WISH LIST

Associate Fashion News Editor Gerald Tan discovers the utilitarian side of haute couture

It has been a momentous year for Clare Waight Keller—besides scoring the gig of o a lifetime by dressing the Duchess of Sussex for her royal wedding, the 48-year-old is also fast establishing herself at Givenchy in the t capacity of its newest Artistic Director. Waight Keller’s latest fall/winter couture outing for the Parisian Maison may be a moving tribute trib to its eponymous founder who passed passe away in March, yet it’s also a perfect perf example of how her brand of restrained femininity is always b backed by a sense of practicality. In a rarefied world often filled with precious confections, Waight Keller gave couture a functional kick by showing a divine number layered under an unassuming trench coat ( (12). It’s a simple-but-impactful gestu gesture worth repeating: A dramatic dre dress (3) forms a solid base for the ense ensemble, over which you layer an inter interpretation of the outerwear (6) tha that has been cut longer for extra flair. Add emphasis to the neutral palette with metallic accents, courtesy of a striking pair of earrings (8) or a sculptural cuff (2). De rigueur white ankle booties (4) cement the look, while a spritz from an intoxicating scent (7) signals you’re ready to take on the world. ■