Ungaro

Far be it from me to criticize designers when they get creative, try something new or push the envelope. That's fashion.

But, is it me, or are designers presenting collections in Paris this week getting downright costume-y? More than a few of them have gone from subtle references in their collections to frighteningly literal representations of sea creatures, Roman gladiators or whatever else inspires them.

Take Louis Vuitton's show yesterday. Marc Jacobs used giant Afro wigs-the kind you'd pick up on the Halloween aisle-in his presentation. Disappointingly, the Afros were the only things unifying the collection comprised of everything but the kitchen sink (Davy Crockett fur, American Indian accessories, military looks, hippie, club kid, etc.).

Alexander McQueen called his show Plato's Atlantis. With hair sculpted into reptilian fins, models walked by in oversize platformed shoes that looked like heads-scary in more ways than one (you could probably break an ankle in those things). Reptilian patterns, scales and otherworldly silhouettes brought home the idea that we all came from ancient creatures of the deep.

It was a chainsaw massacre at Viktor & Rolf. Paying homage to the economy, the duo took a chainsaw to tulle gowns, cocktail gowns and jackets. To be fair, you expect this sort of thing from these fashion pranksters. These guys have been poking fun at the industry for years (and laughing all the way to the bank).

In recent years celebrities popped out fashion lines nearly every time you turned around. And every luxury brand seemed to have a movie star in its ad campaign. Then the recession came along and suddenly a lot of those lines folded and fashion campaign deals went to the models. But could the tide be changing yet again? It looks like some celebrities are turning back toward collaborations with high-end brands. At Paris Fashion Week Lindsay Lohan unveiled her new fashion collaboration with Ungaro. Lohan already has her own leggings line, 6126 and was announced as the new creative director of the fashion house three weeks ago. She has since been working with head designer Estrella Archs on the quickie collection and the two ended the show by strolling out onto the catwalk together. So far the reviews of the 1980s-inspired line have been less than kind. WWD called it "cheesy and dated" and others took issue with the lines use of sequined heart pasties used not just to cover nipples but as forehead adornment. Neon colors, harem pants and shoulder-baring tops recalled the very worst of 1980s fashion. Earlier this year, my colleague Kristin Taylor Young questioned whether or not celebrity designs made a mockery of fashion, clearly in this case many people think the answer is yes.

Lohan might not be the only one to step into high fashion. Today the Daily Mail reported that Sarah Jessica Parker may be the new face of Halston. Sarah Jessica Parker also had a clothing line "Bitten" which has shut down. She may front the Spring 2010 campaign for US fashion label Halston with the ads set to appear around the time "Sex and the City 2" opens. Parker's design chops are a little more advanced than Lohan's so if she decides to step back into the design studio hopefully the results will be a bit more promising.