Givenchy's Old Masters Collection
At Paris Fashion Week, Givenchy's new creative director Sarah Burton drew inspiration from Old Masters paintings for her Fall 2026 show. Burton asked "How can we use the past to inform a modern wardrobe?" — combining historical art motifs with fresh tailoring. The collection offered a sophisticated vision blending classic references with contemporary cuts.
This collection marks Sarah Burton's third season at the helm of Givenchy, where she continues to build upon the foundational silhouettes she's established since her arrival. Her focus remains on precise tailoring and structure, which serves as the backbone for a more personal and multifaceted exploration of modern femininity. The Fall 2026 collection draws direct inspiration from Old Master paintings, referencing the dramatic tones of Velázquez and the rich, jewel-toned precision of Dutch Golden Age portraiture. This artistic influence is evident in the collection's deep color palette, which features velvety black, ultramarine, garnet, emerald, and burnished gold. Beyond painting, the collection also incorporates echoes of Art Deco imagery, with one design referencing a catsuit illustration by the artist Erté. This blend of historical art periods allows for a wardrobe that feels like a gallery of possibilities rather than a single, rigid narrative. Collaborating with legendary milliner Stephen Jones, the collection features dramatic head coverings that evoke the shape of a wimple, yet are crafted from modern materials like T-shirts. This creative twist transforms a democratic piece of clothing into something sculptural and painterly, framing the face with architectural precision. Burton also reintroduced leopard print, a motif favored by both house founder Hubert de Givenchy and her former mentor, Alexander McQueen. In a specific nod to her past, the collection utilizes the exact black leopard lace that McQueen featured in his own fall 1997 collection. The show's casting underscored the collection's theme of multifaceted womanhood, featuring not only top models but also creative professionals like artist Isabelle Albuquerque and writer Constance Debré. Celebrities like Rooney Mara, Elizabeth Olsen, and Diane Kruger were spotted in the front row. This collection builds on signatures Burton has already established at Givenchy, such as the sensual, inverted tailoring seen in her Fall 2025 debut. A key look, a tailcoat tuxedo with an hourglass shape worn over a reversed white button-down, directly combines elements from her first two seasons.
