PARIS (AFP) - Antonio Marras imagined Alice wandering through a magical garden after passing behind the looking glass in his collection for Kenzo for summer 2009 on Saturday. His models, with their hair loosely pinned up, drifted down the runway in floating chiffon layers, some in a dappled print that captured the effect of sunshine and shadows on a summer afternoon.
Sheer inserts, ripples of ruffles, floor-sweeping trains with loosely tied sashes, even his most elaborate confections embued a light and airy feel.
Straps and bodices gleamed with shells, ribbons and mother-of-pearl. A stand-out ecru macrame frock over stiff tulle skirts looked as if it was unravelling at the shoulder like the tendrils of his other-worldly models' hair. His floral prints were inspired by beautiful 19th century botanical paintings reproduced in the exquisite invitation to the show, which also contained a pop-up of butterflies as in children's books.
At the end the books which formed a backdrop to the runway opened to reveal a giant pop-up which had everyone pulling out their mobile phones to take a picture.