The best of Paris haute couture week

Chanel: '[Karl] Lagerfeld built this collection around a new angle on the homage-to-Coco schtick,' said Jess Cartner-Morley. 'The backdrop for the show was a giant replica of a gold sculpture of a lion pawing a giant pearl which lives to this day in the Rue Cambon apartment of Coco, whose astrological sign was Leo and who collected likenesses of lions.' Read Jess's full report here
Photograph: Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images

John Galliano unveiled 30 new looks inspired by flowers for the Christian Dior show. Read Simon Chilvers's report here
Photograph: MAXPPP/PS/TH/EPA

Jean Paul Gaultier 'restaked his claim to the title of French fashion's enfant terrible', said Jess Cartner-Morley. Read her show report here and view Dita Von Teese's catwalk striptease here
Photograph: FirstView/Empics Entertainment

Elie Saab's dresses were long and flattering, with full skirts and voluptuous fabrics, said Reuters
Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The Valentino collection was called 'The dark side of first love'
Photograph: Thibault Camus/AP

Knitwear was at the heart of A Friend, Vandevorst's lower-priced line. The design duo layered knit tankdresses and cowlneck sweaters over slouchy, drop-crotched leggings, reported AP
Photograph: Lucas Dolega/EPA

Franck Sorbier's show was a much-needed reminder that couture need not be smothered in sequins or dripping with rhinestones to be desirable, said AP. This bustier in papier mache from old newspaper clippings had faux nipples made from wine corks
Photograph: Thibault Camus/AP

Jantaminiau showed his trademark combination of conceptual fashion with a feminine base
Photograph: Richard Bord/WireImage.com

On Aura Tout Vu's fish-themed collection was meant for the thin slice on the Venn diagram where the very wealthy and very funny demographics overlap, said AP
Photograph: Maya Vidon/EPA

Haute couture week concluded with a presentation of jewellery by the likes of Chaumet, Boucheron and Van Cleef & Arpels
Photograph: Maya Vidon/EPA