Fashion week venues S/S 2012: womenswear collections

Moncler transformed the historic Couvent des Cordeliers into an evening spring-time fantasy

A central seating area demarcated a square catwalk at the Valentino show, held at Espace Ephémère Tuileries

Giant pink skirts were centre stage at the Viktor & Rolf show, also at Espace Ephémère Tuileries. Emerging from beneath, French duo Brigitte sang a pop medley

The opulent Opera Garnier acted as a counterpoint to Stella McCartney’s minimal collection

In Milan, Prada HQ was transformed into an asphalt road, complete with foam cars and subway grids lit from below, by OMA/AMO

Photography: OMA

Prada’s foam cars

The 1930s Palazzo Mezzanotte played host to Salvatore Ferragamo

Minimal Galleria Spazio Mazzotta offset Marni’s bright and colourful prints. Lighting came courtesy of Thierry Dreyfus, the designer behind the covers of our November issue

Over in London, Jonathan Saunders showed his collection in the Paddington Central building. Futuristic lightsaber-style beams in various colours were dotted round the meandering catwalk

Photograph: Briona McArdle

Vivienne Westwood commandeered the recently refurbished Smithfield Market

The raw, gritty space of The Sorting Office on New Oxford Street was given a makeover for Acne. Strategically placed mirrors created a reflective one-sided runway, allowing the collection to be viewed from all angles