Who doesn't love an amazing frock (or four) chock-a-block with surface interest? I, for one, will be clearing closet space for these spring beauties: The lush digital floral print number from Akris (above, left), the slinky-hip toga from Dries Van Noten (above, right), the graphic-inset Givenchy (below, left) and Hussein Chalayan's (below, right) futuristic micro-mini. Charge!
Just when you thought there couldn't be another celebrity-slash-designer, we've learned that fashion's latest It-girl, Katy Perry, is itching to design a line of her own. 
According to Johnny Wujek, Perry's longtime stylist who has helped craft the singer's signature Chiquita-meets-Lolita look, the singer has talked about designing for years. "She's always sketching
while on tour," he tells W. So what would a Katy Perry line look like? "Custom jumpers, short party dresses, fun stuff... A fruit bowl of everything that she wears." Yum.
In just one of the big ideas emerging from Paris, there are two ways to play the texture game this season: Plan A is airy and ethereal, courtesy of the gentle, gem-like beading at Ann Demeulemeester (above left) and the ultrawhite eyelet at Junya Watanabe (above right). Plan B calls for a weightier, gutsier approach, as evidenced by the crinkled metallic ribbon at Balenciaga (below left) and the infinite ruffles at Comme des Garcons (below right).
Nicholas Ghesquiere made a strong statement at Balenciaga with his très chic—not to mention très covetable—little square bags covered in stones. (Each model carried her own lizard or croc version down the runway.) The accoutrements, so far, are our front runner for favorite accessory of the season. (See WWD's review of the show here.)
All photos by Giovanni Giannoni.
The front row of the "Tribal Chic"-themed Dior show on Monday drew Eva Green, Emma Watson, Zoe Saldana and Lily Allen, who dutifully tested out the silver polish from the gift set on her seat. (Read WWD's review of Galliano's show here.)
And Salma Hayek, fresh from a Unicef trip to Sierra Leone, showed up at the Balenciaga show, where she was seated next to her ex, Francois-Henri Pinault.
In a season riddled with minimalism, the girl power raging in Paris is a refreshing change. It's still early in the week, but we've already seen lush florals at Nina Ricci (above left), short, flirty frocks at Dior (above right) and beautifully blinding whites at Undercover (below left). At Margiela (below right), the femininity hit a fever pitch, with a gal popping out of a jewel box, encircled with a necklace that recalled a gorge golden wedding band.
In New York, Vera Wang drew inspiration from Niki de Saint Phalle (1930 - 2002, née Catherine-Marie-Agnes Fal de Saint Phalle), whom she cited in her show notes as a "woman and artist of extraordinary imagination, individuality and spirit." The painter and sculptor first gained fame for her Shooting paintings, which she created by firing a 22-caliber rifle at containers of pigment laid out on a wooden base board. Next came the Nanas, life-sized papier-mâché depictions of women in myriad girl-power situations, including giving birth. Today, Saint Phalle is perhaps best known for The Tarot Garden, an immense sculpture park in Tuscany featuring impossibly groovy interpretations of tarot symbols.
For Raf Simons at Jil Sander, Kiki de Montparnasse (1901 - 1953, née Alice Ernestine Prin) was the driving force. A major multi-hyphenate, she posed as an artists' model for some biggies (Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, and Alexander Calder among them), belted cabaret and appeared in several short films before turning her hand to painting. Of course, today, most younger fashion-hounds only know Kiki de Montparnasse as the hip lingerie-slash-sex toys label of the same name. Ceramicist Jonathan Adler also named one of the vases in his Muses collection after Kiki. The sky was the limit—almost literally—last week on Milan's runways. Designers showed the highest of heels, paired with, in many cases, teetering three or four-inch platforms. So far this season, the trend towards sculptural, decorative (and unforgiving!) high heels is alive and well.
Designers in Milan went for the gold—not to mention the silver, the bronze and a little bit of pewter. Whatever the shade, one thing is clear: Metallics will (again) big for spring, and we're so glad they're sticking around.
Top, from left: Versace, Dolce & Gabbana; Bottom, from left: Prada, Burberry Prorsum.
Photos by Davide Maestri (Versace), Giovanni Giannoni (Dolce & Gabbana and Prada), and Mauricio Miranda (Burberry Prorsum).
We may be on our way to Paris for the next round of shows, but visions of Jil Sander still dance in our heads. Indeed, Raf Simons' standout collection (see WWD's review) was the Milan highlight. From his smart tailored suits to his fringe festival of dresses, the lineup was sultry, subtle and chic, chic, chic. 
And who can ever forget that dreamy lineup of accessories? Simons' new jewelry
collaboration with Damiani looked exquisite, especially the tribal-inspired diamond, pearl and colored-stone earrings. We also loved those sculptural shoes inspired by Brancusi, as well as the beautiful bags draped in fringe.
Photos by Giovanni Giannoni (three top looks, earrings and bag) and Stephane Feugere (shoes).
