Paris Fashion Week: Givenchy and Stella

There have been no fewer than four designers at Givenchy in this decade. Yet the brand struggles -- still -- to find a way to produce even wearable clothes. The show last night was a disappointment to many fashion editors who like the current designer, Riccardo Tisci, and had high hopes for the collection after a much improved showing for this fall. But the clothes he sent out -- delicate chiffon dresses with heavy metal grommets, suits with giant polk a dots -- dashed those hopes. The audience tried to reamin optimistic, scattered applause filled the hall, led by Carine Roitfeld the editor of French Vogue who is helping Tisci behind the scenes, but with the apolocyptic collection he presented (knee high gladiator shoes anyone?) it wasn't easy.

Why wear this?

When you could wear this?

The mood brightened considerably this morning at Stella McCartney. Stella's UK company reached profitibility this year and from this collection it was easy to see why. Floral dresses, rompers and jumpsuits all were relaxed and easy to wear. It is clear that Stella is feeling more confident, perhaps because of her improving numbers, perhaps because of the number of brands lining up to do collaborations with her (Adidas and Le Sportsac are her two current gigs) or perhaps she's now a married mother. Whatever the reason, editors and buyers can now go into her show with higher hopes than ever before -- knowing that she's producing clothes women can wear instead of clothes meant to send a message to anyone who thinks she's just a famous rich kid.