GOLD CLASS
Barely a year into her appointment as Givenchy's artistic director and Clare Waight Keller has already produced a blockbuster hit of a bag with the GV3. Imran Jalal reports from Hong Kong on how this house signature is a leading lady in the It bag game.
Feminine, edgy, practical, the GV3 – Givenchy’s first It bag by Clare Waight Keller – delves into fun territory this season.
The biggest buzz about Clare Waight Keller’s appointment as Givenchy’s artistic director is how she’s the first woman at its helm. The second biggest buzz when the announcement came last March was how she could catapult the French label to the forefront as an It bag maker, what with her track record.
Her light touch – as with the best of female designers – lies in her preternatural ability to know what real women want in their wardrobes. As her ready-to-wear collections for Givenchy attest, practicality is as important to her as looking (and feeling) pretty/on trend/cool – and her first bag for Givenchy is no different.
Debuted in S/S ’18, the GV3’s most distinct feature is its metal chain strap that’s both functional and ornamental, lending a punk edge or vintage elegance, depending on how one carries it. Every style – flap bags in various sizes, a nano version that can be worn on a belt, an evening-appropriate clutch – is roomy and organised, thanks to accordionlike compartments.
The “high fashion” touch comes in the finishes that range from goat skin to hand-dyed python skin, as well as the craftsmanship. Each piece is painted and assembled by hand.
Now, the brand’s introduced a bucket bag variation, as well as a host of vibrant colourways on the existing styles for Pre-Fall. As they hit the spotlight in stores, here’s what you should know about the GV3.