As the applause faded and the crowd filed out of the Salon Impérial of The Westin Hotel after ]]>

As the applause faded and the crowd filed out of the Salon Impérial of The Westin Hotel after Givenchy’s haute couture show this week, a select few were swept backstage to fête Riccardo Tisci on his stunning show. Among the faithful well-wishers (and the obligatory Kanye West) were several key figures in Riccardo’s life, the muses who each play their part in A#8 and who both inspire and promote his work.

As dressers worked hesitantly to ease each girl out of her near-priceless outfit, Möet & Chandon was poured to celebrate the vivid performance that had just taken place, and the six months of work behind it. Mingling amongt the crowd, one could find actresses Joanna Preiss and Lou Doillon in spirited conversation, as stylist Catherine Baba worked the room in a fiesty fox fur coat. In the background, makeup artist Pat McGrath and her team cleaned the remnants of their vibrant cosmetic works off the faces of girls such as Malgosia Bella, Natalia Vodianova, Lara Stone and Patricia Van Der Vliet [below].

At the same time staff of the Givenchy studio got to work immediately, to repair pieces damaged from their single walk down the runway, re-stitching sequins to prepare them for showings to clients and to send away for editorial shoots. Friend and collaborator Maxime Büechi of Sang Bleu magazine chatted with jewellery maven Betony Vernon, while Riccardo himself braved the cameras and journalists (with pop star Ciara clambering for a Blackberry photo with the designer). Guests later joined Riccardo and the Givenchy team for a private dinner at The Ritz, a relaxed celebration after powering through his menswear collection and haute couture together, with both shows in the space of a week. With barely a month until the womens Fall Winter 2010 show, it was a brief respite – but surely a well earned one.

Above: Maxime Büechi & Betony Vernon.

Above left: an outfit packed up after the show. Above right: Joanna Preiss & Lou Doillon.

Above: Givenchy studio staff repair a piece by hand.

Above left: Catherine Baba. Above right: The closing dress, worn by Natalia Vodianova.