Panthers opened the Givenchy show over the weekend. Not since the spring 2010 Miu Miu show have felines had such a spectacular showing on the Paris runways. Their gazes pierced the audience from skirts, sweatshirts, and dresses, offset by sheer panels — the perfect complement to the ferocious dog prints from designer Riccardo Tisci's fall 2011 men's show for the label. It must be some kind of rule in fashion that whatever you wore when you were eight and didn't care, like animal-printed souvenir sweatshirts from the log-cabin gift shop at a national park, will end up on the runways eventually (biker shorts have already had their moment).

Some Givenchy models prowled the runway in cat-eared hats, with that hungry look in their eye (famously transgender model Lea T was in the cast). Times critic Cathy Horyn found the collection "clever" and "enjoyable to watch" but thought it lacked direction. Tisci is rumored to be among the front-runners to replace John Galliano at Christian Dior, so his every move is worth watching. There was also an after-party, with Nicole Richie among the famous faces in attendance. But the most important thing here obviously are the CATS, which fashion continues to prove are so cool they should be worn — not carried in purses like five-week-old hand cream.

See a complete slideshow of the fall 2011 Givenchy collection.

Catty Women at Givenchy [On the Runway/NYT]
Givenchy autumn/winter 2011 at Paris Fashion Week [Telegraph UK]