IF the luxury-goods market is in trouble then nobody told the Parisians, who are opening new stores like we're all Beckhams. Parties have been held to celebrate the new Gucci store (avenue Montaigne), two new Gaultier stores (rue Vivienne, avenue Georges V) and six new Sonia Rykiel stores (including rue de Grenelle, rue de Saint Peres).

Who would have thought demand for stripy knitwear would be so high this season? Wasn't that last year?

Shop openings apart, though, there is no greater indicator of economic prosperity than the fashion-show freebie.

While Milan threw up unusually scant pickings, fashion editors were surprised to find two delicious, ribbon-tied boxes in their hotel rooms last weekend: one from Chloe, the other from Louis Vuitton. I am hard-pressed to decide which will be the bag of the new season (translation: loath to risk offending either generous party in the future), as both have different strengths.

Vuitton's is cutest with its rainbow monogram - a collaboration with cult Japanese artist Takashi Murakami - but Chloe's is more functional. Who else but a woman would have the idea of dividing a bag into different compartments for all your different junk? Well done, Phoebe Philo.