Above Karl Lagerfeld and the closing bridal gown in his autumn–winter 2012–13 haute couture presentation at the Grand Palais on Tuesday.

Rhonda Richford will report from Paris’s haute couture collections after the week is over, but, in the meantime, we have images from the Basil Soda and Chanel autumn–winter 2012–13 shows.
   Soda’s theme was about metamorphoses with colours reminiscent of the forest and gardens. Lucire saw high collars, bell-shaped gowns and puffed skirts, and sheer fabrics such as silk organza and silk tulle. He aimed for contrasts of dark and light, and ‘hyper-sensuality’ and strength, and complementary notions of femininity and elegance.
   Chanel, meanwhile, showed its New Vintage couture collection show from the Grand Palais on Tuesday, diving into its heritage with soft pinks and dove greys. The overall trend: looser, longer and occasionally frilly.
   Celebrities at the 10 a.m. show who wore Chanel included Anna Mouglalis (dress from the autumn–winter 2012–13 collection), Caroline Sieber, Inès de la Fressange and Miroslava Duma (Paris–Bombay collection), Poppy Delevingne and Alexa Chung (cruise Versailles collection), Clotilde Hesme (autumn–winter 2012–13 pre-collection), Laetitia Casta (earlier haute couture collections), and Lun Mei Kwan (spring–summer 2012). Lucie de la Falaise had shoes and a bag from Chanel.
   At the noon show were Maïwenn and Sofia Coppola (autumn–winter 2012–13 pre-collection), Zhou Xun and Rinko Kikuchi (autumn–winter 2011–12 haute couture collection), Diane Krüger, Joanna Preiss and Milla Jovovich (cruise Versailles collection), Caroline de Maigret (cruise Antibes collection), Clémence Poésy (earlier haute couture collections), and Ana Girardot (spring–summer 2012).
   Michelle Violy Harper, Joshua Jackson, Edgar Ramirez, Michael Pitt, Vanessa Traina and Lou Doillon were also present.

Basil Soda haute couture, autumn–winter 2012–13

Chanel haute couture, autumn–winter 2012–13

Celebrities at Chanel