Dior reconstructs Paris in spectacular Fashion Week show

PARIS (AP) — Dior took over Paris’ iconic Place de la Concorde for a menswear show Friday whose theme was none other than the city of Paris itself.

Inside an annex, fashion editors joined a front row including Naomi Campbell to marvel at the heritage house’s spectacular decor. It created a near-life size Parisian bridge, replete with fake birds and fake water lapping underneath via plasma screen, just for the 15-minute collection.

Here are some highlights of the fall-winter 2022 menswear displays.

DIOR’S CITY OF LIGHT

Paris Fashion Week is back from its virus-induced slumber. At least that was what some front-row fashion editors uttered upon seeing Dior's elaborate reconstruction of the Pont Alexandre III bridge, with its giant three-dimensional gilt-bronze horse statues and staff-holding nymphs that models had to duck underneath. Million-dollar sets like this have not been seen in seasons.

In pastel hues that reflected a winter morning, models snaked around the Parisian vista, past the iconic image of the Pont Neuf bridge and by the Musee d’Orsay — while a recording from house founder Christian Dior on the meaning of fashion echoed around the hall.

In fashion terms, the beret -- that archetypal Gallic symbol -- made a fall-winter comeback for British designer Kim Jones. This normally limp Parisian staple was reimagined in a structured form, evoking the Saville Row tailoring of Jones’ native London. It was one of many instances of Dior’s Parisian styles having a clever U.K. twist.

Marking 75 years since Dior’s “New Look” changed the face of fashion in 1947, Jones said he delved into the archive to work on the original house styles such as the Bar Jacket that curves in at the waist. Here for men, the Bar silhouette was given a very British makeover, tailored yet...