Bringing couture down to earth was a definite movement in the autumn haute couture shows, but there was more than one approach to this apparent trend in Paris.

For example, Jean Paul Gaultier brought his familiar wit and whimsy to the rejection of animal fur. Meanwhile, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren studied ancient ways to create the colour black, and then dressed up rural history and pagan rituals.
The word ‘folk’ has been seeping into the autumn/winter collections, with Giorgio Armani using it to describe loose, full skirts, and Valentino jumping much deeper into the concept with headwear inspired by traditional costume.