Pink rubber at Paule Ka

Geri Halliwell and company might have been the first to promote the virtues of "girl power" back in the early '90s but in 2009 Paule Ka's autumn-winter collection is all about woman power. Designer Serge Cajfinger celebrated next season's collection for the French brand at the Paule Ka flagship boutique in the heart of Paris with a graphically bold line and a strong and clear message. Assertive femininity, here is not to be mistaken for aggressive femininity. As I'm sure Ms Halliwell found out.

From suits to skirts, long cardigans to quilted coats, classic silhouettes were radically re-invented. "Clothes to live in and clothes to love in," is how Cajfinger put it. The designer had been hugely influenced by Grace Jones and Bianca Jagger.

The collection features show pieces like a coat that pumps up the volume in rectangular form, hiked-up skirts with ruffled drapes, bloomers tucked into thigh-boots, as well as transparent silk trousers, shorts and skirts.

Individually the pieces all stood out but the total silhouettes were outstanding: woollen jacket over a flesh-coloured latex skirt, a puffy tweed coat over a man's shirt and an XXL cardigan in boiled wool and sexy high peep-toe boots in exotic python.

The Paule Ka classic bag, "Cabas Ka" was also featured for autumn-winter '09-'10, but this time in its simplest form. Gold, ebony and beige grained calfskin for the purest possible structure. No ego, no logo, the bags even had invisible fasteners.

Other accessories included slick headbands that made a fun statement in satin, silk, tweed and embroidered with sequins as well as extra long furry gloves (that also double up as great hands for that gorilla outfit come October 31st). Or maybe you're more of a pink rubber gloves kinda gal? Whether you're doing the dishes or attending fancy dress parties there's a pair for most women.

Seriously though, although there were no models present the presentation was really effective. "The idea was to create a gallery effect within the boutique," commented Paule Ka's communications manager during the showcase.

"With the big fashion show, the guests don't really get a chance to soak up all the silhouettes," he added.