Paris Fashion Week: expected highlights

One of the usual Paris highlights, Alexander McQueen's show, has been taken from the official catwalk schedule and transformed into a subdued presentation following the designer's death, but there will be plenty of other flamboyant events happening at and around Paris fashion week.

While brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermès will be giving attendees an update on what's new in French luxury, international designers including the Dutch Dries van Noten or Viktor & Rolf, British Gareth Pugh or Japanese label Comme des Garçons will present more forward-thinking fashion avantgarde.

Designers to watch are the French capital's rising star Damir Doma as well as former Dior Homme designer Nicolas Andreas Taralis, who now shows under his own name.

Sonia Rykiel will have to prove that she didn't forget how to do high fashion after her successful ranges for H&M, but while no one would seriously doubt that, Ungaro's resurrection after last season's Lindsay Lohan disaster is far more uncertain.

It will also be interesting to see whether labels such as Balmain stick to their highly popular rock'n'roll chic instead of risking a new look, and if the 'curvier model' trend as seen in Italy (Prada) and London (Mark Fast) and an increased booking of Victoria's Secret girls or high fashion colleagues like Lara Stone persist.

Trade fair Première Classe will run concurrently to the fashion week, as will the edgier Tranoi, which for the first time features Tokyoeye, an initiative to promote Japanese brands in Paris.

As for gossip, it has emerged on deadline.com that Zoolander writer Justin Theroux will be on site to "immerse himself on what is current in fashion" for the long-awaited sequel of the fashion parody. Also, French Vogue and luxe palace, Hôtel Crillon are collaborating for a meeting hub with low-calorie meals and a make-up pit stop, while party mogul Jean Roch is planning the launch of his VIP Room Theater - an expansion of his legendary nightclub, featuring an Italian trattoria, a café and a concept store - for March 5.