PARIS, Jan 31, 2006/ FW/ --- As Ozwald Boateng infuses his vibrant personality to Givenchy menswear, the label takes on a new life as chic, cool and hip while still retaining the high sartorial standards of the venerable French fashion house.

The choice of venue was perfect – the Pompidou Center with its modern, colorful and bright spaces, Ozwald Boateng found the perfect canvas for his upbeat Fall 2006 collection previewed late afternoon today.

Opening with leafy green pants and shirt matched with dark olive vest, necktie and outer jacket, the collar and lapels lined with shearling, the audience immediately felt that it was not their parents’ Givenchy.

Moving the brand forward, Boateng mixed natural fibers and high-tech fabrics as he sent leather pants and denim trousers paired with micro fiber vests, canvas hoodies, and Prince of Wales double-breasted coats.

Oh, the “classic” Givenchy Homme is still there, the formal menswear that Boateng himself introduced during the Spring 2005 season.

But, while the Spring 2005 Givenchy gent is sophisticated and urbane, his Fall 2006 brethren is relaxed, laid back and do not mind bending a few rules.

Snug fitting suit jackets worn over tone-on-tone shirt and necktie are matched with stonewashed denim! How is that for a change of pace?

As a twenty-something young man who is a writer for a skateboarding magazine commented, ‘Now, that is a collection that I can honestly recommend to my readers to check out.’

Though the average skateboarder might not be able to afford Givenchy, just the mere fact that they will be looking at this collection already brings the label to a new generation of audience.

As Gen X and Gen Y become the mainstream consumers as baby boomers near the age of retirement, Ozwald Boateng’s decision to introduce Givenchy to these two generations is a win-win scenario.

Givenchy Menswear

Givenchy Menswear

Givenchy Menswear

Givenchy Menswear