| Birth Name: | Clare Waight |
| Birth Date: | df=yes 19 August 1970 |
| Birth Place: | Birmingham, England |
| Occupation: | Fashion designer |
| Spouse: | Philip Keller |
| Children: | 3 |
Clare Waight Keller (born 19 August 1970) is a British stylist and fashion designer, who has served as the artistic director for a number of luxury fashion houses and brands, including Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.[1] [2] In 2023, she launched a collection with Japanese mass-market brand Uniqlo.[3] 2024
Keller was born in Birmingham, England on 19 August 1970.[4] She studied at Ravensbourne College of Art,now Ravensbourne University London, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Fashion, followed by a master's degree at the Royal College of Art.[5]
She started her career at Calvin Klein in New York as a stylist for the women's ready-to-wear line, then at Ralph Lauren, for the Purple Label menswear line.[6] In 2000, she was hired by Tom Ford to join Gucci, responsible for women's ready-to-wear and accessories, until her departure in 2004.[5] The following year, she became artistic director of Pringle of Scotland.[7] In 2007, she received the Scottish Fashion Awards 'Designer of the Year' in the cashmere category.[8] She resigned her position at Pringle of Scotland in 2011.[7] In the same year, she moved to Paris where she became the artistic director of Chloé. In 2017, Keller was appointed artistic director of haute couture and ready-to-wear for women and men at Givenchy.[9] Replacing Riccardo Tisci, she was the first woman to hold the position at the company.[10]
She designed the wedding dress which Meghan Markle wore for her wedding to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, on 19 May 2018.[11]
For her second couture show, Waight Keller went through Givenchy's archives, and used modern materials "to create something that floats".[12] The final purpose of the collection was to commemorate the legacy of the house’s founder, Hubert de Givenchy. The show occurred at the Archives Nationales in Paris. Guests received a copy of a book with the house’s archival designs, including images of Givenchy’s muse and creative partner, Audrey Hepburn.[13] The opening design of the collection directly homages Givenchy's column dress created for Audrey.[14] Waight also reinterpreted the iconic black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and even closed the show with the song, “Moon River.” [15] Despite being a commemorative collection, Waight Keller modernized Givenchy’s classic designs with innovative cuts and materials. She also introduced structured, asymmetrical silhouettes and luxurious yet minimalist elements.
In January 2019, for autumn/winter 19, Waight Keller presented her first standalone menswear collection for Givenchy in Paris. It was an intimate salon show that just consisted of 17 looks with a complete day to evening wardrobe. While future Givenchy ready-to-wear and haute couture shows will remain combined, this means Waight Keller's vision of Givenchy menswear is given its own stage.[16] [17]
She left Givenchy on 10 April 2020.[18]
In August 2023, she announced a line with Uniqlo, Uniqlo : C. The 34-piece collection launched in September 2023, available online and in 1,500 stores across the globe.[19]
At the 2018 British Fashion Awards, Keller was presented the British Designer of the Year Womenswear Award by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and actress Rosamund Pike.[20] [21] [22]
In 2019, Time magazine included Keller in its annual list of the most influential people of the year.[23]
She is married to Philip Keller, an architect. They have three children, twins Amelia and Charlotte, and Harrison.[24]