Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto

The duo Eley Kishimoto has treated winter 08/09 lightly. The models appear from a blue velvet curtain in straight skirts and bare arms. The jackets and coats mostly have three quarter length sleeves. The designers present us with a fantasy world where rabbits and horses gallivant on dresses and women dare to wear bow ties and white gloves like Mickey Mouse. Prints of feathers and stripes are at the heart of this Pop Art collection. This English-Japanese marriage has produced many hybrid styles; the large Claudine collared coat is a known mix of English style and Japanese “kawai” style, inspired by manga.

Tara Jarmon

Tara Jarmon chose to show her new winter 2008 collection in the midst of the mayhem of Paris Fashion Week. The designer imagined coats in curly sheep’s wool or leopard as well as a range of outfits in hot shades of yellow, orange and red. The launch of the “ball edition” line exclusively proposes goddess evening dresses in black velvet or apricot satin, with or without straps, fit for the red carpet.

Wedding dresses

Weddings take over the fair at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris from the 11th to the 13th January 2008. A glance at the collections for 2008 with more than 15 exhibitors and the latest trends in terms of wedding dresses and formal dress for men.

Tahitian Pearl Trophy

The 5th edition of the 'Tahitian Pearl Trophy' took place at the beginning of December in the Salons of the Ritz Hotel in Paris. It is an international competition for which jewellery designers from around the world were required to imagine a piece of jewellery based on Tahitian pearls around the theme of 'the song of the stars'. This year 56 French designers were selected and only 11 of them were awarded the honour of participating in different categories (necklace, ring, men's jewellery, etc.) at the international event which will take place in 2008.

Angela Missoni

Angela Missoni's fall winter 2008-2009 collection revisits the great classics of the male wardrobe. Built around sand and camel colours, the show is about contrast. The cut of the jacket rediscovers a suppleness around the shoulders, while on the other hand, there are playful layers: shirts, double breasted jumpers and chunky knitted cardigans to give the men a more built-up silhouette. The look is a casual one. A little plus of this collection which aims to elongate the silhouette is the return of the crossover in tight waisted trousers.

Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli opens his men’s winter 2008/09 show by posing with the 5 Spice Girls in the middle of their world tour. Flashes follow the models in chic yet sombre outfits in delicate and well-worked materials like silk, velvet, wool and cashmere. Jackets take centre stage, well-structured in leather and hides. And finally the suits have precious details such as jewelled brooches, highlighting the refined elegance of Cavalli.

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen extends an invitation to far-off places around India and the heights of the Himalayas. The English designer, who presents his men’s wear collections in Milan, has for winter 2008 delivered a range aimed at style-conscious adventurers and travellers aware of elegance and detail. The Savile Row touch is never too far away. Cardigans braided with metal, entirely embroidered gold coats, suits with double-breasted jackets and long shawls tied up like a dressing gown, without forgetting the Russian fur hats and cowboy hats which bring a touch of humour and frivolity dear to McQueen.

Raf Simon

The Jil Sander show by Raf Simon opens on an English note. The first matching grey suits fit in with the current trend of the slim trouser and the belted jacket. Little by little the models display printed fabrics of green, red and blue marbled veins on a black background. At the heart of the Raf Simon collection we are crept up on by the gradual presentation of this black and white marble pattern which becomes increasingly prominent. Two bright red and cyan blue suits brighten this fall winter 2008/09 collection. Close-fitting clothes are the trend, such as the leather suit at the end of the show which shows the chest like a leotard.

Marni

There is a modern and contemporary silhouette at Marni. The man for next winter will shift between a dandy look – belted suit jackets and close-fitting trousers, worn with a white shirt – and a student look with V-neck and short-sleeved jumpers, teamed with shorter trousers. For the really cold weather, jackets with a Tunisian collar slip over the head and short jumpers covering just the shoulders down to the chest seem to be a new option for winter 2008/09.

Louise Goldin

Louise Goldin, known for her work with wool, explores new techniques in knitwear for this fall winter 08/09 collection. The designer promotes a futurist look as she works with volume and graphic cuts. She presents grey dresses with oversized shoulders and a skin tight blue outfit under a sort of black armour made from Swarovski crystals. These experimental works on Eskimo attire bring us to revisit the Inuits’ fur-lined hooded coats.