Riccardo Tisci has just served up something particularly special and completely unexpected for Givenchy's Spring 2011 couture collection.

Manga.

Stepping away from the gothic, Givenchy's latest incarnation was drawn from the Japanese world of fantasy, with snow white and soft cream highlighted with neon graphic panels.

True to form however, Tischi utilised an incredible selection of techniques to build up each piece - appliqué and laser cutting, multi-layered and awe-inspiring in their complexity. 

The addition of Philip Treacy's feats of imagination, in the form of wild, sci-fi headgear was the icing on a very, very beautiful cake.

Frankly, this was more like art than fashion...