PARIS — She may sing Please Don’t Stop The Music, but the music at the Balmain show had well and truly stopped when seven-time Grammy Award-winner Rihanna sneaked in the back door, after everyone had left. That is, apart from a handful of people.

The singer, who had plum lips and wore a revealingly plunging terre verte belted Balmain jacket without a bra, arrived at Paris’ Hotel de Ville with heavy security, and was greeted by friend and designer Olivier Rousteign, who hugged her and gushed: “She’s the hottest girl in the world.”

The well-dressed Barbadian superstar has her eyes set on the fashion industry — and not just as the face of Balmain.

When asked if she was here to get inspiration for her own brand, she hinted she’s attending Paris Fashion Week to get ideas.

“I love Balmain and can be inspired by (Rousteign’s) clothes. I’m inspired by everything here (in Paris),” she told The Associated Press, her only comments before being whisked away.

Rihanna is no stranger to the industry: she’s created collections for two fashion labels before for Armani in 2011, and for high-street brand River Island. She may hope to tread a path similar to rapper Kanye West, who now has his own fashion brand, shows in Paris and is a regular attendee at runway shows.

BALMAIN SAYS ‘L’AFRIQUE, C’EST CHIC’

Zebra stripes, leopard print, beaded jackets mixed with khaki colors, flak pockets and safari pants.

Yes, this was Africa — at least, Balmain’s opulent and decadent version of it.

And the exotic musing helped Rousteign produce a subtler collection than usual.

The brashness was still there of course in a citrus yellow fleece sweater or in the waists which were cinched to within an inch of life.

But the fall-winter collection saw some of the best looks seen so far this season, like a petrol blue knotted rope sheath with a regal-feel twinned with beige cuffs that resembled African bracelets.
L’afrique, c’est chic!

RIHANNA UPSTAGES CATHERINE DENEUVE

Rihanna caused a media scrum as she entered the Lanvin show in a beige trilby hat.

With the sort of fame the it-pop star possesses, it’s inevitable that even the most iconic of vintage stars will be upstaged.

This was the case with Catherine Deneuve, a main fixture at Paris Fashion Week, who looked nonplussed in her front row seat as people busied around the singer.

One thing’s certain: the “Belle de Jour” star won’t be too bothered, since at 70, she’s seen it all before.