her collaborator on numerous high-profile public about entente. And there Kate was at the Wimbledon women's final in a cream jacket and long pleated skirt, a coolly appropriate riff on tennis whites and her position as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Princess Kate is ‘Mindful of Her Well-Being' and ‘Up for the Task' of Being Queen: Royal Sources
Stunning in a dreamy blush confection by Dior — her first time wearing the famed Parisian label — the Princess of Wales was the epitome of chic as she stepped onto the tarmac at the Royal Air Force's Northolt base outside London July 8. Standing alongside husband Prince William, the 43-year-old warmly greeted France's President Emmanuel Macron, 47, and first lady Brigitte Macron, 72, as they deplaned. Hours later, Kate worked her magic again, this time dazzling in diamonds and a rich red gown from another French designer, Givenchy, at a historic white-tie state dinner at Windsor Castle as she helped King Charles III, 76, and wife Queen Camilla, 78, celebrate France's first official state visit to Britain in 17 years. Notes a royal source, 'It's been a long time since people saw Kate wear a tiara.' To be exact, since 2023 — weeks before a shocking cancer diagnosis upended the mom of three's life and brought her priorities into focus. But bolstered by her strong sense of 'duty' to the crown, the source tells Star, Kate was determined to step up for the momentous occasion with her nation's closest neighbor and ally. Following an uncertain few weeks — she appeared strong and in good spirits at the monarch's official birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, on June 14 before sparking concern when she pulled out of a planned appearance at the Royal Ascot horse races mere hours before it began — she's now back on the world stage and, in many ways, doing better than ever, says the source. Not least because she's navigating her role on her own terms. 'She looked like a queen,' says the source, 'and she's up for the task.' Prepared For Change Sadly, it might not be long until the job is hers. Nearly a year and a half after Charles, too, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, the king is still being treated for what he's called a 'daunting' disease. Courtiers have been privately sharing concerns about his prognosis, which remains closely guarded, with even estranged son Prince Harry, 40, admitting to the BBC in his bombshell May interview, 'I don't know how much longer my father has.' Kate 'knows the day is coming,' says the source, confirming that she's been taking her responsibilities more seriously than ever during these uncertain times. Though she acutely feels the gravity of her future, the source adds, this is also 'something she's been preparing for since she got together with William' 23 years ago when they were students at Scotland's University of St Andrews. At the same time, 14 years into their marriage and six months after announcing she's in remission, there has been a shift. 'As dedicated and committed to her work as she is, her health will continue to come first,' says the source. 'She is mindful about her well-being and will continue to assess her return to royal duties on a case-by-case basis.' A New Openness In recent weeks, Kate has grown uncharacteristically candid about her journey, which marks a major change from how she handled things initially. Following what Kensington Palace described as a 'planned abdominal surgery' at the start of 2024, the future queen learned she had cancer — but she and William, 43, chose to keep her diagnosis a secret for months, fueling harmful speculation about her mysterious absence from the spotlight. 'Kate must realize that staying silent for so long was not the best way to handle the situation,' concedes the source. 'But it was traumatic and she's human, after all. She was processing it herself and didn't want to worry her children,' Prince George, who turns 12 July 22, Princess Charlotte, 9, and 7-year-old Prince Louis. This new vulnerability is a step toward modernizing the monarchy, making the future queen more relatable than her predecessors. She showed as much during a July visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex, England. 'You have to find your new normal and that takes time … and it's a roller coaster,' she confessed. 'It's not smooth, like you expect it to be. But the reality is you go through hard times.' As she spoke with patients about her health-care crisis, she admitted, 'You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment's done, then it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal,' but actually the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.' Post-care, survivors often struggle to 'function normally at home,' she acknowledged, following such a 'life-changing' ordeal for themselves and their loved ones. Indeed, last November, William called 2024 'brutal' and 'the hardest year in my life.' The Sussex Problem Moving forward, one of the most difficult issues hanging over William's future as sovereign — and Kate's as his queen — is his ongoing feud with Harry, which began well before the Duke of Sussex and wife Meghan, 43, left the royal family in 2020 to start a new life in California. They blamed attacks by the U.K. press the couple have claimed were sanctioned and fueled by palace courtiers with the tacit support of Harry's own family. 'Kate is deeply troubled by William's ongoing rift with his brother,' says the source. As Star and other outlets have previously reported, William has privately threatened to strip them — and likely their children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4 — of their Royal Highness titles once he's king. Kate's hardly happy the Sussexes have criticized her and William by detailing private conversations and arguments in interviews, a 2022 Netflix series and Harry's 2023 memoir, Spare. But, like Harry — who in May said in an interview, 'I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore' — Kate, too, thinks peace is best for The Firm. 'Persuading William to let go of grudges has been daunting,' says the source, 'but she's aware she's the only one in the royal family who can possibly do it.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Princess Kate Honored the Late Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II With Her Latest Look
Full-Circle Moment The silk caped gown Kate wore to the July 8 state dinner honoring Macron is the same hue as one of France's national colors. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director at French label Givenchy, 14 years after the style visionary made Kate's 2011 wedding dress while leading British brand Alexander McQueen. Favorite Tiara The Queen Mary Lover's Knot tiara was also one of late mother-in-law Princess Diana's favorites. The diamond and pearl diadem, created in 1914 by jeweler Garrard for Queen Mary, has been Kate's pick for 10 of her 15 tiara moments over the past 14 years. Tributes to Queen Elizabeth II The late Queen Elizabeth II's Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings framed Kate's face. She also wore the cross, star and blue sash signifying her position as a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order — an honor bestowed upon her by the monarch, who died in 2022 — as well as Elizabeth's Royal Family Order on a yellow ribbon pinned to her bodice. A Nod to Princess Diana Diana was the original owner of the current Princess of Wales' Nigel Milne triple-strand pearl bracelet. Honoring the King The royal wore her Royal Family Order of King Charles III for the first time, pinning the badge — featuring a miniature portrait of her father-in-law — atop a pale blue ribbon. Solve the daily Crossword
Fashion Network
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Givenchy recruits Zhao Liying as new global beauty ambassador
The Lanfang, Hebei-born actor began her career in 2006 after winning a talent contest and quickly gained attention with roles in "Legend of Lu Zhen" (2013), and "Boss & Me" (2014). Most recently, the actress starred in the 2025 film "We Girls", a crime drama directed by Feng Xiaogang. Marking the partnership, a new Givenchy beauty campaign shows the Chinese star wearing the Parisian brand's new Le Rouge Velvet Matte lipstick in almond terracotta. The appointment comes as the LVMH -owned Givenchy looks to freshen up the image of its makeup vertical and inevitably boost sales. In its most recent trading update in April, LVMH logged a 3% drop in first-quarter sales, missing expectations and confirming a broader sector slowdown as shoppers pulled back on designer fashion amid a volatile economic climate.
