Riccardo Tisci's Gothic vibe permeated his Spring 2013 collection for Givenchy, though in a subtly elegant way. Live organ music played as models with center parted hair pulled into a tight bun showed monochromatic clothes in black, white, blush and light blue.

Tisci cited 60s couture, neoclassicism and nuns' habits as the inspiration for the collection, and the influence can be seen in the exaggerated ruffles and luxurious fabrics.

The opening look was a feminine powder-blue dress with a single long sleeve and graceful ruffles along the neckline and sides.

From there, proportions became more exaggerated, as one-shoulder dresses ballooned from the neckline only to taper off into tailored trousers. Trousers were paired with everything, from oversized jackets to delicate dresses. Low sandals with clear plastics streamlined the clothes, making the models appear almost barefoot.

Gold was key in the collection, found on shoulders and waists as accents to floaty dresses, or in heavy chokers. Tisci highlighted the neck with chokers, ruffles and round, exaggerated shoulders. Drawing from couture shapes, the collection included a number of sculptural one-shoulder dresses and asymmetry abounded. Tisci also played with the skirt-over-pants trend, pairing dresses with trousers and even adding skirt-like flaps to the front and back of a pair of black pants.

The collection was a stripped-down celebration of elegance, the kind that demands respect without screaming for attention. Tisci delivered the ultimate in Paris chic - subtle, beautiful and undeniably modern.