PARIS (Reuters) - British designer John Galliano painted the enormous glass cupola of Paris's Grand Palais red in a spectacular light show for Christian Dior on Tuesday, letting models stream out on a silvery shimmering catwalk.
In a collection of "Gothic chic", models in black leather coats with big buckled belts paraded out into the giant hall, built for the 1900 world exhibition and re-opened last year after being closed for works for a decade.
Wearing headbands and large black sunglasses, the models seemed to resemble the swashbuckling Galliano himself -- a favourite of many celebrities.
"I think Galliano is one of the most thrilling designers," Hollywood actress Kate Hudson told reporters ahead of the show. "He uses lots of colour. I really enjoy his clothes."
"I do love clothes but sometimes I think I should pay more attention to what I'm wearing. I just wear what is comfortable," said Hudson, who caused a photographers' frenzy at the show.
Hudson, the daughter of Goldie Hawn, was among the front row guests as models in big-collared sheepskin jackets and tight denim trousers or red embroidered felt coats walked out from behind a transparent wall.
The illusion given by Galliano's light show in the 200-metre long masterpiece seemed to have been so convincing that the designer himself walked into the see-through wall as he sought to storm out on the catwalk at the end of his show.
He grinned brightly as he bowed to guests, wearing his trademark headband.