GIVENCHY GROUPIES: Ricardo Tischi of Givenchy is becoming quite a designer's designer. Both Yohji Yamamoto and Alessandra Facchinetti showed up to watch Tischi's couture show on Tuesday. "He really respects the clothes," said Yamamoto.

Facchinetti said she plans to attend Valentino's swan song today. "I hope I don't cry," she said.

TOMB RAIDERS: A decor worthy of a "Harry Potter" film — including old tomes, skulls, stuffed owls and hunks of mineral — awaited guests at Louis Vuitton's bash Monday night for a new fine jewelry collection by Pharrell Williams and Camille Miceli. Holding court at a private mansion on Avenue Foch, Williams welcomed the likes of Sofia Coppola, Natalia Vodianova, Audrey Marnay and Dita Von Teese. Coppola confirmed she'll soon be back in action, currently working on a script. Elsewhere, French thespians Joanna Preiss, Elodie Bouchez and Romain Duris huddled on an old-fashioned couch discussing their precious heirlooms.

"It's from the Twenties and belonged to the grandmother of my best friend," said Preiss of a gold chain bracelet. The actress-cum-model said she'd just shot the American Retro campaign with Terry Richardson.

Freckle-faced Marnay, who stars in Cédric Klapisch's new film, "Paris," said she is also keeping a foot in modeling, having just shot a campaign for the French jewelry brand Fred, in which she stars with rising French indie actor Melvil Poupaud.

NIC AT NIGHT: Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière is to receive an award of merit from the French government. On Tuesday, he will be decorated as a Chevalier of Arts and Letters by luxury titan François Pinault, owner of Balenciaga parent PPR, in a ceremony at Balenciaga headquarters in Paris. House regulars such as Charlotte Gainsbourg and Isabelle Huppert are expected to attend a casual gathering, along with all Balenciaga employees, to share in the recognition.

HEATH LEDGER REMEMBERED: Heath Ledger's death Tuesday afternoon stunned Hollywood, but it also rattled the New York nightlife and fashion communities of which Ledger slowly had been becoming a part. In September, the actor was one of the most visible — if not one of the biggest — celebrities making the rounds during fashion week. He wound up at Another Magazine's bash at the Bowery Hotel alongside Chloë Sevigny and Helena Christensen. The following night, he drew stares dressed in a grungy T-shirt and sandwiched between Vincent Gallo and rocker Michael Stipe in the front row of Marc Jacobs' show. Twenty-four hours later, Ledger ditched his grubby downtown look and arrived at Calvin Klein's after party at the Gramercy Park Hotel in a natty suit. "I haven't gotten this dressed up since the Oscars," said the reticent actor, who showed up at the intimate dinner with Christensen.