Gallery: 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 Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

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 Photograph: Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images

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 Photograph: Stephane Cardinale/People Avenue/Corbis

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

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. Photograph: Foc Kan/WireImage

Q. What do you get when you mix exotic lapels, razor-sharp tailoring, a shark's tooth pendant and the best legs in the universe? A. Gisele Bundchen modelling for Givenchy Photograph: Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images

Can you spot designer Riccardo Tisci's self-professed mermaid influence here? Naturellement the Givenchy mermaid is fierce Photograph: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

Sharp tailoring modelled by Natalia Vodianova at the Givenchy show. Sleeveless jackets have life in them yet Photograph: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

Bill Gaytten's post-Galliano Galliano show was 'a literal re-hash of Galliano looks' according to Jess Cartner-Morley Photograph: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

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 Photograph: Stephane Cardinale/People Avenue/Corbis

Witness the bandage bandeau top at Roland Mouret. Seems as though a few designers have got us thinking about ab crunches before next summer with their preference bandeau tops in 2012 Photograph: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage

The Roland Mouret show have a classy 1940s vibe about it. This tulip dress was one of the highlights of a beautiful and wearable collection Photograph: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage

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 Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images

Comme des Garcons showed forensic lab boots, visible crinolines and expanding foam insulation ruffles. All par for the course at this experimental Japanese label Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images

Here comes the bride at Comme des Garcons Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images

The transparent trend cropped up at Maison Martin Margiela's catwalk Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Minus the plastic bags, the carpet inspired looks from this Maison Martin Margiela collection were decidedly wearable Photograph: Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images

Feather headdresses on the catwalk at the Junya Watanabe show Photograph: Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images

Lace, embroidery and bolero jackets were the major themes at the Junya Watanabe show even if the feather hats were the most scene-stealing Photograph: Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images

Yohji Yamamoto does Ascot? Surely not Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images