Balenciaga gets a bench-breaking ovation

The case for flat shoes gained another entry in the form of Thursdays Balenciaga show. When three benches collapsed before the parade of S/S 12 designs began, the organisers of one of Paris Fashion Weeks hottest shows exhorted attendees to stand.

By ELLE UK and NonePublished: 30 September 2011

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Front-row guests including Grace Coddington, Salma Hayek (with a bandaged ankle, no less) and Charlotte Gainsbourg took to their feet for the duration of the show. The result was a crowd resembling not so much a fashion show audience as a pious congregation.

Amazing Balenciaga Show by Nicolas Ghesquiere! All standing like in a church! Anna Dello Russo tweeted. The Church of Balenciaga debacle did yield one unanticipated bonus: a better view of front-row outfits.

Elsewhere in Paris, chins are still wagging over the question of who may assume the helm at Christian Dior. President Sidney Toledano declined to share his plans for a successor to John Galliano with the Telegraph. We will have news in the next few weeks, he said. Expect all eyes on Diors show at 1:30 GMT... hopefully from a seated vantage.

See the full Balenciaga collection on our Catwalk channel.

Check back after the Dior show for our review

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