Paris Fashion Week: Shoes and Shows

Confession: I'd been off the Eurostar for less than half an hour, and already I had bought a pair of shoes in Paris. The sandals in question were by cool Parisian Vanessa Bruno, black, with a spike heel and two thick elastic straps crossed over the foot. Fashiony, sexy as hell and best of all, comfy. I couldn't help it - I had seen them in the spring/summer show last season and had had them on my mind ever since. Plus, there's something about Paris Fashion Week that makes me want to dress up. Perhaps it's an ode to the last round of shows or maybe the innately chic general public rubs off on me a little.

Anyway, good thing the Ungaro show was late. After taking in the gauzy blouses, perfectly draped gowns and gorgeous footwear, it was off to some press appointments (mouth-watering Longchamp clutch bags next season, by the way) and then one of my personal favourite shows: Givenchy designed by Ricardo Tisci. Gothic in feel, it comprised all the elements I love in clothes: structured shapes, a mostly black and white palette, exquisite tailoring and ruffles galore, done in that buttoned-up, Victoriana kind of way that to me is way more sexy than a low-cut top and a miniskirt.

The last show of the day was Hussein Chalayan, who is known as much for his cool, fashion-forward garments as for his quirky shows that always border on art installations. What I (and Kanye West) saw was pure genius: slashed dresses, draped jumpsuits and razor-sharp shift dresses. Judging by the way he was bopping in the front row, I'm convinced Kanye is going to sign OMMM, the foursome who provided the pumping sound effects to our show see See OMMM. You heard it here first.

Check out all the photos from Paris Fashion Week here.
Check out all the photos from
Paris Fashion Week right here.