Inside Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci Heartfelt Tribute to New York

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Fashion shows can certainly be considered trite, but on a gorgeous evening in Manhattan, on a particularly emotional day for the city of New York, one could not helped but be moved by the awesomeness that was the Givenchy show. Of course the brand’s creative director, Riccardo Tisci, did not go it alone; he enlisted world renowned artist Marina Abramovic — who is a dear friend and resident New Yorker — to lead the artistic direction of the production. What did this entail? Students of her institute for performance art, dressed in black and white, were stationed throughout the elaborate set climbing stairs or holding branches in a trance-like state, which gave the setting an eerily calm feeling in what is typically a rather chaotic environment. 

While Abramovic’s artists were mainly on podiums, high above the stage, down below the frenzy was isolated to the smashing front row and the celebrities that had assembled to honor Tisci. Anyone who follows him on Instagram knows that he’s big on #family, and this evening they showed up in spades. Julia Roberts (who wore a T-shirt emblazoned with Tisci’s likeness), Nicki Minaj (who was less than thrilled that she arrived 20 minutes early), and past campaign stars Liv Tyler, Amanda Seyfriend, Courtney Love, and Erykah Badu were all on hand. The latter told Yahoo Style that her appreciation for Tisci ran deep. “He’s true to himself and I think we have that in common,” she said. “That’s why I love him.” Of course the designer’s biggest supporters, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were also there. KK showed off her burgeoning belly in a sheer lace frock, while her sister Kendall Jenner strutted the runway with bleach blond brows. 

Editors and celebs were just over half of the attendees, Tisci also extended the invite to nearly 1,000 people from the general public who either won tickets via an online lottery (that was sold out in .2 seconds — for real!) or waited in line outside the venue today. In addition the show was broadcast on various jumbotrons stationed throughout the city and on the Givenchy website. And who says that fashion isn't democratic? 

As for the clothes? Only working in shades of black or white, Tisci presented some of his greatest hits including delicate lace slip dresses, tuxedo blazers and pants (some with ribbons streaming in the breeze), and mouth-watering couture gowns that were accessorized with intricate matching masks. The whole lineup, which featured ready-to-wear, couture, and several menswear made for a deliciously satiating sartorial meal. When the models took their final lap, showcasing all 89 looks, Abramovic had arranged for a live performance of “Ave Maria.” With the Tribute in Light in remembrance of 9/11 shining in the background, it was a good reminder of how lucky are to witness such beauty.