The return of empowered femininity is all the rage this season, but designers had their own takes on what this looks like, reports Angelo Flaccavento.

Today at the Paris shows, a lighter touch prevailed at both Rochas and Lemaire.

The former Lacoste creative director will succeed design duo Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, who are officially parting ways with the LVMH-owned house on July 1.

Christelle Kocher, founder of the haute streetwear label, will receive a grant of €250,000 and mentorship from OTB boss Renzo Rosso.

After a few years of overt decoration, sculpted, monochromatic lines look utterly fresh again. Lemaire, Rochas and Courrèges each proved the point in their own way.

At Lemaire and Rochas, sophistication and elegance made for strong and soulful collections.

There is little doubt that the two French leaders in luxury fashion are becoming more powerful.

Japanese conglomerate Fast Retailing has also extended designer Christophe Lemaire’s contract as artistic director of the Uniqlo Paris R&D Center by another five years.