Catwalk tour: the top Men’s fashion week venues of A/W 2013

Saint Laurent: In keeping with his radical redesign of the French maison, Hedi Slimane took over the Grand Palais with his concept of a spinning carousel. The gigantic structure, composed of speakers and neon lights, had a life of its own, providing the lighting and soundtrack for the Saint Laurent show
 

Damir Doma: French design studio Diplomates created another subtle backdrop for Damir Doma, this one for his A/W 2013 collection. They built a giant white structure within the Salle Melpomene at the Galerie d'Exposition des Beaux-Arts', then defined a 'catwalk' with a strip of heather-grey board that ran down the middle of the space and up the back wall
 

Dior Homme: At the Garde Republicaine, Bureau Betak set up a blinding white structure for Dior Homme, with models descending from a stark white staircase onto a shiny catwalk
Photography: Gaetan Bernard
 

Brioni: The stunning backdrop for Brioni's presentation was Milan's Palazzo Serbelloni, a neoclassical palace that briefly served as a residence for Napoleon. The spectacle was spread across several halls. Upon entering, guests gathered in a small curtained room, where a film directed by American artist Collier Schorr was projected on the wall. They proceeded to the larger halls, where huge prints of the artist's photographs were mounted alongside her geometric installation art. The highlight came in the salon, where models stood motionless like museum pieces behind glass

Brioni: The stunning backdrop for Brioni's presentation was Milan's Palazzo Serbelloni, a neoclassical palace that briefly served as a residence for Napoleon. The spectacle was spread across several halls. Upon entering, guests gathered in a small curtained room, where a film directed by American artist Collier Schorr was projected on the wall. They proceeded to the larger halls, where huge prints of the artist's photographs were mounted alongside her geometric installation art. The highlight came in the salon, where models stood motionless like museum pieces behind glass

 

Burberry Prorsum: Burberry's long-running celebration of all things British took a new turn at the menswear show, where a silhouette of the London skyline merged beautifully with images of Milan's Duomo. Various landmarks were juxtaposed with faint projections onto the catwalk's back wall, which was paneled in the label's signature check
 

Etro: Milan's splendid Palazzo del Ghiaccio may be a former ice rink, but there was nothing cold about Etro's backdrop for its A/W 2013 presentation, which featured a selection of calming scenes from nature
 

Etro: Milan's splendid Palazzo del Ghiaccio may be a former ice rink, but there was nothing cold about Etro's backdrop for its A/W 2013 presentation, which featured a selection of calming scenes from nature
 

Fendi: Fendi's steely collection matched the look of the set. An angular labyrinth of a catwalk was built into Milan's Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro. The multi-level catwalk route played with the space's existing steel elements, while simultaneously a zoomed-in video of the show was projected on the walls
 

Salvatore Ferragamo: The dark mood at Salvatore Ferragamo's show was reflected in the dimly lit space, where walls projected abstract scenes of New York at night. Meanwhile the wet catwalk resembled dark asphalt after the rain
 

Givenchy: Last season music blared from an oversized organ and this year Riccardo Tisci shows no signs of abandoning the spiritual tones that have influenced his Givenchy sets. For A/W 2013 he built a circular catwalk in Paris's grand Halle Freyssinet, encircled by hundreds of candles, giving the space a solemn feel
 

Givenchy: Last season music blared from an oversized organ and this year Riccardo Tisci shows no signs of abandoning the spiritual tones that have influenced his Givenchy sets. For A/W 2013 he built a circular catwalk in Paris's grand Halle Freyssinet, encircled by hundreds of candles, giving the space a solemn feel
 

Hermès: Another raw corner of the Palais de Tokyo formed the backdrop of the Hermès collection. The bare space, under vaulted ceilings and concrete pillars, seemed to disappear when Véronique Nichanian's carefully curated shapes came to life
Photography: Vincent Lapartient
 

Z Zegna: Paul Surridge's Z Zegna show took place in the Museo della Permanente, furnished with a bark-covered catwalk. The team at Urban Production placed it in stark contrast with the space's moody ambiance, using dark brown velvet on the outer curtains and seats
 

Jil Sander: Thierry Dreyfus once again worked his minimalist magic at Jil Sander's via Beltrami space. He kept the concave ceiling design from the previous show, then lowered the catwalk, flanking it with black seating blocks
 

Moncler Gamme Bleu: Heritage Scottish details in Moncler's collection came down a snow-covered catwalk interrupted by small clusters of conifers. Visible through the fog, which permeated the set, were dead soldiers in medieval armor - certainly killed by the models carrying Moncler-branded white swords

