Paris notes: Headline-grabbing models are the biggest trend in Paris [gallery]

Photography by Peter Stigter

One of the biggest trends of this Paris runway season has nothing to do with the clothes. Veteran and novelty models have appeared at many shows: Yasmin Le Bon and Angela Lindvall at John Galliano, Amber Valletta, Stella Tennant and Gisele Bündchen at Balenciaga, Anna Dello Russo at Ungaro. But nowhere was the headline-grabbing model message stronger than at Jean Paul Gaultier, who opened and closed his show with the buxom Beth Ditto. The thing about putting larger women on the runway alongside regular models–it always makes the skinny girls look so wrong.

The weekend’s other big news? Trends are coming into sharper focus with sleeveless jackets at Haider Ackermann and Celine, sheer outerwear at Galliano and Gaultier, and hybrid dresses combining body-con and draping at Viktor & Rolf, and kimono and motocross at Haider Ackermann.

And Viktor & Rolf riffed on the season’s blockbuster shirt trend for their entire collection, including pants with French shirt cuffs around the ankles.

There’s also an interesting beauty look bubbling up from the underground: Hair dyed in candy floss hues of pink, blue and white has been spotted on several showgoers. We’ll see how far that trend goes.

See a gallery of looks from the Saturday and Sunday shows»

Read our full coverage of the Spring 2011 collections»

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