With love from Chanel

At 11.30am, there is really no excuse for such pink eyes. But rather than a dearth of sleep, the models at Chanel's couture show owed their fuchsia eyelids to an overzealous make-up artist. Most of us would have looked like rabbits - the world's most beautiful women carried it off with aplomb.

First on the catwalk was model of the moment Natalia Vodnovova, her hair piled up in coils and sprigged with flowers. She modelled a cream bouclè coat with arms so tight you would be hard-pressed to wear anything underneath it.

Elsewhere in the show, there was more volume. Drop-waisted dresses flared out into box-pleated skirts, while pearls the size of snooker balls were piled around the neck.

The evening wear drew gasps of awe. After the success of Chanel's pale pink column dress worn by Nicole Kidman at last year's Oscars, designer Karl Lagerfeld stuck with the same colour. Strapless ball dresses with tight bodices cascaded into froths of tulle. The look was highly romantic, and is sure to have Hollywood's A-list clamouring to be dressed by Chanel come March.

For the finale, Karolina Kurkova wore a ball dress made entirely from tiny chiffon flowers which undulated gently with every stride.