Moncler Gamme Bleu: Heritage Scottish details in Moncler's collection came down a snow-covered catwalk interrupted by small clusters of conifers. Visible through the fog, which permeated the set, were dead soldiers in medieval armor - certainly killed by the models carrying Moncler-branded white swords

Maison Martin Margiela: The Garage Turennes got the Maison Martin Margiela treatment, with signature white floors, ceiling and walls. The space was filled with stark white benches arranged asymmetrically
 

Comme des Garçons: The set at Paris' Abel14 studio space reflected the whimsical nature of Rei Kawakubo's latest Comme des Garçons collection. Kawakubo left the catwalk raw and unadorned, yet introduced fields of bright green to the floor and ceiling. The accent colour reflected details in the garments

Neil Barrett: Neil Barrett chose the courtyard at Milan's state archives for his latest menswear effort. Using the porch as a makeshift catwalk, the designer accessorised with strong, strategic lighting
 

Neil Barrett: Neil Barrett chose the courtyard at Milan's state archives for his latest menswear effort. Using the porch as a makeshift catwalk, the designer accessorised with strong, strategic lighting
 

Rake: Tailoring house Rake set its presentation in London's private member's club Tramp. The wood-panelled interiors, blue velvet seats and chandeliers made the perfect backdrop for the brand's eclectic tailoring
 

Ports 1961: The Milan presentation of Ports 1961 was a darkened affair with models walking alongside photo vignettes depicting designer Ian Hylton's inspirations for the collection
Photography: BillyNava.com
 

Prada: The set at the brand's via Fogazzaro headquarters was transformed into a glamorous Milanese apartment to provide a sneak peek at the forthcoming furniture collaboration of OMA and Knoll
 

Prada: The set at the brand's via Fogazzaro headquarters was transformed into a glamorous Milanese apartment to provide a sneak peek at the forthcoming furniture collaboration of OMA and Knoll

Dries Van Noten: In keeping with the grunge atmosphere at Dries Van Noten, the designer left the interior of the Palais de Tokyo crude and un-designed, which corresponded with the collection's raw detailing

Savile Row: At the splendidly renovated neoclassical Spencer House in London, Savile Row designers collaborated with Woolmark to showcase their best offerings, largely bespoke. The looks were grouped in themes – hunting, lounging, formal dining, uniform – and installed in various room throughout the house as live installations, on real models
 

Savile Row: At the splendidly renovated neoclassical Spencer House in London, Savile Row designers collaborated with Woolmark to showcase their best offerings, largely bespoke. The looks were grouped in themes – hunting, lounging, formal dining, uniform – and installed in various room throughout the house as live installations, on real models
 

Rick Owens: An oversized, elongated digital screen doubled up as both lighting fixture and catwalk backdrop for Rick Owens, pictured here taking his post-show bow. Photography: Valerio Mezzanotti

Trussardi: There was an ever-so-subtle recreation of an autumnal birch forest at Trussardi. Images of a misty underbrush on the walls and pillars of Milan's Salone dei Tessuti created an eerie environment, enhanced by dead leaves on the wood parquet by the models' entrance
 

Trussardi: There was an ever-so-subtle recreation of an autumnal birch forest at Trussardi. Images of a misty underbrush on the walls and pillars of Milan's Salone dei Tessuti created an eerie environment, enhanced by dead leaves on the wood parquet by the models' entrance
 

Ermenegildo Zegna: A curved catwalk centred the mimimalist catwalk at Ermenegildo Zegna's Milanese HQ
 

Valentino: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli held their latest menswear show in the intimate setting of Paris' Hôtel Salomon De Rothschild. The stunning 19th century salons were lined with rows of chairs featuring blue velvet seats, which matching the carpeted floors, with a slim catwalk of interlocking parquet running through the rooms

Valentino: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli held their latest menswear show in the intimate setting of Paris' Hôtel Salomon De Rothschild. The stunning 19th century salons were lined with rows of chairs featuring blue velvet seats, which matching the carpeted floors, with a slim catwalk of interlocking parquet running through the rooms

Dsquared²: Ever fond of a theatrical set, the Caten twins conjured up a smoky jazz club for their Fall show. Hanging chandeliers and jazz-age portraits adorned the theatre-like space, with live music played from a grand piano and trumpets in the background to set the scene

Dsquared²: Ever fond of a theatrical set, the Caten twins conjured up a smoky jazz club for their Fall show. Hanging chandeliers and jazz-age portraits adorned the theatre-like space, with live music played from a grand piano and trumpets in the background to set the scene