For centuries, feminine archetypes conceived under the male gaze–the corset, bustiers, stilettos, have dominated women's fashion. Givenchy’s runway presentation in Paris Fashion Week for the house’s Women's ready-to-wear Spring Summer 2026 collection subverted this standard. With Powerful Femininity, Creative Director Sarah Burton asks how these archetypes should bend for today, for the modern woman. By deconstructing silhouettes to their tailored structure and embracing an elegantly placed patch of skin, Burton creates a new foundation for feminine dress that is as sophisticated as it is sultry. Just as a bold red lip is a statement or accessory to a look, Givenchy’s red lipstick leather accessories bring an edge to each ensemble. 

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From leotards with billowing sleeves, to a combination of leather and lace, Burton is “exploring the female vocabulary of dress and undress” with a variety of materials. A silky, baby pink dress–with pockets–appeared next to a shoulder-bearing tailored dress with a tall, spidery neckline. Bowed and fringe covered heels decorate pant suits and leather evening gowns alike. With each ensemble, Burton acknowledges how confusing being a modern woman can be. Instead of defining what it should look like, Powerful Femininity shines a light on all of the different versions of what it can be. 

Powerful women like Tracee Ellis Ross and Jenna Ortega took their front row seats to admire the reclamation of power. The runway presentation used a unique blend of material and form to embrace an undressed version of femininity, defying tradition–at Napoleon's grave no less.