Photographed by Gabriel Karanfil

PARIS, October, 5, 2005 - It’s hard to imagine what the pre-show music, “Suicide is painless” from M*A*S*H, had to do with the succinct, paired-down and risk-free collection that Andrew GN sent down the runway for Summer 2006. Black gabardine and white crêpe, subtly wrapped with bands of shimmering appliqué, made for an interesting opening sequence.

Pineapple motif’s were worked into vests , and a Sonia Rykiel-ish style cabbage was placed in the cleavage of spaghetti strap dress, but that was about as daring as it got. Hamish Bowles, US Vogue’s European Editor, and Virginie Mouzat, Le Figaro’s chief fashion editor, sat opposite each other on the front row, the latter busily sketching away.

Halfway through the show, the black and white palette broke into a prisms of emerald, sky-blue, chartreuse and multicolor prints. Dresses were sprinkled with polka dots and skirts constructed of tiers of ruffles.

Evening wear glazed in sequins seemed destined for some sulty summer soirée.

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