As the beat of Suzanne Vega’s Tom’s Diner pulsed through the speakers, models appeared from behind a pink velvet curtain and Rabanne’s FW24 collection of maximalist eccentricity was unveiled inside Palais de Tokyo. This season saw Julien Dossena create harmony amidst the anarchy of clashing prints – tartan, leopard print, houndstooth and wild florals all came together in a mission to prove that opposites certainly do attract. Taking the mundanity of the everyday and twisting it 180, Dossena transitioned from the intergalactic offering of last season to the daily intricacies of the morning commute and coffee run.

Inspired by the art of reinventing one’s self, Rabanne proved their woman to be a shapeshifter and equipped her with the wardrobe to conjure up a different persona for each day of the week. Grungey plaid was mixed with worn-in leather and sheer skirts billowed from the waist in an elegant contradiction, while the brand’s signature hardware found a home on a classic black mini dress. Tops decorated with high-adrenaline photos from Craig McDean’s I Love Fast Cars (a vibrant photo homage to the drag cars and muscle cars built in backyards and driveways across the US) were worn with chunky clogs fashioned in the same softness as slippers.

Oversized outerwear in faux fur and polka dots were thrown over slinky chiffon, PVC python and heavy-gauge knitwear as garments altered and morphed as if finding their own subcultural circle: slightly open skirts, cinched waists, delicate embellishments and exaggerated shoulders. From punk girls to art school kids through preppy, boho and beyond – it was like The Breakfast Club but fashion.