Now, all of a sudden, experience very much matters in designer hires.
To Burton, Givenchy is the plummest of assignments.
It felt like it was a great place to be.
Sarah Burton at work in the studio.
You could describe Givenchys last six years as a long period of soul searching, with only limited clarity.
For me, Givenchyitissilhouette.
But I love the idea that they exist; theyre kind of a magical thing, Burton says.
Hubert de Givenchy’s first show in 1952 was held in a hôtel particulier on rue Alfred de Vigny, christened by a journalist at the time “the Cathédrale,”
A preview of the new collection.
It started quite clean, quite pure and, not back-to-basics, but its obviously post-war, says Burton.
Theres a kind of simplicity.
A preview of the new collection.
Here at Givenchy, she began by sketching before moving into the atelier to drape with the team.
A lot of the time people say, okay, whats it going to look like in a picture?
A lot of the time people say, okay, whats it going to look like in a picture?
The dresses seem made to defy gravity, strapless puff balls of tulle and chopped-off “super, super-mini” dresses, without any ornamentation.
That it feels like theres a human being in it.
Burton earns her reputation as a hands-on designer all over again at Givenchy.
What key in of tulle have we put in there, could it be lighter?
Burton earns her reputation as a hands-on designer all over again at Givenchy. “I think I’m a bit of a train spotter when it comes to all that kind of stuff,” she admits.
Do we put pockets in it to give it a different attitude?
Showing off piece after perfect-looking piece she reiterates the caveat, its still a work in progress.
Its her practice to do at least three fittings per garment.
It’s Burton’s practice to do at least three fittings per garment. “That’s 150 fittings between now and Friday,” she said several days before the show, betraying none of the anxiety a figure like that might instill in another person. “This is the fun part.”
McQueen was so small, you had to make the patterns yourself.
I remember him putting an invisible zip into a bias-cut Prince of Wales skirt.
Of course he didnt.
Thats how I learned to sort of sew and pattern cut on the job.
Compared to McQueen, who so many people still hold personally dear?
I know what I love doing, what Im good at doing.
I learned that with Lee, and then carried on.
You have to tell your own stories.
Its Burtons practice to do at least three fittings per garment.
This is the fun part.
When asked the women designer questionwhy arent there more of them in positions of leadership?Burton gets personal.
Im from a very kind of matriarchal background.
So I never, ever, ever thought it was a problem.
I just presumed that I would be able to have the same opportunity.
And I have three daughters.
I think its important to say that women can do anything.
And I really believe that.
Maybe Im too sensitive sometimes, but when Im dressing somebody, I want them to feel good.
I think its an amazing gift.
I go back to the Instagram pictureits great, but its not just that.
You want people to be living, breathing, wearing it.
