So, the calendar's four main fashion weeks are wrapped up for another season.

Autumn Winter 2010 has been an exciting run of collections, and while we've been watching intently to spot our favourite upcoming trends, we've got to admit our attention hasn't always been on the designers. At times we've had half an eye on the catwalk, and half an eye on that all-important hot seat of style, the front row.

Yes, sometimes the outfits in the audience can be just as compelling as the clothes on the runway (and a darn sight more wearable too). The star quality of their front row has become an unofficial measure of a designer's up-and-comingness, with magazines playing Spot the Celeb and numerous show late to start because one key attendee is yet to arrive - Grace Coddington reportedly walked in so late at Valentino that she was greeted by a chorus of boos from waiting photographers. Tsk tsk.

There's also plenty of gossip potential to be had in the seating arrangements, as movie stars and aristocrats bump knees with artists, editors, politicians and trustfund tweenies. We see the pictures and like to imagine the conversations - do Samantha Cameron and Pixie Geldof swap recipes over their Vitamin Waters? When did Beth Ditto and Bella Freud become mates? Just what were Jennifer Saunders and Melanie Blatt discussing at Betty Jackson? An All Saints/Ab Fab team-up? Oh, the intrigue. Oh, the possibilities.

And oh, oh, the clothes. Front rowers are an endless source of outfit inspiration, particularly useful when they act as translation guides for some of the looks coming down the catwalk. We'd still be lost as to how to work double denim if it wasn't for Alexa Chung's tireless tuition (mix stonewash with indigo, and voluminous shirts with skintight jeggings to avoid looking too much like a Van Halen tribute band on a dress down Friday). Meanwhile, Christopher Kane's floral leather dresses just make so much more sense when you can scan from the models to the benches and picture the whole look on Emma Watson.

Crucially, those front row photos are also important for demonstrating the cultural variations in the season's dressing. Or, to speak in snappy alliteration: Who Wore What, Where? Because while the same faces might pop up in every capital (that means you, Ms Chung), each city has its own defining look.

Here's our ShinyStyle lesson in fashion geography - pay attention, you may be tested on this next season:

London - "Anarchy in the UK"

The look: We're known for our scruffy breed of dressed-down glam, and this year the Brit pack didn't disappoint. Think visible roots in tousled hair, hulking statement shoes, lots of black, metallics, and a typically eclectic mix of leather, denim, lycra and lace.

The key outfit: Biker jacket, minidress, lame leggings and platforms, accessorised with a scarlet scowl.

The front-row faces: Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof, Daisy Lowe, Mischa Barton, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The secret weapon: Baptiste dry shampoo, for hair that says, "I haven't been home" (buy it here).

Paris - "Chirpy shirty chic chic"

The look: Gorgeous Gaelic nonchalance as only the French can do it (though the rest of us can try). Lots of crisp white tailoring and utility styles, with statement coats and long, glossy manes.

The key outfit: Cropped, slim-fit cargo pants, the perfect white t-shirt, fitted boyfriend blazer and classic stilettos, with a little furry something to keep out le chill.

The front-row faces: Vanessa Paradis, Lou Doillon Leigh Lezark, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.

The secret weapon: Vanish stain remover, to keep those shirts whiter-than-white (spillages are très Anglaise).

Milan - "La Dolce Vita, baby"

The look: Va-va-voom Italian insouciance, with animal prints, metallics, shots of vibrant colour and big, big hair. Belissima.

The key outfit: A cocktail dress in a sumptuous colour, leopard print coat, spindly heels, killer clutch and sunglasses.

The front row faces: Margherita Missoni, Lindsay Lohan, Zoe Saldana, Rachel Zoe.

The secret weapon: Lipstick. The bolder the better, preferably in a coral hue as a nod to the summer's beachy palette - check out these.

New York - "XOXO, Front Row..."

The look: Gossip Girl grows up. Impossibly glossy and impeccably groomed, with all emphasis on mixing textures and fabrics, with understated shapes and statement accessories.

The key outfit: Tulip skirt in a scrunch fabric, teamed with suede ankle boots, a silk blouse, a cropped jacket and a blowdry.

The front row faces: Olivia Palermo, Taylor Momsen, Whitney Port, the Olsen twins.

The secret weapon: Nail varnish in a fudgey colour, for on-trend Upper East Side talons. Find your perfect shade here.

