The four-day tryst that was Haute Couture Spring 2012 came and went this week like an elaborately frocked lover in the night. The celebration of the highest fashion in the land however is more than mere aperitif to ready-to-wear’s main course that will begin serving in less than a fortnight in New York; couture is a feast unto itself! Leading the fête de la mode this week was Sigrid Agren (Ford), who walked for nine designers, nearly twice as next in line Antonia Wesseloh (Ford) and Erjona Ala (Ford), both of whom featured in five shows. Karmen Pedaru (Ford) turned up in style for Versace, Christian Dior, and Chanel. Elsewhere, opening honors were claimed by Antonia for the house of Giambattista Valli. Kate King (Ford) closed the Georges Hobeika show. Valerija Kelava (Ford) and Ana Claudia Michels (Ford), dangly nose-rings and all, were amongst a select few who presented the Givenchy couture collection by Riccardo Tisci. Karolina Wąż (Ford) made her couture debut for Chanel, which for a young model is no mean feat. That concludes the opening act of the womenswear calendar and of course will be followed a ready-to-wear show or two hundred beginning in New York next month. Until then, please click through the below slide show of runway looks from Paris.

Rachel Walgrove contributed to this story.

Alana Zimmer: Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani Privè, Stéphane Rolland, Jean Paul Gaultier

Ana Claudia Michels: Givenchy

Antonia Wesseloh: Alexis Mabille, Giambattista Valli (O), Iris Van Herpen, Chanel, Valentino

Brenda Kranz: Bouchra Jarra, Basil Soda, Elie Saab, Maxime Simoens

Carolina Thaler (Ford Women): Christian Dior

Cora Emmanuel (Ford Women): Bouchra Jarra, Elie Saab, Valentino

Erjona Ala: Bouchra Jarra, Giambattista Valli, Chanel, Stéphane Rolland, Maxime Simoens

Hanne Gaby Odiele: Bouchra Jarra, Valentino

Henna (Ford Women): Atelier Gustavolins, Danny Atrache

Julia Nobis: Bouchra Jarra, Iris Van Herpen, Chanel, Valentino

Karmen Pedaru: Versace, Christian Dior, Chanel

Karolina Wąż: Chanel

Kate King: Versace, Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, Georges Hobeika (C)

Sigrid Agren: Versace, Christian Dior, Chanel, Giorgio Armani Privè, Zuhair Murad, Alexandre Vauthier, Elie Saab, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino

Tao Okamoto: Chanel, Stéphane Rolland

Valerija Kelava: Givenchy, Zuhair Murad, Valentino