GIVENCHY - TOP 5

Yesterday was a momentous day for the house of Givenchy. Riccardo Tisci took the Internet by storm by announcing that 1200 tickets to the SS2016 presentation would be available to members of the public, a move designed to celebrate both the launch of a New York flagship store last week and the opening of a flagship in Milan which will coincide with the show on September 11th. Givenchy is one of the industry's longest-running fashion houses; founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy, the house quickly gained a reputation for its elegant couture pieces and its sartorial links with icons such as Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. The brand has come a long way, recruiting legendary designers such as Alexander McQueen and John Galliano along the road. Since his appointment in 2005, Tisci has nurtured a new, darker aesthetic and catapulted the brand to huge mainstream success. To celebrate his first decade at the house and his decision to make high-fashion more accessible, here are five of Givenchy's greatest collections.

Xiao Wen Ju wearing Givenchy Couture, A/W 2011

MARGIELA MONDAY

On paper, the appointment of John Galliano as the new Creative Director of Maison Martin Margiela is one of the most unlikely in fashion history. Margiela is the eponymous fashion house built by the elusive Belgian designer; an avant-garde reaction to the maximalist culture of the 1980s. With his unique brand of minimalism and label-less garments, the designer created a cult following based around anonymity and cultural iconoclasm. On the other hand, Galliano is a romancier as obsessed with excess as he seemingly is with his own public image, to the extent that his finale walk often garnered more column inches than the collections themselves. Unsurprisingly, the fashion world waited with bated breath to see the grand unveiling of Galliano's debut Artisanal showing for the house, so much so that the event even spawned its own hashtag, #MargielaMonday. So, the question remains; was it worth the wait?

JOHN GALLIANO A/W 2009

After briefly mentioning this collection in the last post on Lady Gaga's 'Applause' video, I felt that this collection truly deserves further exploration. I have recently become more and more infatuated with Galliano as a designer - his creations for Dior Haute Couture were never anything short of spectacular, and a number of documentaries have been recently brought to my attention detailing the inspirations and the working processes of the eccentric genius. This collection is arguably one of his greatest - the show transitioned from structured jackets and full skirts through to sheer fabrics and explosions of organza, showcasing the full extent of Galliano's multi-faceted aesthetic.

Make-up, detail shot

'APPLAUSE' - THE OUTFITS

It is no secret that Lady Gaga is beloved by the fashion industry. Designers such as the late Lee McQueen, Donatella Versace and Hussein Chalayan have all clamoured to dress her in the past, and she is good friends with elite fashion photographers such as Nick Knight and Inez & Vinoodh. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Gaga's new video for her single 'Applause' is a fashion orgy of spectacular proportions. Featuring instantly recognisable designs by Gareth Pugh, John Galliano and Maison Martin Margiela, the singer pairs haute couture with D.I.Y creations from her own 'Haus' of Gaga in order to craft a truly memorable aesthetic. This blog post details some of the most eye-catching designs from the video alongside the collections that they came from. 

Fall 2012 Highlights; John Galliano RTW

The second highlight of the Fall 2012 shows came courtesy of BIll Gaytten, creative director of John Galliano. It is no secret that the name of John Galliano has recently been associated with far more than just fashion, due to a highly controversial and highly-publicised court case which saw the designer come under fierce criticism for his anti-semitic comments. However, Galliano has undoubtedly earned his reputation as a fashion heavyweight after working as creative director for powerhouse brands such as Givenchy and Dior, and this latest collection shows that the John Galliano brand is still thriving despite the negative publicity.

In terms of the collection, Gaytten ensured that the usual historical influences were present in the garments. Heavy beading, fur-lined hems and nipped-in waists gave the collection a distinctly 1940s feel, whereas leather jodphurs provided a sly nod towards the equestrian trend that is set to become huge this Autumn.



Beaded chiffon gown; John Galliano Fall 2012 RTW



Leather jodphurs; John Galliano Fall 2012 RTW

The colour scheme of the collection was extremely decadent; gold, bronze and red were used often, lending an air of royal grandeur to the overall aesthetic. Gaytten also dabbled in military pieces, sending out a deconstructed khaki coat which also came in a shortened jacket form. By adding details such as a fur hemline and elbow-length leather gloves, the looks were a breath of fresh air that broke up the collection nicely and showed the designer's versatility. In fact, the coats were all extremely impressive - by showing oversized woolen jackets as well as form-fitting trenchcoats and quilted leather jackets, Gaytten ensured there was enough variation in fit and texture that there was a variety of outerwear to suit a variety of women.

Read/see more after the jump!