Decoding Fashion Show Invitations

Invitations to the shows in Milan and Paris can be very funny. This season I've noticed they're either gimmicky or grim--as in plain black. In Milan, Moschino sent out a Rubik's cube (my 9-year-old son will be thrilled) complete with the brand's famous icons--a big red heart and blue sky with clouds. For her Paris show, Stella McCartney usually attaches a funny kid's toy to her invitation. Last season it was a mini music box. This season she features a light up yo-yo (again, my 9-year-old son will be beyond thrilled). Stella now has three kids so the fascination with witty little toys makes sense. In some cases the invitation provides a clue to the theme of the show. Jean Paul Gaultier's invitation just arrived and it's a pair of black fishnet stockings tied up in a hair elastic. Martin Margiela's invitation is like a lottery ticket: you have to scratch off the blanked out part to get the address and time of his show.