Naomi Campbell drew cheers on the catwalk at Paris fashion week on Sunday when the 43-year-old supermodel opened the first haute couture show of the season for Versace in a sparkling black micro sequin jacket.
Constructed using hook and eyes to hold the jacket together, the fastenings were “left undone in places giving the impression of being undressed”, the house said, adding that each hook was held in place with Swarovski crystals.
Using sequins, crystals, embroidery and beading in a palette of black, deep emerald, ruby red and sapphire blue Donatella Versace’s autumn 2013/winter 2014 couture collection wallowed in a sense of unashamed luxury.
In some looks, the shape of the body was emphasized through exposed midriffs or transparent side panels down the shoulder, arm and leg.
Campbell closed the show with another enthusiastically received turn, this time in a body suit embroidered with black crystals and a woven mink fur, chiffon and silk tulle cardigan.
Four days of couture shows begin in earnest on Monday with the collection of the season – Christian Lacroix’s come-back tribute to the late Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli.
Lacroix, feted by fashion editors in the 1990s after he created the first couture house to open in a quarter century in 1987, lost his fashion house in December 2009 after it ran up millions of dollars in debts.
In his first collection in four years, Lacroix will present 18 reinterpretations of Schiaparelli designs for the relaunched fashion house.
