Bigger Heads Prevail in Paris

Last week we lamented the lack of diamonds, gemstones, gold – any sign of a jewelry statement on the Paris runways. And while we held out hope that situation would change, it was most definitely the hat that stole the season this year.

From Galliano to Gautier, Parisian audiences were treated to a theatrical showing of huge headwear and jaw-dropping fashion. Galliano’s Napoleonic military looks were balanced by his Little Bo Peep-inspired bonnets. His clothes were simple, flirty and floral with a line of dresses party girls will surely have on their racks for spring.

Jean Paul Gautier for Hermes channeled his inner cowgirl for a western inspired line spattered with cowboy hats, cigars and cactus – or is it cacti? And the always impeccable Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel stuck to basics with a black, white and gray palette accented by feather poof headdresses.

Marc Jacobs came to our rescue with the by now ubiquitous statement necklace as did fashionista favorite, Stella McCartney. But designers like Hussein Chalayan, fashion icon, Sonia Rykiel, and Bernhard Willhelm favored les chapeaux magnifique, instead, with looks that ranged from the geometric to the feline.

At the end of the day, the fashion world was runway weary after New York, London and Milan, but our hats are off to Paris for keeping the catwalks crackling - even if our favorite accessory was MIA. À bientôt, alors!