Paris Fashion Week S/S 2012: Womenswear

Maison Martin Margiela

The regular to-do list of model duties - walking straight, striking a pose, and turning without falling - very rarely includes the holding up of one's dress. At trick-happy Maison Martin Margiela, however, the first model out had the added responsibility of keeping her dress on - not only was she clutching frantically at the unfinished edges of the top half, but her hair was wrapped so completely around her face, it is a miracle she actually made it out the back door without falling on her head. The design team at Margiela loves presenting fashion quandaries and, model torture aside, this show had plenty of them. Long sinuous skirts split up both legs were made from leather on the front and thick wool on the back. Canvas was bonded with tulle with a homespun touch, while capes trailed the floor in a Darth Vader sort of way. The best part of the collection, though, was the fashion meets furniture moment when ornately sequined skirts tops and dresses came floating out in exact replica to the runway's Persian rug pattern underfoot