BEST: Masters Of The Runway

Valentino, 74, has dressed Hollywood stars from Sophia Loren to Gwyneth Paltrow. For 2007, he says, "a new vision of effortless luxury has come of age." At left, a model wears a lacy lavender gown at Valentino's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 4, 2006.

A model shows a lace-and-satin slip dress for Valentino's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear collection in Paris, Oct. 4, 2006.

At 68, Karl Lagerfeld is a grand old man of the Paris fashion scene, but he's still got what it takes. He drew applause for a fresh collection of mini-dresses worn with tights embroidered with big flowers. At left, a model wears a short black dress at Lagerfeld's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 4, 2006.

A model wears a white mini-dress for designer Karl Lagerfeld's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 4, 2006.

A model wears a leather mini-mini version of Lagerfeld's Spring/Summer 2007 look at his ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 4, 2006.

Jean Paul Gaultier looms large in our selection of the Worst of Paris 2007. (See below.) But evening gowns in denim or sailor-striped cotton? Give him points for a cool idea. At left, two models walk the runway during Gaultier's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

Here are some more good things from Gaultier. Models cross paths on the runway in bright jersey outfits by Jean Paul Gaultier during his Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris on Oct. 3, 2006.

Still hip after all these years. A model wears a casual outfit by French designers Marithe & Francois Girbaud during the Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear collections in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

Another of Marithe & Francois Girbaud's trademark skinny-jean chic look is shown at the French designers' Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris on Oct. 3, 2006.

Vivienne Westwood is the reigning goddess of British fashion, but her runway shows are usually good for laughs, too. (See Worst, below.) At her best, she turns out gowns like this one, worn by a model at Westwood's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

See what we mean? If you lose the pink wig and the cowboy hat, this is a great little dress. A model walks the runway for British designer Vivienne Westwood during her Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

In the recent past -- last spring in fact -- British designer John Galliano won stares of outrage and snorts of laughter (at least from us) with his over-the-top creations for the venerable House of Dior. Now he's pulled himself together and gone straight for beautiful. A model wears a short dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior during his Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

A model wears a short embroidered dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior during his Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

A model wears a short draped dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior during his Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

If you can overlook the ghoulish makeup, this model looks great in a dress for Issey Miyake by Naoki Takizawa during the label's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

This model should have combed her hair before she walked out in this black dress for Issey Miyake by Naoki Takizawa, shown during the Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear collections in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

More Halloween makeup, but a good dress for Issey Miyake by Naoki Takizawa, shown during the Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear collections in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.

A model pauses on the runway in an embroidered print dress by French designer Stephane Rolland for Jean-Louis Scherrer during Rolland's Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in Paris, Oct. 3, 2006.