Although Ms Herrera’s hunting inspiration appeared to be more Bavarian forest than the French woods, there was no mistaking the sound of a hunting horn on the music track, the autumnal shades, the velvet and leather breeches, which were tucked into curious two-in-one boots (canvas inside leather), the flecked tweed suits and the windowpane check coats and cloaks beloved of the countrywoman, all accessorized with jaunty felt fedora from which sprouted pheasant feathers up to four feet long.

Tally ho! Hunting attire stole the show at Carolina Herrera

The woodland theme was echoed in the bird-print silk dresses, blouses and scarves which trailed from the models’ hair. Flashes of brilliant colour sharpened the olive-brown-rust palette, such as acid yellow velvet riding britches with a fur-trimmed tweed spencer or an orange and silver brocade frock-coat and yellow brocade waistcoat with chocolate velvet jodhpurs.

Ostrich feathers and ribbons of silk organza were woven into many of the flecked tweed jackets, while partridge and pheasant feathers decorated the necklines of long, orange silk jersey and rust georgette dinner dresses or were entwined in the bow which adorned the hip of a beige taffeta ballgown.

A quirky mix led to the juxtaposition of a tweedy, fitted jacket and a long, velvet fishtail skirt which grazed the floor, or a fox-trimmed tweed vest with a ball-gown skirt in silk gazar. Charming – but first buy your hunting lodge!