Model Lara Stone tied the knot last weekend to comedian David Walliams in London.  The model bride wore a wedding gown designed by Riccardo Tisci to the wedding ceremony, and wore a Givenchy dress to the reception.  It was a double win for the house of Givenchy because Tisci is also its creative designer.  Her wedding dress was a beautiful ivory corseted piece made from silk satin.  The reception dress was a signature Givenchy number, metallic gold, short and sexy.  It showcased her gorgeous figure.  How did she score a custom dress from Riccardo Tisci you might ask?  The two are good friends.

It’s barely summer, but we’re already seeing ad campaigns for the fall.  Everyone is buzzing about Givenchy’s Fall 2010 ad campaign featuring a transgender model.  The campaign includes Mariacarla Boscono, Malgosia Bela, Catherine McNeil, Ming Xi, Joan Smalls, and  Lea T, the model behind the buzz.  Riccardo Tisci is making a bold move at the French fashion house.  Will the controversy overshadow the clothes, or will it generate enough publicity that could translate into sales?  At the end of the day, it’s clever marketing and a great way to get heard in a sea of other fall campaigns.

Pink Hair, Red Lips, and All-Star Models [Modelinia]

 We are inching closer and closer to a Tom Ford womenswear launch for fall 2011.  We are also learning that all is fair in love and fashion. Ford has hired womenswear designer Caroline Tixier from Givenchy, and accessories designer Pablo Coppola from Alexander McQueen.  It appears he wants nothing, but the best for his ready-to-wear line.  The fashion world has been anticipating this launch for years, and there is a lot of excitement.  Hiring designers from two of the top fashion houses in Europe will only add to the buzz that usually surrounds a Tom Ford project.  What will the well-dressed man send down the runway to satisfy the well-dressed woman?  That will be the question on the industry’s lips until the line is unveiled.  Everyone expects him to recreate the magic he made at Gucci, and from this latest move, he intends to.

Tom Ford Secretly Poaching McQueen and Givenchy for His Own Women’s Design Team  [The Cut]

Lara Stone heats up Versace’s ad campaign for Versus this spring.  The design house remains true to its nature with this sensual commercial for its fragrance.  Lara has already worked with Givenchy, Calvin Klein, and she recently replaced Madonna at Louis Vuitton.  She is a model in demand, and from the looks of this ad it will stay that way.  So we have selected Lara Stone for our Rollcall list this week.

 Lady Gaga in Armani Prive

 Rhianna in Elie Saab Couture

Ciara in Givenchy Couture

Red Carpet Looks:

Couture came to the Grammy’s this year, and its arrival signaled a look towards the future.  We were granted a preview of the future of fashion in the new decade, and all is well.

Lady Gaga set the bar for the evening.  Her Armani Prive gown was designed and built to stimulate our visual senses.  Gaga was orbited by perfectly manicured glittery strips that could double as a shield to keep away intruders.  So that’s what it looks like to have the world revolve around you.  Let’s not forget the tights and shoes which brought the singer’s look to greater heights. 

Rhianna could have been the heroine in any sci fi film with this Elie Saab Couture gown.  Her hair and make up were flawless, and perfectly completed the look.  The structured shoulders gave this gown its futuristic vibe, and all traces of the last decade evaporated.

Ciara made a bold choice with this selection.  If Rhianna was the heroine, Ciara was the gorgeous villainess in Givenchy Couture.  It is sheer lace and textured with just enough embellishments.  The look says welcome to the future, and the future is badass.

The Givenchy couture collection will be the choice of a new generation of couture connoissieurs.  There was  no predictability here, only modern and timely pieces.  Its youthful vibrancy was a break from the more expected couture aesthetic.  For these reasons, Givenchy made our Rollcall list during Couture Week.  The collection boasted wonderful shapes, colors and textures.  Black and white, and fleshtones opened the show, then an explosion of color followed; various shades of blues, emerald green and purple lit up the runway.  The next generation does not want to play dress up in there mother’s couture.  They seek to be daring without being gimmicky, and Riccardo Tisci delivered. View the entire collection here.

Alexander McQueen Spring 2010

Luxury brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Givenchy have not embraced the idea of selling their apparel online.  Marc Jacobs is an American designer, and he is also the creative director of Louis Vuitton.  There appears to be a  divide betweeen U.S. high-end retailers and European retailers; the U.S. companies are far more open to e-commerce.   

European retailers are hesitant to take advantage of the online retail market amid concerns about brand exclusivity and brand dilution.  They are concerned about a deterioration in customer service online as well.  Some retail consultants argue that the ease and convenience of ordering online is really what quality service is all about. 

Many of these brands have certain exceptions like, U.K. based Alexander McQueen.  His website sells everything to his U.S. customers only.  Yves Saint Laurent will only allow accessories to be sold online to its U.S. customers.  Chanel sells its beauty products, and Louis Vuitton sells  leather goods and accessories, but neither will go beyond those specified items.

Luxury brands are not as averse to the Internet as before, many have ventured into the online social networking arena.  It’s a great way to connect with customers in an attempt to better address their needs.  Twitter, Facebook and other sites provide real-time feedback that, if used correctly, can be invaluable to these companies.

“More than 50% of the population has grown up with shopping on the Internet. It continues to be the biggest growth opportunity for fashion, and luxury in particular. They’re not going to see the same level of growth in traditional outlets,” says chief retail analyst Marshal Cohen.  Maybe the question to ask is, can luxury retail continue to shun e-commerce without serious financial implications?

Online Luxury Retail Remains Elusive [BusinessWeek]

We have selected Givenchy’s new capsule collection to be created by Riccardo Tisci for our Rollcall list this week.  First he wowed us with his fall 2009 couture collection, and now he is designing his new capsule collection, Redux.  Redux is expected in stores by October, and will show twice a year.  Tisci’s fall 2009 couture collection was edgy, regal and ethnic; will Redux follow a similar ‘pattern’?  Here is a look back at the couture collection, and get a hint of what may be in store for you this fall.  

Tisci New Take [Vogue.com]

Related Post: Givenchy Couture