A model presents a creation by Elie Saab
© AFP Francois GuillotPARIS (AFP) - Saab's 'Sun of Beirut' catwalk show shimmered all in gold after the Lebanese designer completely changed his spring 2007 collection from its original colourful 1970s theme after visiting his homeland.
"The sun of Beirut, its vigor and the human energy that radiates from its people," the 42-year-old said in his style notes, adding it was "an ode to a renaissance" after the month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
And the designer had plenty to keep fans of his sensuous glitz and glamour on side, from a tiered mini-dress and big slouchy golden bag to fluttery floor-length gowns, shorts and jackets.
Until his return last month, Saab's ready-to-wear had been in vivid mauve, yellow and apricot but afterwards he changed for matte and glittery gold in sequins, lame and silk and lurex jacquard.
A model presents a creation for Louis Vuitton
© AFP Francois GuillotLight and loosely-cut silhouettes had halter-necks, batwing or kimono sleeves, tumbling pleats or frills and flounces, evolving from early morning hazy chiffon to the full heat of the midday sun.
Later, US designer Marc Jacobs presented a charming rural vision at Louis Vuitton in pale tones of whites, rose and grey with models in flowered headbands with baskets of meadow flowers.
But he teased a little, with corsets left open at the back over a transparent shirt, while a pink tailleur laced up the back and white skirts had tone-on-tone flower embroidery.
US singer Janet Jackson was a guest at the show on the last of eight days of collections here, as well as at Lanvin later in the day where she joined actress Demi Moore for designer Alber Elbaz' electrically charged show.
Lanvin's collection had short, pocketed dresses zipped at the back to offer, a vinyl-look black trench coat or trouser suits that were so perfectly fitted it seemed they had been poured on to the body.
Splashes of bright colours rippled through black pleated dresses and the Israeli-American designer also offered an Andy Warhol-type face print to garments, rounding off with draped dresses.
After 30 years away, American designer Stephen Burrows also staged a comeback to the Paris catwalk with Caribbean-inspired colours of aquatic tones to island flower hues of red, orange and purple.
©AFP