As riders put their dressage horses through their paces in a chandelier-topped arena at the end of the catwalk, Gaultier paid homage to Hermes long and illustrious history of leather-working with a collection of chic equestrian garb in buttery suede and calfskin.The one-time enfant terrible of French fashion will continue to put out his signature line while a designer who cut his teeth at the Louis Vuitton, sportswear line Lacoste takes over the reins at Hermes.

Cross-town rival Louis Vuitton Sale, which began as a trunk-maker, sent out a cross-pollinated collection that combined glossy Chinese shapes with African safari motifs. The collection, Marc Jacobs trongest for the brand for several seasons, shot the darkly sensual clothes with a stiff dose of self-mocking kitsch Red carpet-favorite Elie Saab toned down the glam factor with a relaxed 1970s-infused collection in peachy hues, while Louis Vuitton Bags, Yudashkin glammed it up with ultra-short bustier dresses for the jet-setting party girl set.

Other highlights of the City of Light's nine-day-long ready-to-wear marathon included a strong debut by Sarah Burton - the longtime deputy to designer Alexander McQueen, who was appointed to replace him following his suicide last February - and a spectacular fortieth anniversary show and after-party at a Paris circus by East-meets-West label Kenzo.A 1970s spirit took catwalks in New York and Milan by storm, and though there was some retro hippy peace and love in a few Paris collections, the most salient trends to emerge from the City of Light were Louis Vuitton Handbags, and clean white looks. From Yves Saint Laurent to Givenchy, designers here cocooned opaque shorts, pants and little skirts with long skirts in sheer chiffon and tulle.

And while Milan was all about saturated jewel tones, there were few Paris collections that did nt open with an all-white look. Men white Replica Louis Vuitton, shirts, worn as dresses or morphed into capes or even little skirts, were also nearly omnipresent here.There a six-month-long respite before the next round of ready-to-wear collections, for fall-winter 2011-2012, which hits Paris in early March.

It was hard to know where to look at the models in fetching LV, garb in supple leather, or the breathtaking dressage horses strutting their stuff at the far end of the catwalk.