Christian Lacroix can usually be trusted to whip up a
kaleidoscopic color-storm for his ready-to-wear collections, but
for fall he held back and delivered a muted collection full of
black, bordeaux and bois de rose pink.  Judging from the German
cabaret music on the soundtrack, the designer's focus seems to
have shifted from the sunny south to the faded decadence of
northern Europe. Always a romantic though, Lacroix cut a
recurring silhouette with a full skirt and a tiny jacket—whether
a bolero or biker style—on top. He showed his taste for complex
textures, embellishment and print in a slew of lace, devore
velvet, ruching and patchwork, all done with an antiqued,
slightly distressed look.  The best moments of the collection
were the delicate pinks, the pretty sparkling tulle fairy
dresses and the canvas arts-and-crafts painting and embroidery
on the outside of a fur-lined coat and jacket.