Paris catwalk dazzles as Balmain leads charge of flash brigade

Paris fashion got flashy Friday with an explosion of retina-burning reflective fabrics hitting the catwalk expressly designed to light up the red carpet. Three days before the biggest glitz fest of the year at the Oscars, Balmain took bling to the edge of space with mirrored and hologram trouser suits that caught every photon in the room.