EVENT
Of the 40 or so fashion weeks around the world, Paris Fashion Week is one of the most prestigious. At the recent Autumn/Winter shows, the likes of Dior, Valentino and Versace sent dazzling haute-couture collections down the runway, but it was local fashion house Chanel that stole the show. I had a front-row seat to witness what Karl Lagerfeld had in store on July 2 at the Grand Palais — what better place to showcase the work of fashion royalty?

AMBIENCE
When it comes to Chanel and the genius of its head atelier, a simple catwalk show simply wont cut it. Upon entering the Grand Palais, guests were met with a post-apocalyptic theatre setting: think broken seats, mounds of rubble on the floor and between the rows of seats, and the ceiling seemingly blown away, allowing natural light to stream onto the runway.

RUB SHOULDERS WITH
The big shows always draw a mix of celebrities and high-profile fashion figures. Kristen Stewart, Milla Jovovich and Vanessa Paradis held court in the front row, while Vogue’s powerhouse editor Anna Wintour was spotted in a demure Chanel two-piece suit (naturally) and her trademark oversized sunglasses.

STAY
There are many five-star hotels near the Grand Palais, but I stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Paris. It has an excellent location along Rue Saint-Honoré, just five minutes from Grand Palais and the Place Vendôme. The hotel itself is, like Lagerfeld, avant-garde and always fills up quickly, so book in advance. Alternatively, try the nearby Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme — classic Parisian sophistication at it’s finest.

DINE
The show’s day time-slot meant the afternoon was free for lunch. You can dine with the VIPs and celebrities at L’avenue on Avenue Montaigne, but if you prefer something away from paparazzi camera flashes, hop across the Seine to La Société on Boulevard Saint-Germain. This trendy eatery has been given the seal of approval from Karl himself.

AFTER DARK
There was no after-party for the Chanel show so we headed to Le Matignon Paris on Avenue Matignon to attend the after-party for designer Yulia Yanina. This hotspot is also a restaurant and the night had a really good atmosphere, as guests mingled over champagne and canapés.

MUST-DO
I flew in a day early to do a bit of shopping on Boulevard Saint-Germain. It’s another hip location, home to boutiques and little shops of local designers — a great place to pick up a fashionable ensemble to wear to the shows.