YESTERDAY in Paris, St Patrick's Day was officially postponed for 24-hours - anxious to accommodate focal business and political interests, the Irish embassy will instead host its customary reception tonight. But for those who couldn't wait, it was possible to celebrate the national day in an alternative fashion, with Finglas-born designer Peter O'Brien.
Currently head of the house of Rochas, O'Brien last night staged a special St Patrick's Day-theme fashion show in the newest and smartest venue in Paris - the Hotel Costes on Rue St Honore.
"Rather than give the usual big show for 600 or 700 people I wanted to do something cosy and special because of the day," was the designer's explanation for this venture.
The past week has seen dozens of fashion shows staged daily in Paris as part of the autumn/winter pret-a-porter collections. However, the majority of these take place in large, anonymous locations rather than hotel dining suites.
And while Rochas may be one of France's most distinguished labels, yesterday it temporarily acquired a distinctly Hibernian character. Invitations to the show - a mere 130 guests had the privilege - arrived in envelopes replete with silk shamrocks and quotations from Oscar Wilde.
Among the fortunate recipients were the Irish Ambassador, Mr Patrick O'Connor, his wife, Patricia, and the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins. Like everyone else present, he got a jewelled shamrock brooch from Rochas to wear during the show.
Instead of the customary rock music, the clothes (or "frocks" as Peter O'Brien prefers to call them) were shown to the accompaniment of traditional Irish music, although, admittedly, this was played by an all-French group called Broken String.
Every one of the 33 taffeta, lace chenille and silk chiffon evening dresses created for the occasion were given Irish names, such as Aine, Queen Maeve and Lady Gregory; two were called Alice Delgarno and Babs De Monte after the late custodians of the Theatre Royal's Royalettes.
Just in case anyone had problem remembering the titles, Mr O'Brien thoughtfully left a complete portfolio of his drawings for the collection in each guest's place. Unlike the inspiration for the work, however, the models wearing the clothes were drawn from the international super league and included Naomi CampbeIl, Yasmin Le Boa and Nadja Auermann.
After the show, more music followed, together with a dinner "as Irish as the chefs here can make it", according to Mr O'Brien, who promised plenty of smoked salmon and whiskey.
Not only was this the most imaginative of the season's Paris collections but it also seems unlikely that tonight's reception at the Irish Embassy will be half as fashionable.