Standing room only after fashion front row collapses

They are the slimmest, most stylish men and women in the world.

But as they took their places in the front row at Paris fashion week today, the powerbrokers of haute couture were sent flying when three benches collapsed under them.

Guests including American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, former editor of French Vogue Carine Roitfeld and photgrapher Mario Testino hit the floor as black plastic benches buckled at the Balenciaga show and they were forced to stand to watch it.

The commotion triggered an immediate response on social networking site Twitter. One poster called ForTheYoungDude tweeted: "Benches collapsing at the Balenciaga show. As if fashion folk didn't have enough weight complexes already."

And Cathy Horyn, fashion critic of the New York Times, tweeted: "Benches cracking at Balenciaga as guests leap up. A second one just carted off. Now a third broke and nervous buzz starts, as in 'Me next?'"

Grace Coddington, Ms Wintour's right-hand woman and star of the fashion documentary The September Issue, and actresses Salma Hayek, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Catherine Deneuve were among those to lose their seats. However, one onlooker was impressed with the elegance of Carine Roitfeld.

She said: "Carine slipped as the bench begin to bend but she didn't fall on the floor - she's far too graceful for that."

Despite the disruption, Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquiere, who has dressed Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue, lived up to all expectations.

The highly innovative collection featured sculptural dresses, overcoats and thigh-skimming knickers. The palette - autumnal in tone - featured hues of gold, deep claret and grey.

Sleeveless white blouses played a key role while wimple hats with wide brims were worn by models in mid-length printed gowns.

Even though everyone was forced to their feet early on, there is no doubt there would have been a standing ovation anyway.