Backstage at her Spring/Summer 2026 show for Givenchy, Sarah Burton spoke of the importance of establishing clarity from the outset of her tenure at the house. That focus was reflected throughout the collection: a pared-back palette of black and white punctuated by flashes of red, pink and beige, and silhouettes that were sharp yet fluid in their execution.
At the centre of the collection was the bodice, reimagined as a versatile anchor. Bodysuits with plunging V-necklines and voluminous sleeves appeared styled with squared-toe ballet flats, or layered beneath a cropped leather bomber whose collar featured a striking double-zip detail. Lingerie codes translated seamlessly into eveningwear: bra tops slipped under tailored jackets or paired with silk and leather skirts, draped with a deliberate fragility, as if they might tumble away at any moment.
Tailoring, a signature within Burton’s vocabulary, was pushed further into new territory. Tuxedo dresses opened dramatically at the chest, framing bra straps and bold jewellery, while a sculptural trench featured oversized lapels and a waist cinched tight with a belt. The standout look came in the form of a hybrid piece – part off-the-shoulder coat, part dress – adorned with an impressionistic floral that dissolved into a fluid cascade of fringe.
Words by Martin Onufrowicz
