Just like the Met Gala, the Oscars red carpet is a safe bet when it comes to stealth fashion moments. Whatever constitutes a ‘moment’ in fashion terms, however, can be defined in a myriad of ways. It could be a toy swan wrapped around your neck (think Björk), a loin cloth and mohawk (hello, Cher), or even a stylist pulling a runway look from the archives. Or, and that is a big or, you could wear a creation by a newly-appointed creative director who’s yet to make their runway debut at fashion week, which is exactly what Elle Fanning and her stylist Samantha McMillen decided to do for this year’s Academy Awards.
And it wasn’t any designer the actor tapped to create her gown. Fanning called up her pal, the designer behind Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, Sarah Burton, who is several days away from making her highly anticipated runway debut at Givenchy, to wear the her first-ever public design for the brand, giving us a good idea of what Burton’s new era at the French fashion house might look like.
Sarah Burton, who is several days away from making her highly anticipated runway debut at Givenchy. Elle Fanning’s debut of Burton’s Givenchy gives us a good idea of what the new era at the French fashion house might look like.
The sweetheart neckline lace gown transitioning into a nipped-in waist, complete with black bow, and a billowing full skirt, indicates that Burton will elegantly nod to the Givenchy’s founder, Hubert de Givenchy. Very different from Burton’s designs at Alexander McQueen, where she held the position of creative director ever since Lee McQueen’s passing, Fanning’s dress spoke to Givenchy’s DNA. Lest we forget, of course, that Givenchy’s most famous Hollywood disciple was Audrey Hepburn. Not a bad actor to be inspired by!