Whether you spotted Courtney Love’s Uber being attacked by striking French taxi drivers, or heard stories of Nile Rodgers’ epic soundtrack for the Louis Vuitton show, Paris Fashion Week was in no way a disappointment for the headlines. But at the shows, a spectacular array of ideas, clothes and moods was presented, proving – even in the face of a resurgent Milan and a high-flying London – that Paris remains the global capital of menswear.

So let’s kick off by looking at what is always one of the hottest tickets in town: Louis Vuitton. Under Kim Jones’ direction, the luxury house has not only regained considerable menswear relevance, but become something of a trendsetter.

For SS16, Jones mixed Japanese florals, luxury silk blousons and sharp geometrics derived from a Masai blanket that he had from childhood, while referencing existing trends (stripes, dusky pinks, florals, technical fabrics) without losing the sense of personality that makes him such a standout designer.Meanwhile, Raf Simons was playing with the concepts of androgyny and streetwear, using hoodies and plaid scarves to obscure models’ faces while showing a wide variety of sharply tailored and street-inspired looks.

Textured and patterned coats were layered over shorts suits with subtle volume, while another push for wider-leg trousers had this writer questioning why the trend hasn’t caught the imagination of the public yet after so many seasons of skinny jeans.Fashion followers know that Hedi Slimane has been photographing the California beach scene for years — long before he replaced Paris for  Los Angeles. So now wonder his ss16 menswear collection has its roots in the “Surf Sounds” .
The pitch-black show venue was covered in kitschy palm-trees-at-sunset wallpaper. And similar motifs turned up on satin jackets and mohair granny cardigans, which the young models wore with the same nonchalance as black leather jackets.
There was plenty of Kurt Cobain in the men’s looks: the shaggy hairstyles; the white plastic sunglasses, the plaid shirts; the denim with blown-out knees. And there were plenty of literal thrift-shop styles.