Which fashion capital do YOU think had the style edge? Leave us your comments below.

Our co-bloggers at Catwalk Queen have been busy bringing you all the latest show reports from Haute Couture Week in Paris.

To keep you fully up-to-date on all the high fashion and celebrities hitting the front rows, here is the latest coverage:

• Chanel Fall 2009 - catwalk report and show video.

• Maison Martin Margiela Fall 2009 - catwalk report and photo gallery.

• Cate Blanchett, Megan Fox and Roisin Murphy on the front rows at Armani Prive and Givenchy.

• Christian Lacroix Fall 2009 - catwalk report and photo gallery.

We'll have more for you coming up!

From Catwalk Queen: Haute Couture Week is well underway in Paris, and yesterday it was the always-colourful John Galliano who unveiled his autumn/winter 2009 collection for Christian Dior. Moving his show to upstairs at the Dior flagship store, Galliano kindly reminded his models, including Chanel Iman, that "Mr Dior is watching" as they manoeuvred their way through the salons.

Elegant tailored suits, were mixed with bright Stephen Jones's hats, tulle ball gowns and loads of sheer bottoms which Carine Roitfeld previously featured in a shoot as part of her New Look revival in June's French Vogue. Bold shapes were also on the menu in strapless frocks, with the occasional corset and sexy suspender belt thrown in.

[Images: Coutorture]

We're already tiring of this Vivienne Westwood-Pamela Anderson thing. But check out video of the Fall 09 collection to see models other than Anderson.

Balmain puts some new twists on signature designs.

Stella McCartney does more of her beloved blazers, and oh yeah some other stuff.

Josep Font may not be the household name here in America that, say, Valentino is. But when I saw the look below, I knew I had to bring his haute couture collection to you.

The small, somewhat surreal collection was a bit of a mixed bag, with creativly whimiscal designs like the first few in our gallery featuring cute frothy touches and sweet silhouettes. Then there are what can only be described as the Marie Antoinette brides. Both Marie Antoinette and brides have been done better in couture collections by better known designers far too recently to attempt this aesthetic and not nail it.

I might not have loved everything that walked down Font's runway, I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye on him in the future.

Click the image below to start the gallery. [Images courtesy of Coutorture]

Catwalk Queen's Gemma Cartwright writes...

Jean Paul Gaultier's couture collection could have been a rehashing of one of his shows from almost twenty years ago.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing. The designer was arguably at the height of his career when Madonna wore his cone bra corset for her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour, and this collection paid homage to that era, with corseted pieces and lots of wide shoulders with nipped in waists. It was an almost exclusively greyscale palette, but that added to the drama. Think curly calligraphy on swathes of chiffon and organza, textured dresses with stiff skirts, and high-waisted matador trousers with braces...

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SHOW GALLERY [images: Coutorture]

Catwalk Queen's Gemma Cartwright writes...

Following the rather awkward departure of Alessandra Facchinetti from Valentino only two seasons after Valentino Garavani's retirement, new design team Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli had a lot to prove with their first couture show.

And prove it they did, sticking closely to the heritage of the label (probably aware that going against this was Facchinetti's downfall). This wasn't a particularly show-stopping collection, but it was safe, chic and beautiful. The trademark Valentino red was flanked by white, cream, chocolate and teal, plenty of that in satin, cut creatively or trimmed with feathers and jewels. Eschewing the shoulder-lead silhouette of other couture shows, this was more about the single-breasted coat, hitting the knee either in a swing shape or fastened at a high empire waist. Evening gowns were minimal without being boring, simple without being staid. Overall, a good debut, but we'll be expecting more wow factor next time...

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SHOW GALLERY [all images courtesy of Coutorture]

Catwalk Queen's Gemma Cartwright writes...

Riccardo Tisci's modern, conceptual vision for Givenchy is a million miles from what Hubert de Givenchy may have created in the fifites, but at the heart of his couture collection, there's the same attention to detail, quality of cut and shape and love of the female form. Tisci's trademarks were all there: grown up gothic touches on black gowns, space-age shoulders on suits and dresses, swirled seams and elegant drapes on everything else. But the collection was softer than what we saw from him in his most recent Ready to wear show. The colour palette was washed-out and pastel, punctuated only by yellow, black and a lilac-on-black floral print. Most exciting were the shorter dresses with one-shoulder capes, puffy chiffon trims and textured fabric mixes. Meanwhile, a black long-sleeved gown with a deep V and wide embellished shoulders is crying out for an Oscar night debut...

