PARIS FASHION WEEK SPRING 2012

This was Christophe Lamaire's second show for Hermès. Note the kaftan dress and headscarf : the Hermès woman knows a thing or two about luxe travelling.

Silk scarf prints, neat leather collars and, of course, a leather saddle bag. Three nods to the ingredients that keep the Hermès brand (bank) rolling.

Bill Gaytten's collection for the Christian Dior label kept the troubled house ticking over with undeniably pretty but frankly 'meh' dresses like this one.

  

The Dior show included house classics like this bar jacket. The message was about the label's heritage not its recent Galliano controversy.

  

Dior's eveningwear was for the most part beautifully crafted. But this one is unlikely to make it to the red carpet for obvious reasons.

  

What do you get when you mix exotic lapels, razor-sharp tailoring, a shark's tooth pendant and the best legs in the universe? Gisele Bundchen modelling for Givenchy.

Can you spot designer Riccardo Tisci's self-professed mermaid influence here? Naturellement the Givenchy mermaid is fierce.

  

Sharp tailoring modelled by Natalia Vodianova at the Givenchy show. Sleeveless jackets have life in them yet.

  

Bill Gaytten's post-Galliano Galliano show was 'a literal re-hash of Galliano looks' according to Jess Cartner-Morley.

  

Look at the power in this Lanvin look. Strong shoulders and vacuum packed pencil skirts were highlights in a show that featured less dresses and more sporty separates than is usual for designer Alber Elbaz.

  

Witness the bandage bandeau top at Roland Mouret. Seems as though a few designers have got us thinking about ab crunches before next spring with their preference bandeau tops in 2012.

  

The Roland Mouret show have a classy 1940's vibe about it. This tulip dress was one of the highlights of a beautiful and wearable collection.

  

The Comme des Garcons featured tons of white with a bridal slant. These floral sheath tubes made us think of out of work actors dressed as hotdogs to promote sandwich shops. Comme does a nice line in experimental oddness.

  

Comme des Garcons showed forensic lab boots, visible crinolines and expanding foam insulation ruffles. All par for the course at this experimental Japanese label.

  

Here comes the bride at Comme des Garcons.

  

The transparent trend cropped up at Maison Martin Margiela's catwalk.

  

Minus the plastic bags, the carpet inspired looks from this Maison Martin Margiela collection were decidedly wearable.

  

Feather headdresses on the catwalk at the Junya Watanabe show.

  

Lace, embroidery and bolero jackets were the major themes at the Junya Watanabe show even if the feather hats were the most scene-stealing.

  

Yohji Yamamoto does Ascot? Surely not. Really nice dress.