Images via NYMag

Givenchy was a lesson in structure and ornate details for Spring 2012. It was all about shapes in this collection, think angles and circular. Clean lines walked alongside flirty ruffles took took on an origami flare. A subtle color palette was accented by sparkling sequins. The contrasts were notable on this runway. Sleek and modern was met with embellishment and folded pleats.

Beyonce covers the July 2011 issue of W magazine in a Louis Vuitton ensemble.  The singer rocked the label’s silk blouse, cashmere shorts, hat and mask.  I love the romance of the white top paired with the structured shorts and military styled hat.  This is a very chic uniform.  The image is high fashion right down to her Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci silk satin bra.  Her wardrobe really pops with a glossy red background.

Beyonce landed the cover of Dazed & Confused in Givenchy.  The printed look came from the Fall 2011 collection.  She stood in a fierce pose with an ice cream cone dripping down her arm.  This might be her alter ego Sasha; either way, it worked.  Her makeup was flawless with an emphasis on the eyes.  The hair was sleek and modern to contrast the boldness of her outfit.

Givenchy Beauty has given a preview of its Fall 2011 campaign, and it spells drama.  The lips are a bold berry and the eyes are exaggerated and dark.  This ad is all about high contrast, the model’s hair is jet black against her pale skin.  I also appreciate the juxtaposition of her white lace blouse alongside her almost goth-like makeup application.

Gwen Stefani covers Elle magazine’s  ’Music Issue’ for May 2011.  The singer wore a fitted brown and black dress with ivory stripes from Givenchy’s Pre-Fall 2011 collection.  Black leather sleeves, shoulders and side panels made this look a total badass.  Those colors go well with the mustard yellow font on the cover.  I love her platinum blond hair that has great volume for a rocking look.  Her makeup was neutral with a touch of a smoky eye.

Givenchy was both feminine and fierce for Fall 2011.  They offered mini-skirts with two hemlines, one flirty hem and the other sheer and knee-length.  The color black permeated the collection, but there were bursts of sunshine yellow sprinkled throughout.  The prints were also plentiful and a bit playful, think feline.  It was all about proportions with a touch of whimsy at Givenchy.  This collection skirted the edges of the provocative without fully committing; sheer pieces were combined with more modest pieces for balance.

Givenchy got in touch with its darker side for Spring 2011, it was edgy and a little Goth.  Hair and the makeup followed suit.  The Givenchy girl is daring and fiesty this season, but she still maintains her softer side in sheer fabrics and ruffles.  It was a case of the good girl getting in touch with the bad girl within.  You saw it in the looks in white, they were light and heavenly.  They were contrasted with the animal print and black that encompassed the collection; those looks were more dark angel – think back to Jessica Alba.  The sheer capes and animal print were bold and dramatic, and zipper details were used to make the looks edgier, instead of just pretty.  This was a youthful collection, it was sexy without being too provocative.

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]