5. The week in numbers. Fashion “week” in Paris for a long time does not fit into the calendar one. This year fall shows stretched to almost 9 days. There are in average 10 catwalks a day. They start at 10 am and run every hour until 9 pm. The average delay of the show start is half an hour (punctuality is not praised in fashion). Defile are held in different venues throughout the city, into many of which mere mortals are not able to get on their own. The main locations are five-star hotels of the “golden triangle” of the capital, museums (Palais de Tokyo and the Grand Palais are designers’ favorites) and temples (the undisputed leader in this category is L’Oratoire du Louvre). In parallel with those listed in official schedule, hundreds of shows “off”, presentations, cocktail parties, salons and showrooms are held throughout the day. The favorite joke of fashion professionals is: Would you like some champagne? – Oh, no, it reminds me my job too much!

6. Accessory highlights of the week. The lack of uniform fashion vectors in clothes – the main trend of fall/winter collections – designers offer to compensate with two “must have” accessories:

6.1. Choker, as its name implies, is a sensual tight necklace. A thin velvet ribbon with a modest bow like at Christian Dior or a “collar” with bells at Alexander McQueen – the choice is yours.

6.2 Long earring in one ear. Noticed (among others) at the Chanel show, therefore “c’est officiel” (it is official). Such expression of deconstructive asymmetry personally suits me very well: scores of lone earrings with lost pairs from my jewelry box have long waited for his moment of glory. At the very least just put into one ear a huge safety pin strung with beads, feathers or rings, and trend setters will take you as one of them.

7. Headwear of the week. Baseball cap and its variants. It is time to put away classic wide-brimmed hats, Fedora, and other boaters till “better times”. The show is run by demi-sport caps, berets, sailor caps and variations of military caps played with a humor. Funny bathing caps like those at Maison Margiela and Miu Miu shows are at the forefront of the fashion.

8. Make-up of the week. Nude face. Lolita as a new version of the femme fatale. Makeup artists of all the top shows appeared to be inspired by young innocence. The almost complete [apparent] lack of make-up does not mean, however, dismissive attitude to the skin. At the forefront come mineral primers and correctors that make cheekbones to “lit” from within, giving your face the freshness, and therefore coveted youth.