Paris Fashion Week 2012 day 2: season to be contrary

It was a day of contrariness in Paris, and the season – spring/summer 2013, lest we forget – seemed almost forgotten. Manish Arora, a designer who has barely acknowledged his Indian roots in all the time he has showed in Paris, went for the full Rajasthan bling, with gold headpieces, embellished kurtas and glamorous takes on the salwar kameez.

Later, Peter Copping shocked the crowd – used to delicate whisps of chiffon and Victorian malaise at Nina Ricci – with a thumping, hard soundtrack and bold, sexy pieces – suits, fringed frocks and polka dots.

Tweeds were iridescent, zips were edgy and the palette was simple: black, nude and a couple of pastels.

When the models paraded at the end, to softer music and a shower of confetti, the individual pieces looked more beautiful – Nina Ricci fans can rest easy: those gentle silks and tulles are still there.

Finally, Lanvin ended the day, as ever, with great music, lovely strawberry macarons and another collection that took his trademarks and made them sharper: tuxes, black tailored dresses with one shoulder or leg o’ mutton sleeve, ruched sprays of fabric at the decolletage and a monochrome palette giving way to rich silks in teal, yellow, violet, burgundy and rust.

All beautiful collections, but where’s the sunshine?

For more information you can visit Mode à Paris

More from Paris

Day one: moody romanticism from Van Noten and Rochas Day three: grown-up glamour at Dior, Anne-Valérie Hash, Roland Mouret – and rainbows at Issey Miyake In pictures: Backstage at Viktor & Rolf Day four-five: power play at Jean Paul Gaultier, Loewe and Andrew Gn Day six: graphic Hermès, glamorous Giambattista Valli and the black and blues at Saint Laurent Day seven: clean energy charms for Chanel Picture special: Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Dior seen, and re-seen Final day: Elie Saab and Louis Vuitton shine as the curtain falls like the rain in Paris

The National’s fashion correspondent Gemma Champ will be writing every day from Paris Fashion Week. She has previously blogged from London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week.