Paris fashion week, during which top designers from Balmain to Valentino showed off their latest creations, came to a close on Thursday, wrapping up a glamorous four days that saw everything from a scaled-down Versace to a newly-paired-off Liz Hurley.
Highlights of the week included the highly-anticipated Balmain show and the debut of Laurent Mercier – the label's replacement for retired couturier Oscar de la Renta – whose circus-like collection featured polka dots, satin skirts and skin-tight catsuits paired with everything from dog collars to carnival masks.
A fantasy-like atmosphere was also present in Christian Lacroix's typically over-the-top creations, which consisted of mix-and-match prints and an anything-goes palette. Fellow French house Givenchy went for the opposite approach, with designer Julien Macdonald finding inspiration in the subdued style of the late Audrey Hepburn.
The lady-like theme was also explored by both Ungaro and Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, who presented what one reviewer dubbed a "breathtakingly lovely" collection. Chic, slimline wool coats and ultra-feminine frocks in pink were standouts, topped with multiple strings of the label's trademark pearls.
Accessories took centre stage at the Philip Treacy show, with supermodels sporting images of celebrities on their heads in the milliner's fame-inspired collection. Eva Herzigova wore a hat with the countenance of footballer David Beckham, while Naomi Campbell could not be topped - her tongue-in-cheek headgear featuring her own face and a can of Campbell's soup.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
