As physical fashion shows returned for the latest womenswear season in Paris, designers forged more direct connections with the general public than ever before, opening the doors of the traditionally insular and closed-off fashion industry to the street. Live from Paris, content editor Calum Knight and features editor Hetty Mahlich break down the key S/S 22 shows, unpacking the new fashion for democracy.

Fashion upped the ante as a form of entertainment, even parodying itself at times. Balmain staged a music festival to mark Olivier Rousteing's 10 year stint, Pierpaolo Piccioli's Valentino troupe took their final bow in front of café goers in Paris, and Balenciaga stole the show with a red carpet moment and an episode of The Simpsons.

Elsewhere in luxury, designers returned to focus on the past, marking moments of consolidation before moving towards the future. Raf Simons presented a childhood ideal of gender-free dressing, whilst the Ann Demeulemeester design team looked to the brand's staples in androgynous tailoring, and Miu Miu led show-goers to reminisce over S/S 00 and the now discontinued men's line.

Other brands focused on taking the wearer on a journey into a new world. Maria Grazia Chiuri took Christian Dior a step in the right direction with 1960's-infused a-line silhouettes, Loewe's Jonathan Anderson got 'Completely Hysterical', Matthew M. Williams established a modern elegance with his first Givenchy show with an audience, and Rick Owens made a considered proposal of what our re-entry into life might look like through clothing.

Live Review Round-Up: Paris S/S 22 Womenswear