Paris Fashion Week is the final week in fashion month and they really do save the best for last.
The shows, while not always full of wearable (or affordable) creations, are a joy to watch as the level of workmanship and artistic vision is brought to the fore and for any fashion lover, it's prime time to just sit back and soak it all in.
With a packed show schedule, it can be impossible to keep on top of every designer and fashion house's latest offerings, so here are some of the big ones that you will definitely want to see.
Louis Vuitton
The Louis Vuitton collection was true art. The patterns used alone were pretty out-there but absolutely stunning with an almost galactic feel.
Black is hands down the colour of autumn/winter and it's really exciting to see how it is brought to life here. With iridescent materials, sequins and tonnes of sparkle, it's never looked so multi-faceted and this is down to Nicolas Ghesquière's unparalleled eye for detail and forward thinking.
The collection features beautifully made dresses with intricate designs, classic coats and jackets, and the accessories were some of the best we've seen all month.
Louis Vuitton is best known for it's monogrammed brown bags, and there were plenty of them on display - with a new boxy shape the style of choice.
It was the simpler, more elegant bags however that are the real stars. Adored the scarf-handled satchel style pieces in particular.
Chanel
The Chanel show is always exciting; partly for the clothes, partly in anticipation of the set. Karl Lagerfeld has brought us Chanel Airlines, a supermarket, a garden party and a casino in recent times, but this season it was more pared back, taking place in a large, open, mirrored room.
The designs were more classically tailored than seasons gone by, harking back to the timeless Chanel aesthetic. Tweed two-piece suits and pearls were twinned with knee-high boots in matching fabrics and statement hats.
Muted tones were key for outwear with Lagerfeld really bringing the old into the new, in what was possibly his most understated collection in quite a while.
Balmain
Olivier Rousteing's client list and Instagram feed is almost more impressive than his latest collection. While his show garnered headlines due to the star-studded runway and the hair colour switcheroos - hello, blonde Kendall Jenner - the designs didn't really live up to his previous offering which was excellent.
In saying that, the craftsmanship is indisputable and the detailing really impressive.
The classic Balmain colours of gold, black & white were on display as always, but the further departure into girlish pinks and ruffles was welcome. Some of the most eye-catching pieces - like the lace ruffle pants worn by Karlie Kloss - were the more romantic looks.
Rousteing's vision, ethos and social media savvy has brought Balmain into the mainstream and this show was a master class in balance and the mixing of fabrics was incredible. As always, I can't wait to see what he does next.
Christian Dior
Dior is all about elegance, style and luxury and this season's show was possibly my favourite of the entire week. It definitely inspired more lust and longing than any other.
I love black and while there was a lot of it on the runway, it was never boring or bland. I mean, can we just take a minute to stop and appreciate those embellishments?
The beauty look was quite gothic and I need to find out the shade used here, and in the Louis Vuitton show for that matter. Dark lips are key.
The accessories, too, were incredible and a black leather satchel never goes out of style.
This look is part Olivia Pope, part Blair Waldorf and I love it
I really enjoyed their take on the fur coat for the season. Soft and plush, the body of the coats weren't too shaggy, with large fur collars bringing another element of luxury to the pieces. Who needs double denim when you can double (faux) fur?
Elie Saab
Nobody does it quite like Elie Saab. The brand's ethereal quality was not lost this season, despite a much more gothic collection than you would usually associate with them.
Head-to-toe black was the order of the day with lace, studs, velvet and leather abounding.
With live music playing as the models paraded the runway, the atmosphere matched the new direction the brand went in this season.
If I was really famous, super rich and possessed the body of a super model, I would choose one of these lace ensembles as my ultimate festival look. They scream Coachella.
The detailing is as breathtaking as always and the cut works to the model's bodies perfectly. On a side note: I can't put into works how much I want this leather jacket - those sleeves!
Givenchy
Black is the new black - that is something Paris Fashion Week has proven without a shadow of a doubt. The Givenchy show was half black-on-black-on-black and half haywire prints mixed with more haywire prints.
While some might think black a boring choice, Givenchy, and the other designers to feature the colour heavily, have showcased just how exciting a single colour look can be. There's no room for bland here but eyebrows are optional.
The show, that contrasted itself to such perfection, was also home to some of the most impressive print clashing I've ever seen.
Mixing crocodile print with a leopard fur trim and giant gold buttons - have you ever seen the like?
Swooning over this skirt - I just want to touch it!
Stella McCartney
Stella is in a league of her own when it comes to wearable, functional, high-fashion.
This season's runway was home to oversized, utilitarian pieces made from sturdy denims and synthetics juxtaposed with silks, lace and billowing fabrics to create a look that was really unique.
While we can't imagine seeing people on the streets recreating the looks in full, there is a lot of food for thought here.
Who said you can't wear orange pleated lamé trousers with a denim parka?
Tailored pieces, exaggerated shapes and unusual prints all had their place in Stella's latest offering and it's making us wonder if the tracksuit bottom and wool jacket combo will eventually filter down to the high street and become work appropriate. Think of the comfort!
For every over-sized jacket, there was a feminine dress or top to counter it. This pleated blue lace number in particular was a show-stopper.
Giambattista Valli
From the glitter eyebrows to the strappy knee-high sandals, the Giambattista Valli collection screamed modern femininity. With floral prints and buckets of lace and embroidery, the collection blended chill vibes with structured tailoring.
There was a bit of everything at the Giambattista Valli show this season, whether you want something crisp and summery to get you through the mid-season, or an eye-catching coat to bring some life to the winter months.
The experimentation with shapes and silhouettes was really great and it looks as though the designs would be really fun to wear as well as looking fab.
Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel's latest collection was fun, youthful and in keeping with the main trends of black, lace and texture.
While some of the shapes created were very classic, the fabrics, materials and prints used were by no means run of the mill. Even her more preppy looks came with an edge.
Fur, and new takes on fur, were all over the catwalks this fashion month and the way Rykiel contrasts the winter staple with more summery, sheer pieces created a really beautiful aesthetic.
Love love love the fluffy sandals.
I'm a fiend for coats and jackets and this one has stolen my heart. Reminiscent of a few pieces from Topshop Unique's AW'15 offering, its the perfect blend of luxury and wearability.
