Michael Lo Sordo dreams of Paris, but like many fashion designers he is yet to conquer the world's style capital. His dream edged a little closer to reality when he took part in Australian Designers Abroad, a new initiative aimed at promoting Australian fashion design talent during Paris Fashion Week.

Indeed, in many ways Fashion Week told a tale of brands eschewing the escapism normally associated with couture, opting instead to connect it to the real world. At varying levels and degrees of success.