If there was ever a man to convince us of the desirability of furry monkey-arm warmers, then Nicholas Ghesquière would be that man.

In the latest round of presentations - this time Pre-Fall 2009 - Ghesquière gave us a hint of a fresh new look for Balenciaga. His last show was a rather clingy affair, but this time the designer presented us with slouchy fit pants that were a little bit jodhpur, a little bit menswear and seriously chic. A black peplumed cocktail dress harked back to the Cristobal days of the house, and a panelled black and white fur coat loudly proclaimed it's destiny on the back of at least one member of the French Vogue team for sure. Confirming platform ankle boots are to remain at the top of fashion's must-have list for the upcoming Autumn, (thankfully - nothing like a high and chunky platform to elevate you out of puddles) Ghesquière also elegantly proved that a palette of mostly grey and black can be wickedly exciting.