>> Givenchy's couture revenue increased a whopping 80 percent last year — with another 20 percent increase forecasted for 2009 — and collections like this prove how it's done.  Mummy-wrapped shoes, rose petals covering both the runway and a print on two strappy bondage gowns, and a continued interest in chains, carried over from Fall 2008 ready-to-wear, carried forward the evolution of Riccardo Tisci's romantic gothic branding at the house.  And those veils — interestingly enough, the majority of Givenchy couture customers are based in the Middle East — so perhaps the head coverings were a nod to those ladies?  Catherine McNeil showed up sans the crutches than she was sporting earlier this month; All that was missing were two of the house's current faces — Mariacarla Boscono, Lakshmi Menon, where are you?
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