Paris Fashion Week channels humor, animated film for spring

As weary fashionistas made it to the final sprint of Paris Fashion Week's 96 physical and digital spring-summer shows, Oct. 2's runways provided the spark to keep energy going, despite rain and gray skies.

Some of the world's top designers channeled humor, bright colors, innovative design techniques and even animated films for ever-imaginative displays.

Vivienne Westwood defies description

Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood was in typically eccentric form.

Mixing Glam Rock references from Westwood's 80s heyday with historic musing and a tongue firmly in cheek, Kronthaler created 66 pieces of fashion mayhem and put on one of the most fun shows this Paris fashion season.

To a plasma screen that projected blown-up images of architecture and textiles, models stood showcasing styles that almost defied description.

Did the pale bridal dress with invisible scaffolding at the back resemble a tent, or was it meant to evoke a garment that had been hung out to dry on a clothesline? A giant white historic hat cut a fine shape, but on closer inspection was made out of a cuddly toy bearing the face of an old bearded man.

But while the humor was undeniable, there were also many moments of sublime fashion design. A trompe l'oeil gown had pale blue fabric "floating" abstractly on its front. The simplest looks were also some of the best, including a draped white gown with a beautiful dynamic whoosh of material.

Anrealage gets creative

The fashion-forward house of Tokyo's Kunihiko Morinaga has built up a huge fan base in Japan for his daring concepts that merge art and fashion.

On Oct. 2, Morinaga did not disappoint.

The award-winning designer treated fashion editors...