Following the news that Matthew M Williams has been named as the new creative director of Givenchy, your first reaction might be: 'Who?'
Those outside the streetwear fashion world will have probably never heard of Williams, yet they will almost certainly have seen his work. He was the man behind some of Lady Gaga's most memorable looks between 2008 and 2010, including those on her album covers.
From there he joined Kanye West, as head of the rapper's company Studio Donda. Williams's eye for loose cuts and sharp details is clearly evident in West's early design collections.
A rising star on the high-end streetwear scene (he was once part of a collective with Virgil Abloh, now head of menswear at Louis Vuitton), his work has become increasingly polished over the years, despite having no formal fashion training. In 2016, he caught the eye of LVMH when he was put forward for its annual prize.
He founded his label 1017 Alyx 9SM, known as Alyx, in 2015. Having shifted his fashion shows from New York to Paris (while he and his family actually live in Milan), by March 2017, the demands of the Parisian fashion crowd had honed Williams's eye even more, leading him to create ever more sophisticated, impeccable looks, all while retaining that urbane air of subtle anarchy.
What he brings to Givenchy
The appointment of Williams marks a shift in focus for the storied French house. Best known for its elegant style, founder Hubert de Givenchy famously dressed Audrey Hepburn and Clare Waight Keller (from whom he's taking the role over from) created Meghan Markle’s wedding dress for her marriage to Prince Harry. Past designers at Givenchy have also included John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien Macdonald and Riccardo Tisci.
Click through the images above to see Williams's evolution from Gaga to Givenchy.
Williams, in contrast, has no formal fashion training and instead has a keen instinct for mixing high and low into upscale streetwear. He began his career collaborating with musicians, and inspired by technology and futurism.
He began his tenure at Givenchy on Tuesday, June 16, and will oversee both the men’s and women’s lines. With his sharp blending of fashion genres, he will undoubtedly bring a blast of new energy to the house, as well a shift in creative direction towards a younger, more relaxed crowd.
“I am extremely honored to join the House of Givenchy,” Williams said in a statement. “The maison’s unique position and timeless aura make it an undeniable icon and I am looking forward to working together with its ateliers and teams, to move it into a new era, based on modernity and inclusivity. I am grateful to the LVMH group for trusting me with the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream.
"In these unprecedented times for the world, I want to send a message of hope, together with my community and colleagues, and intend to contribute towards positive change.”
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
