SINGAPORE - They surreptitiously appeared on fashion runways early last year. First, gloss-slicked and salmon pink at Dries Van Noten, then lined in silver and gold at Ferragamo and Vivienne Westwood.

Then, at this year's Spring/Summer shows in Paris Fashion Week, the colours became bolder and more unapologetic. Swathes of crimson red or fiery orange - sometimes wet and glistening and, other times, matte.