Be sure to check out who was in the front row, too!

Dita Von Teese and Mischa Barton celebrate Elie Saab's Spring 2009 Haute Couture collection with the designer. You can read about the confectionary collection at the link above. While we find Von Teese's hair and makeup a bit harsh, her black ensemble is perfection. Mischa Barton's short, one-sleeved gown and over-the-shoulder hairstyle looked most glamorous while seated on the runway, as you can see after the jump.

From Catwalk Queen's Kimberley Foster...

If you ask Karl Lagerfeld, white is definitely the new black. His couture catwalk for Chanel was awash with a whiter shade of pale yesterday, as couturiers battle to keep this art form alive. Wool skirts atop with box jackets gave the Chanel skirt suit a new identity, while oversized origami headdresses provided the necessary OTT (Over The Top) element. Inspired by the blank page, Lagerfeld's delicately cut designs often flashed with black in beads on bolero jackets and shiny waist belts.

[Photos by Francois Guillot/Getty Images via Coutorture]

Giorgio Armani's couture woman this season is dark and regal, dressed in black, red, purple and chartreuse with a hint of metallic. Her shoulders are big, her waist defined, and her fabrics risky - think leather and lace with heavy silk thrown in for good measure. The silhouette is reminiscent of the 80s doing the 40s. It's sharp and sleek, with most skirts hitting just below the knee and jackets fastening tightly at the natural waist. Evening gowns, as usual, are showstoppers, from a red one-shouldered number to plenty of opulent lace-trimmed black numbers that'll give Oscar attendees plenty to choose from.

[Via Catwalk Queen]

[images: Miquel Benitez/Rex Features & Sipa Press/Rex Features - Click to enlarge]

If you're about to sit front row at the Dior Couture show , it's a given that you'll wear (or borrow) some gorgeous Dior to wear while doing it. That's exactly what devoted Dior fan Dita Von Teese and clothes horse Mischa Barton did in Paris yesterday...

From Catwalk Queen's Kimberley Foster...

Ah, John Galliano. How I do love you. Despite the lack in expected editor attendance at Paris Couture Week, it doesn't appear to have bothered our designers. As you can see, Galliano hasn't scaled back his Haute Couture spring/summer '09 offering for Christian Dior, and I'd be surprised if others don't follow suit. Crinoline gowns in all shapes, sizes, and colours stormed the catwalk in Paris on Sunday. Adorned in beads and embroideries, each piece was inspired by Vemeer paintings and was paraded in front of a stained glass backdrop.

[Photos: Miquel Benitez/Nicolas Khayat/Enigma/Rex Features]

Karl Lagerfeld presented the Spring 2009 Chanel ready-to-wear collection on Friday with the usual fanfare, bringing 31 Rue Cambon to the Grand Palais. The color palette was somber and classic chanel - black and white with some soft pastels thrown in for good measure. Far from boring, this allowed the pieces themselves to shine, which they did.

I loved the details in these designs. The Chanel two-tone tights returned for another walk down the runway, but this time they are all black and split between opaque on the top and sheer on the bottom, with the line falling a few inches below the knee. And there were lots of chains attached to brooches, either at waist level to mimic a very high-end wallet chain or higher for a more jewelry feel. There were also shoes with feathers covering the heels, not too unlike the maribu versions like those meant to go with lingerie.

Check out the celebrity attendees in a Catwalk Queen Gallery here, and CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO START THE RUNWAY GALLERY.

There were more painterly florals in Paris, but Christian Lacroix paired them with bold and unexpected details in a 80s-esque color palette. There seems to be a trend sweeping the runways where the details - bows, flounces and accents - are bigger than the dress they're accenting and larger than life. The jury is out on whether or not the phenomenon distracts from the silhouette or is forging a new silhouette we'll all embrace in a couple seasons. But Lacroix did it most prettily with feminine colors both jewel-toned and pastel. He really brought the details we love from his haute couture line and infused them into this ready-to-wear collection.

Click the image below to view a gallery of looks!

[Images: Coutorture; Rex Features]