Paris Fashion Week: Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton enchant, Stella McCartney presents subtle yet sensual pieces, Chanel centres its famous birdcage, and Balenciaga’s Demna celebrates nearly 10 years

The last two days of Paris Fashion Week are always crammed with back-to-back shows from big brands such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton, and smaller ones like Sacai and Shiatzy Chen – two Asian labels that have been showing in Paris for years. This year, the well-edited Sacai show was a chic take on the preppy-with-a-twist aesthetic that is a signature of the label. Meanwhile, Shiatzy Chen’s collection, named Stroke of Brilliance, was a homage to Chinese ink painting and the power of the brushstroke in Chinese art.

Stella McCartney kicked things off on a chilly Monday morning with a star-studded front row that included Natalie Portman, Rob Lowe and Greta Gerwig.

The British designer meant business. The models looked ready to take on the world – or just a busy day at work – in wide-shoulder suits and trench coats paired with roomy bags and a copy of The Stella Times “newspaper”.

McCartney also knows how to do sexy, revealing just enough flesh, always hinting rather than overexposing. Draped and cut-out gowns were great examples of that.

The invitation to the Balenciaga show came with a golden wedding band engraved with each guest’s name. Demna, the label’s creative director, meant it as a way to profess his love for fashion and to celebrate his almost 10-year marriage with the house.