Harlequins and Pierrot clowns took centre stage at Christian Dior's Haute Couture catwalk show in Paris on Monday, as models sporting ruffs, sequinned dresses and ringmaster jackets paraded through a circus tent, surrounded by acrobats.
Glittering bonnets by milliner Stephen Jones and sparkling shoes added to the whimsical collection on the first day of Haute Couture Fashion Week, a celebration of high-end designers with one-of-a-kind outfits.
Actresses Felicity Jones and Rachel Brosnahan looked on from the front row, as the models wove their way through perilously-balanced human towers formed by the troupe of female acrobats.
Polka-dotted skirts and extravagantly beaded bodysuits contrasted with more subtle looks at the show, with black or white ruffle necks recalling the melancholic Pierrot, a fictional love-worn clown.
Standout numbers included a gold pleated evening dress with a Grecian twist.
