Petite Notes on a Collection: Sarah Burton's Spring Summer 2026 Collection with Givenchy

Burton's sophomore collection invites feminine beauty, presence, and power. Strong, welcomed through-lines from her debut designs are present and accounted for.

I absolutely adored this collection and I adored it to the degree that I adored the first collection - so let’s get right into it.

This Spring/Summer 2026 collection, titled 'Powerful Femininity' premiered during Paris Fashion week this past October 2025. 

Burton mentions to Nicole Phelps at Vogue, “Because it’s been a lot of things, Givenchy, it’s important to set its silhouette, its woman, its cut. It’s important to give it clarity at the beginning.”

I felt this continuity, this clarity deeply in this sophomore collection, as many of the silhouettes, fabrics, and textures worked into this collection were shown in the first collection. However where the initial collection may be had a bit more body and volume, this had some softness to it. 

I am constantly thinking about how Sarah Burton is also constantly thinking about a woman’s body, a woman shape, and what a woman can wear to make her feel empowered shapes that hug and accentuate. The female figure are the pieces that are going to make women feel powerful, and this collection is full of them.

The Bralette

The bralette is shown all throughout the collection. It’s attached to the top of one pieces and dresses, as you see in the premier dress. You also see it worn underneath blazers, or styled completely on its own. 

The one that I am most obsessed with is the bralette in the closing piece - oh my gosh, this heavenly jacquard fabric is so divine.

Deep V Waistlines

I am obsessed as well with the skirts that Burton's created for the season and the waistline that almost V's down the models abdomen. 

She pairs the skirts with crisp white button-ups, bralettes and blazers over top, or the shape is built into a dress. Every woman looks absolutely beautiful in this as it moves with the natural shapes of the body. A feminine-forward design.

Netted Fabric

I also loved that Sarah Burton used the netting fabric that I love so much from her initial collection. 

I did prefer how she used it in the cat suit that opened her FW25 show. But it's not a competition, and I'm simply ecstatic the fabric, and her sophisticated handling of it, was back for a second go. 

Denim

The denim looks, while only two, deeply pleased me. I love when a nice long denim pant dons a big cuff that nearly goes halfway up the leg. I also love a really really rich indigo denim - no wash it doesn’t look like, it’s a blue that gives 'straight from the mill'.

The Shoes

Massive shoutout to the shoes - the SHOES! Oh my gosh - I was obsessed with the pom-pom shoes from the previous collection and I didn't think they could be more charming than that and I was pleasantly defied. 

These ones that look like confetti out as the models walk. I also love the way that these particular shoes were styled with Naomi Campbell’s look - seeing the Slack drape over this red frill. Just exquisite.

Also love these hydrangeas, these absolute peonies which elegantly fold and float on top of the models feet as they're walking. Incredibly charming

And a very special shoutout to the shoes in the closing look - these super fluffy feather-bed slip-ons were seen twice - once donned by a full peach paradise look (which I cannot seem to locate any solid images of the shoes themselves I am so sorry, although the full model image is a true delight) and with the final look. You want to dive right into them.

The Accessories

The accessories, while bold, perfectly suited for each of the pieces and never overtook any of the garments. 

While I did prefer the leather goods in her previous collection, this colection was full of charming bags and I LOVED the way these particular bags were styled with the chain softly wrapped around the model's wrists - felt like an entirely new piece of jewelry. Outstanding styling.

Suits

All of the suiting in this collection was exceptional, her tailoring skills are absolute peak. I loved the wide leg trousers and looks, but I'm also really into these looks with these slim leg slacks. 

The tailoring is exquisite such beautiful work here 

The blazer and skirt sets were also beautiful, very appealing. 

This particular one where she has the blazer, buttoned, beautiful skirt with this generous lit, which I love. 

So powerful to show these parts of our bodies will also feeling like we’re being held in the structured garment.

And as Burton mentions to Vogue, "Instead of going to all the male archetypes to empower a woman, I thought, How do you empower a woman through feminine archetypes?" 

I believe she's achieved this through this season's thoughtful designs. Burton is really is taking time and care and thinking about a woman’s silhouette, what women want to wear, and the full spectrum of how women feel in their bodies. 

This is exactly where she needs to be, but more importantly: it’s exactly what Givenchy needed - a designer who is putting women’s power, confidence, and ease in their designs. 

Another knockout by Sarah Burton what a pleasure to witness!

Check out my video on the collection below! xxoo EN

Also available on my Substack! elizabethnora.substack.com/p/petite-notes-on-a-collection-sarah xxo

All photographs in this post are courtesy of Vogue and Givenchy.