Image: Giovanni Gianonni for WWD

Looking at the sheer beauty of images that are flooding, and the reading the words of those who were present which include mentions of tears, sorrow and the overwhelming sense of loss mixed with awe over the designer's breath taking skill,  additional commentary on the collection feels superfluous. So we leave you with a link to additional  detailed images here, and a full slideshow here. 

oversized fur at Viktor and Rolf/Image: Giovanni Gianonni for WWD

In New York and Milan the world watched as major names like Marc Jacobs and Prada turned  focused on feminine, wearable looks with a soft, sexy mid-century motif. But in Paris over the weekend, the avant garde bucked the ladylike trend with a myriad of highly produced presentations that seemed to prize drama over wear ability, including:

Infamous for outlandish looks that vacillate between costume insanity, and works of fashion art, style icons Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren,  have built a dynasty on pushing boundaries.  For Fall 2010, they staged an over the top presentation, for sporty styles  that left some of the most influential critics in the industry feeling flat, while the twitterverse exploded with praise.  The one thing no one could argue with, the show itself which included Model Kristen McMenamy walking the runway with the ENTIRE collection on her back, and being systematically stripped, was something to remember. Completely video of the performance art/runway show is now available online here.

Maison Martin Margiela goes Wild Thing/Giovanni Giannoni for WWDMaison Martin Margiela added Gaga-esque shoulders, stand-out waistbands, and Wild Things reminiscent hats(pictured right)  to a collection that was otherwise sleek and restrained, the result: a wacky mash up of extremes that was only somewhat realistically envisioned for stores.

Taking the term sleeping bag coat, and running with it John Galliano unleashed an act of of mind-bending design on the public with a show that  Women's Wear Daily called "An  exotic curry of a collection."  You can say that again.

Giovanni Gianonni for WWD

When not creating a low-cost line for Target, Jean Paul Gautier has made a career out of  marching to his own drum. Whether it's 1990's era cone-bras, or his Fall 2010 travel-log inspired collection Paris' original wild man of style seems impervious to current trends, for better or for worse.

Jean Paul Gautier Fall 2010/Giovanni Gianonni for WWD

Karl Lagerfeld RTW Fall 2010/ Giovanni Giannoni for WWD

You might expect Stella McCartney, Dianne Von Furstenberg, or even Donna Karen to create a women's wear collection they themselves would want to wear, but when discussing the work of Karl Lagerfeld that decision is a bit more unusual.  Then again  his personal motto of 'Love thy Self'  has served Lagerfeld well for decades.

AP: Photo Thibault Camus

John Galliano returns to the stables for RTW 2010/Ap Photo: Jacques BrinonFor many designers repeating themes, especially themes used as recently as your own Couture collection shown just 3 months prior, is a risky move which could prompt editors and critics to scream "One trick pony!" But for Galliano, who sent  a second set of jodhpurs, and riding hats cantering down the runway earlier today, the redux worked, functioning more as solidifying signature than a dashed off sequel.

Filmy dresses with exquisite vintage details, retro make-up and fresh from the bedroom hair rounded out the hyper sensual collection that could not have been mistaken for anyone other than the maestro.

AP Photo: Thibault Camus

Rick Owens beyond Thunderdome/Image: Giovanni Giannoni for WWD

In stark contrast to the mid-century party at Prada, Dries Van Noten, and Rochas, Thursday's collections focused on the futuristic with strong cinematic overtones such as.

Rick Owens' love of the dark an avant garde was clearly felt in his ode to Mad Max Collection, complete with structured leather, fur accents and Tina-Turner worthy make-up.

Super-label Balenciaga gave a nod to another film making great with a Stanely Kubric inspired collection, that channeled Hal, if Hal had been designed by one of the greatest fashion forces in history.

