It is Lagerfeld, with his seemingly unquenchable energy, who has consistently raised the bar for fashion shows, not only creating ever-larger visual spectacles but also adding more to the calendar, such as Chanel's Métiers d'Art - an annual tribute to the rich craftsmanship of the house held in a different city each autumn - and the travelling cruise shows such as that held in Seoul in May. Now other houses have followed suit, to the extent that there is scarcely a month when journalists are not required to travel around the world to an exotic destination to see a single, lavish, publicity-generating fashion show. Asked whether he feels this proliferation of activity - with the accompanying demands on designers to create more and more - is a force for the good, his answer is emphatic.