Paris Fashion Week Arrives

PARIS FASHION WEEK is upon us, generally viewed as the mothership of the fashion calendar, but this season it means only one thing - Nicolas Ghesquière's debut for Louis Vuitton.

While we always look forward to Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel spectaculars and Raf Simons's understated elegance at Dior, Ghesquière's appointment at Vuitton marks a changing of the guard and a new chapter for the fashion house, which was helmed by Marc Jacobs for the past 16 years. Ghesquière is known for having brought a new sense of modernity to Balenciaga, where he was previously creative director, so he is expected to infuse Vuitton with the same visionary originality at his debut on Wednesday March 5.

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But before then, we'll see the craftsmanship and detailed innovation that the Paris schedule is known for, from Balenciaga and Lanvin to Jean Paul Gaultier and Haider Ackermann. It's the city that plays a catwalk home to Stella McCartney, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen and Valentino, as well as avant-garde labels such as Gareth Pugh, Comme des Garçons. New to the schedule this season is Alessandro Dell'Acqua who will showcase his first collection for Rochas since being made creative director in September 2013.

It's also a line-up from which we can most easily predict what the stars will be wearing next season, as well as what the fashion editors will be filling their wardrobes with. Vogue Festival speaker Phoebe Philo always gets shopping wish lists started with her desirable Celine collections, while Kenzo, Isabel Marant, Saint Laurent and Carven consistently deliver some of the season's most coveted pieces - from Saint Laurent's biker boots and leather jackets to Kenzo's embroidered must-have jumpers. Miu Miu - one of the last shows to take place - will ensure that the fashion pack don't lose momentum, with its expectedly starry front row that will hopefully include campaign stars, Lupita Nyong'o and Elizabeth Olsen.

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