Armed with a battalion of celebrity ambassadors, L’Oréal took over the historic Paris Mint building to stage a Paris Fashion Week extravaganza. Offerings from Elie Saab, who went 1970s, and Vivienne Westwood, who stylishly towed a line between ethnic and punk, made for a frenetic pace of shows on Saturday, September 28. Here are some highlights of the day’s spring-summer 2020 ready-to-wear displays: L’Oréal goes to the Mint L’Oréal celebrated female empowerment at its third fashion show, which featured actresses Helen Mirren, Andie MacDowell and Eva Longoria giving turns as models, and was broadcast to more than 40 countries. View this post on Instagram An iconic end to an iconic week. L'Oréal Paris family gathered together for Le Défilé in the heart of Paris! . . . @liyakebede @thelumagrothe @evalongoria @andiemacdowell @soojmooj @ajanaomi_king @duckieofficial @mariebochet @helenmirren @aishwaryaraibachchan_arb @amberheard @camila_cabello @doutzen @stephanelancien @thevalgarland #LOREALPFW #LOrealParis #pfw A post shared by L'Oréal Paris Makeup (@lorealmakeup) on Sep 28, 2019 at 2:30pm PDT The French cosmetic giant’s display was less ambitious than last year’s edition, which took place on the Seine river, or the one staged in the centre of the Champs-Élysées that literally stopped traffic in 2017. Nonetheless, Mirren, Longoria, MacDowell and Dutch model Doutzen Kroes energised spectators at the evening show, joining Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and American model and actress Amber Heard and others to showcase a collection of carefully crafted looks. Paris Fashion Week: What did Anna Wintour see from the front row at Chloe? Whatever the styles lacked in unity – they harked from diverse design houses that included AMI, Balmain, Dries Van Noten, Elie Saab and Giambattista Valli – they made up in razzmatazz. A strong-shouldered tuxedo mixed with a ’70s jabot collar shirt on Mirren and contrasted with more feminine styles, such as a trapeze-shaped, shoulder-less coral gown or the dazzling pearl-hued ruched number Longoria wore. The L’Oréal brand’s cachet in make-up could not go unnoticed. Kroes and other models were made to look nymphlike, thanks to make-up director Val Garland and hair baron Stephane Lancien. Petite Cabello was in a self-deprecating mood ahead of her catwalk showing. “Do you guys know you’re talking to a model? The shortest model that ever walked the runway,” she said. The modelling turn also brought out the jitters in Desperate Housewives star Longoria, who confessed, “It terrifies me. This is not my comfort zone. I’m not a runway model – full disclosure.” View this post on Instagram Glamor and chic with Paris front and center. With the #PFW coming to an end, we gathered our diverse catwalk squad at an iconic venue to celebrate beauty, fashion and L'Oréal Paris Le Défilé. . . . @evalongoria @aishwaryaraibachchan_arb @amberheard #LOREALPFW #LOrealParis A post shared by L'Oréal Paris Makeup (@lorealmakeup) on Sep 29, 2019 at 11:42am PDT 7 more things we learned from Paris Fashion Week so far MacDowell, meanwhile, praised the brand’s inclusive ethos. “Last year was the first time I had been on the runway since my twenties, and I started modelling in Paris. So it’s full circle for me to be back,” the 61-year-old Green Card actress said. “I think (it’s) really interesting to represent mature women and to show that we’re still fashionable and we can do it just like anybody,” she added. Elie Saab channels the 1970s A vivid red screen flanked the Elie Saab runway inside the grounds of a Paris institution, the Michelin three-star restaurant Alleno Paris at the Pavillon Ledoyen. The Lebanese designer got decorative and turned the style dial firmly back to the 1970s. Small circles were a key theme. The circles, at times, appeared controlled, such as the tiny perforated eyelets on a sporty white mini dress with long tassels. Later, the theme had a boho vibe: a petite sunflower print adorned a floor-length black gown worn by a model styled with her hair in an Afro. View this post on Instagram Relive the ELIE SAAB Ready-to-Wear Spring Summer 2020 Collection through glimpses of the show #ELIESAABRTWSS20 A post shared by ELIE SAAB (@eliesaabworld) on Sep 29, 2019 at 1:28am PDT A silk gown in rich electric blue had a looser-than-normal silhouette and a waist that was tight without being cinched. Thick banding led the eye down to a sumptuous full skirt that gently grazed the floor. The collection indicated that Saab, who found fame with va-va-voom cinched-waist looks, seems to be moving out of his comfort zone. And it’s paying dividends. New York Fashion Week: Zendaya and Tommy Hilfiger’s 1970s collection Hermès’ pared-down style Minimalism with a hint of equestrian-style utilitarianism. That was the simple formula deployed with style in French designer Nadege Vanhee-Cybulski’s spring collection for Hermès. Reports that Hermès’ women’s wear is overtaking its men’s wear sales momentum has added scrutiny to Vanhee-Cybulski’s discreet designs that split fashion critics into two camps. Some welcome the slight geometry and attention to the famed Hermès house codes that she has brought since taking over in 2014. Others see the sometimes austere, minimalist designs as an unwelcome direction for the powerhouse synonymous with luxuriance. In Saturday’s (September 28) well-executed show, a fine geometry defined the silhouette: be it in a sporty graphic vest, or a dolphin-grey sweater with Asian-style arms and angular banding at the waist. But cinnamon-coloured segmented leather looks were the 55-piece collection’s best. They toed the line, in a sort of compromise, between the two camps of critics: Shimmering crisply with elegance while remaining understated. What went down at Rihanna’s sexy Savage X Fenty lingerie show? Westwood’s high-punk priestess Designer Andreas Kronthaler merged his signature urban punk with fresh tribal styles for the Vivienne Westwood show set amid dark brooding light. The mood seemed to suit Kronthaler: it resulted in a spring collection that moved the house of Westwood in a welcome, more focused direction. A gargantuan pointed hat – part high priestess, part Marie Antoinette – was paired with a bathing suit bodice, a great detail that set the tone for a display of quirky contrasts. Ethnic jewellery abounded along with knee-high soccer socks. A pale silver headdress billowed fabric ribbons that nestled eccentrically on a pair of loose culottes. A chequered pattern on loose or gathered skirts cut a fine contrast with a metallic blue double-breasted jacket that had the gigantic round shoulders and glimmer of the 1980s. Amy Serafin contributed to this report. Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .