Givenchy has unveiled a first teaser campaign by newly-appointed artistic director Clare Waight Keller, shot by Steven Meisel.

The British designer, who recently left her role as creative director at Chloé after six years, was appointed at Givenchy in March, replacing Riccardo Tisci following his departure  after a twelve-year tenure. Waight-Keller is the first woman to helm the LVMH-owned fashion house, taking care of Women’s and Men’s Ready-to-wear and accessories collections, as well as Haute Couture. Her first collection for the house, comprising both menswear and womenswear, will debut in October during SS18 Paris Fashion Week.

The designer shared her personal take on the campaign, which was shot at a private manor house in New York. “I love the simplicity of these portraits and the engaging directness of the subject’s gaze. It evokes the bold, powerful and very graphic quality of Hubert de Givenchy gave to everything he designs,” she said.

When designing the collection, Waight-Keller delved deep into the house’s archives discovering an array of silk prints from 1953 featuring a striking feline with orange eyes. This ignited the inspiration for the up and coming season. “I love the idea of a woman with a feline air,” the designer said. “A person may seem slightly reserved, but they have that serene, straight forward gaze. They’re seductive. You want to meet them, know more about them, and be like them. I wanted to play with modern attitude and expression because I feel like it’s an apt metaphor for Givenchy’s current evolution.”

Clare Waight-Keller will present her debut collection for Givenchy, comprising menswear and womenswear, in October during SS18 Paris Fashion Week. Stay tuned to HERO for fashion week coverage from London, Milan, Paris and New York.