Fashion from the capital

CEBU, Philippines - Here are the highlights of last Friday's ready-to-wear fall-winter 2015 shows in Paris, including show reports for Issey Miyake and Dior:

Dior Lets Out Its Inner Animal

Raf Simons declared the signature garden of Monsieur Dior (with its flower musings) officially off-bounds this season, in a bold new collection that let out the house's inner roar. They called it "Femme Animale."

Stylish thigh-high reptilian vinyl boots in tropical colors filed alongside by knee-length skirts, ripped as if by a big cat's claw.

Slashed patchwork-colored fox fur coats in lilac and aqua prowled by, alongside patent leather tops and skirts that glistened dangerously like snake skin.

It unleashed a more kinky side to the normally tame brand. "I wanted the collection to deal with... something more liberated, darker and more sexual," said Simons.

That he achieved, and then some. Flashes of vivid tropical color in patches and lines could sometimes be read as: Approach with caution, this Dior woman could bite.

Simons also used this new-found fierceness to explore menswear looks, like a double-breasted dark green wool pant suit, or a beautifully snug oversize coat in tea green.

The fauna was a welcome break from the flora.

Issey Miyake's Suspension

Franco-Japanese house Issey Miyake drew guests into a world of suspended gravity for a color-rich collection showcasing its mastery of techno-fabrics.

The runway, glistening black, resembled liquid oil on which the smiling models walked by, as singer Chiyako performed long, haunting harmonies that echoed around the room.

The beautiful clothes themselves - often voluminous pieces of draped material in abstract wrapped bands - bounced and continued the feeling of suspension. (FREEMAN)