PARIS (AP) - Color-blocking mixed with historic silken gowns - and a small dash of star-power - for the final day of Paris Couture. Here are some of Wednesday's fall-winter highlights.
PICCIOLI'S COUTURE
The recently-solo designer of Valentino couture, Pierpaolo Piccioli, is going from strength to strength.
The long, floor-sweeping organza gowns that evoke the Renaissance- now a staple of the Rome-based couture house - were all there in the Wednesday show's accomplished designs.
Indeed, Italian painter Titian was even referenced in the program notes and could be felt in the silken hues of the show - that fused gentle whites, blues, reds and yellows. An intarsia velvet plisse dress, which took 960 hours to make, had blown-up baroque motifs.
But Piccioli mixed it up this season.
Graphic shapes were produced with some stylish color-blocking on gowns. One billowing cape in cerulean blue velvet sported a contrasting under garment with white sporty zip up collar.
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VALENTINO'S STARS
Sofia Coppola held court on the Valentino front row beside house-founder Valentino Garavani at his eponymous couture show in the opulent Hotel Salomon de Rothschild.
The youthful-looking 46-year-old, who's still basking in the glory of her Cannes Best Director Award for "The Beguiled," looked demure in a black Valentino sleeveless silk gown.
Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson also attended the silken display, alongside actress Kristin Scott Thomas.
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ELIE SAAB'S MEDIEVAL STYLE
Perhaps anticipating this month's new "Game of Thrones" season, Lebanese designer Elie Saab went in search of the warrior queen for his medieval-tinged couture collection.
Queenly golden head band crowns, Rosary-style hand ornaments, and heavy Romanesque necklaces adorned models with tousled hair - parted in the center.
The gowns, too, harked to a bygone era. The signature Saab silhouette - floor length and cinched-waisted - was given an historic twist with the display's thick velvets, bands of fur, and intricate golden brocades.
One archetypal medieval gown in deep ultramarine velvet had structured straps diagonally across the bust, leading the eye down to floor length slit sleeves - styles worn by queens in court. A billowing cloak that faded from gray to blue was fastened by a large fairytale black velvet bow.
There were great small details - such as a structured peplum bodice that looked hard, yet was rendered soft by the velvet texture.
Actress Rossy de Palma and socialite Olivia de Palermo applauded in delight.
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COCO ROCHA STEALS THE SHOW (AGAIN)
In 2007, Coca Rocha's stunned guests at Jean Paul Gaultier- as the then 18-year-old Canadian model opened the show with a dramatic traditional Irish step jig that she danced all the way down the runway.
Ten years later, Rocha stunned again.
This time the 28-year-old - who's still at the top of her game - capped the snow-themed show from the French designer by cycling down the podium in a strange white, fluffy tricycle carriage in gold leggings. Guests applauded and cheered as the soundtrack boomed out a French version of Frozen's "Let it Go."
"It's never just another runway show with @JPGaultier!" exclaimed the model from her Twitter account.
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GAULTIER'S WINTER WONDERLAND
The ever-unpredictable couturier Jean Paul Gaultier lived up to his reputation Wednesday in a humorous couture treat for guests who included France's Former First Lady Carla Bruni.
The 61 diverse designs loosely united around one central theme: the winter wonderland. Loosely.
But the display was mainly about fun and veered often into the wacky, harking from different continents and silhouettes. It almost defied definition.
On a snow-white runway, oversize bubble jackets in gray and gold paraded alongside fitted jackets with snow motifs and furry white platforms.
For the head: Gaultier served up gargantuan fur Russian chapkas that competed with wooly bobble hats in blue and white.
Then there were Sarees - that are worn in the sun, not in snow.
"(It's) childish and exotic... What was funny was a mix of winter. So the snow, and the pullover. And also the saree which is from a country where there's a lot of sun," he told The AP.
And where would a winter wonderland scene be without Scandi knits? Inspired by the 1970s craze for Swedish-style cardigans, model Anna Cleveland wore a thick blue and white cardigan with floppy knitted headwear.
Then the couturier seemed to head for the Himalayas with wrapped-up Asian-style silhouettes - with one bright red, floor length, square-shouldered gown reminiscent of traditional Nepalese dress.
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Thomas Adamson can be followed at Twitter.com/ThomasAdamson_K