Seriously sexy at Yves Saint Laurent

Razor-sharp tailoring versus playful big bows, sturdy fabrics versus ultra-fine silks: designer Stefano Pilati walked a line between stern and sexy with his summer look for Yves Saint Laurent on Monday.

Top model Claudia Schiffer and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood were among the celebrities in the event that took place under the ornate ceilings of a private Paris mansion as the venerable house unveiled its ready-to-wear look for summer 2011.

Giant bows sat at the nape or across the back, there were reefer jackets and jumpsuits, brut fabrics and see-through mousselines as Pilati reworked several of the late couturier's classic motifs. Saint Laurent's classic colours - black, white, sand - also ruled the palette, along with touches of rich orange or bronze green, for a look that was both sensual and slightly austere. Lips glossed carmine red and hair scraped back into tight chignons, the models strode confidently between the mansion's opulent salons, in platform shoes and office-ready sleeveless skirt-and-jacket suits in black or white.

Bouncy, frilled skirts came in magenta, blue and orange on black, while a deep orange blouse had bouffant sleeves and a see-thru panel across the shoulders, offsetting a black A-line skirt and wedge shoes. AFP