Paris Fashion Week

Hermes, Spring/Summer '08 (scroll down to read the review)
Hermes
Hermes did a bit of accidental viral marketing at their show. The backdrop for the catwalk, made of spicy orange compacted dye powder, had somehow come off on guests' legs as they left after the show, spreading next to the interior of their limo's, later to restaurant tablecloths and eventually to hotel rooms and even sheets. By Sunday morning the whole of Paris was stained in Hermes trademark orange.

As for the show, Jean Paul Gautier was thinking of India, and the style of both the Maharajah's and the colonials. So there were Nehru-collared suits, riding boots and jodhpurs in softest alligator, dhoti pants in silk jersey, shalwar kameez (tunic over pant combinations) and sari-style evening dresses in bight spicy colours that could work for Hollywood's red carpet (as would the Nehru-collared le smoking).

Models sported turbans made of leather or alligator, wrapped around the head and fastened with belts and jewellery. It would make the perfect wardrobe for tiger spotting at Aman-i-Khas in Rajasthan's Ranthambhore National Park.