Space Odyssey inspired at Balneciaga/Image: Giovanni Giannoni for WWD

1950's styling at Dries Van Noten/AP Photo: Thibault Camus

The retro themes, which we first saw cropping up at Timo Weiland in New York,  that then took a strong stance in Milan at Prada, made their Parisian debut today as Dries Van Noten and Rochas.

Ap Photo: Thibault Camus

At Dries it was all about mixing mid-century and modern bohemian with full skirts, nipped in waists, trench coats with a twist all with animal print touches and hints of military.

At Rochas, the styles flipped forward a decade as psychedelic 60’s sheaths, booties and sky-high bouffants mashed up with modern lines.

As the rest of the collections are unveiled in Paris this week, an impressive line-up of names that includes Gareth Pugh, Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Viktor and Rolf, trend-spotters are predicting  a full fledged return to retro for Fall 2010.

For more on all of the European collections, check back with Style Wylde all week. 

Image: David Maestri for WWD

AP Photo: Giuesseppe AresuWhether it was a wild and wooly mash-up of animal prints, a circus-friendly color pallet, or the series of rock and roll layers in rich tapestries which followed, Cavalli proved that creating style out of chaos is still his strong suit. 

For those favoring sleekier, simpler styles the collection may have been a bit over the big-top, but the designer clearly isn't concerned, as his may client  base has never been made up of the meek, or the mild mannered.

AP Photo: Guiesseppe Aresu

For a full slide show of the Roberto Cavalli FGall 2010 collection go here.

Perfectly tailor blazers paired with miles of leg during the Dolce Gabbana finale/ Ap Photo: Alberto Pellaschiar

Gorgeous cocktail looks at DolceGabbana, AP Photo: Alberto Pellaschiar

Seemingly drawing on Italy's long history of master tailors Dolce and Gabbana described their collection to the press in attendance as  “sartorialità,” or tailoring, Italian-style. “Like my father used to make.”

For a full slideshow of the Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2010 collection go here.

channeling Tom Ford's Gucci for Fall 2010/ Ap Photo Alberto Pellaschiar

At Gucci, The Fall 2010 collection with it's quiet glamour, luxurious fabrics  and hyper-chic color palette recalled the glory days when Tom Ford was at the helm and the label had not yet become synonmous with over the top blatant bling and overt sexiness.  

Ap Photo: Alberto PellaschiarEasily the most wearable collection produced by  Frida Gianni since taking over creative direction of the label in it's entiredy, Fall 2010 had a look for every fashionista from simple sheaths to fur trimmed jackets.

 For a full slide show of the Gucci collection visit Women's Wear Daily.

beaded beauty at Alberta Ferretti/Image: Giovanni Gianonni for Women's Wear DailyArt Deco-dence and luxury permeated every look in the Alberta Ferretti , where whisper-thin chiffon mixed with bugle beads and furs. Full slide show here.

Office perfect at Emporio Armani/ Ap Photo:Giuseppe Aresu

Ode to the office girl, a classic and expected theme at Emporio Armani as trademark smart suits and separates were seen. Full slide show here.

glammed up at Versace/ AP Photo: Antonio Calanni

Never one to settle for subtle Donnatella Versace kicked out neon-hues in over-the-top sexy silhouettes with the occasional futurist twist.

Bold lines and colors at Krizia/Image: Maurico Miranda for Women's Wear Daily

Whimsy ruled the runway at D&G where a humorous Heidi-Turned-Bond-Girl collection felt exuberant and young. Full slide show here.

Clearly not out to pleas PETA, Karl Lagerfeld churned out a plethora of fur-focused looks in voluminous shapes and layers for Fendi. Full slide show here.

Brunell Cuccinelli was all about sportswear in relaxed colors and fabrics. Full slide show here.

Futuristic aviator was the theme of the day at Krizia where exaggerated jodhpurs mixed it up with pops of neon colors. Full slide show here.

AND

Beehives, padded bras, full skirts and nipped-in waists announced the return of "real" women at Prada, and perhaps the decline of the live-stream show. Full slideshow here.