Paris Fashion Week: spring/ summer 2012 - in pictures

Balenciaga's show featured broad shouldered jackets and shirts, including this printed silk one, which was teamed with a pair of sporty sci-fi shorts. Despite the show benches collapsing pre-show and the audience having to stand, it seems to have been widely regarded as a hit Photograph: Catwalking.com

Dries Van Noten sent out a typically elegant collection featuring botanical and landscape prints, which he'd worked on with English photographer James Reeve. These prints were mixed with Spanish and Italian couture shapes Photograph: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

A modern sun dress by Dries van Noten featuring a palm print Photograph: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Roland Mouret's spring/summer 2012 collection was shown at the Hotel Westin in Paris and featured sexy skirts with a flash of mid-drift, tulip patterned dresses and lashings of on-trend blue Photograph: Stephane Cardinale/People Avenue/Corbis

Mouret might be well known for the Galaxy dress but he also sells smart tailored separates, including fine trousers Photograph: Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images

Christian Dior spring-summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection Photograph: Francois Mori/AP

British Vogue's fashion director's verdict as posted at vogue.co.uk: 'I thought it was really pretty: wonderful light eveningwear - it was a great leap forward from the couture show, particularly with the light treatment of lace and chiffon,' said Lucinda Chambers afterwards. 'I could see it all on the red carpet.' Photograph: Francois Mori/AP