As couture shows open, Paris steps up with message: The City of Light is safe

London

IT IS known as the City of Light. But a shadow has been cast over Paris, where some of the wealthiest women in the world have arrived for the start of the January couture shows.

Instead of swanning freely into the arching halls of the Grand Palais and other local landmarks where the lavish défilés are held, most will be forced to open their handbags, doff their furs and regularly submit to full body-wand checks at almost every event as part of stringent new security measures.