Paris haute couture: Christian Dior and Giorgio Armani - in pictures

Backstage preparations for the Christian Dior show, which featured imperious paper eyebrows and immaculate red lips Photograph: Eric Ryan/Getty Images British designer John Galliano is famous for his spectacular fashion and desire to shock, but this collection was primarily about the elegance of Dior Photograph: Gouhier Nicolas/Empics Inspiration for the Dior show came from René Gruau, the fashion illustrator who brought the ideas of Christian Dior himself to life Photograph: Eric Ryan/Getty Images Graceful gloved hands featured heavily in Grau's illustrations, and on the Dior catwalk Photograph: Maya Vidon/EPA Haute couture dresses are handmade in Paris, with no time and expense spared, either by the designer or by the teams of skilled craftspeople who work in the ateliers Photograph: Dominique Charriau/WireImage Dior's blockbuster shows had been scaled back to in-house presentations in recent years, but this year's spring/summer show was staged in an 800-seat marquee in the grounds of the Musée Rodin Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images A feminine silhouette at Dior Photograph: Dominique Charriau/WireImage A striking but not entirely practical outfit by Dior Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images A feline mask and gloves - the perfect cat burglar outfit by Dior Photograph: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage Dramatic red and black staging at the Christian Dior show Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images John Galliano, known for his outlandish catwalk outfits, walks the runway in a somewhat subdued number Photograph: Eric Ryan/Getty Images The space-age inspired Armani Privé show took place at the aptly named Espace Vendome in Paris Photograph: Tony Barson/WireImage Sculpted modernist gowns and chunky jewels featured in Giorgio Armani's collection Photograph: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage British milliner Philip Treacy created hats reminiscent of flying saucers for the Armani Privé collection Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters Iridescent metallic fabrics and futuristic cuts at Armani Privé Photograph: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images Giorgio Armani walks the runway during the Armani Privé show Photograph: Eric Ryan/Getty Images A model presents a creation by Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA A creation by Jan Taminiau, a Dutch designer who has dressed Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, presumably in a slightly less outlandish outfit Photograph: Richard Bord/Getty Images A model presents a creation by French designer Christophe Josse Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters 70s inspired glamour at the Alexandre Vauthier show Photograph: Richard Bord/Getty Images