A Collection from Couture Winter 2012 in Paris PARIS - From Russia, with love and fairy tales Russian women have been categorized in the fashion world as party girls with short skirts and deep pockets. But a different, nobler view of her fellow countrywomen was sent out by Ulyana Sergeenko . In her first couture show, the Russian designer drew inspiration from the history and fairy tales of her native country and also its history of crafts. The tailoring had a military vibe - but one that came from toy soldiers rather than Russia's bloody history. Scarlet buttonholes on a floor-sweeping coat, gilded buttons on a cape, frogging decoration and fur helmets were deftly done, as was a bag with a carved wood frame. By dipping into the folklore world of peasants and soldiers, rather than czars, Ms. Sergeenko produced appealing day clothes, like knitted sweaters with full skirts, and gave her show a sweet freshness. Suzy Menkes When furs become summer wear Next month Revillon will open a store in Avenue Montaigne to provide a showcase for a company with a heritage of furs. But the designer Andrew Heather was looking even further forward - to next summer - with the collection he previewed during the couture season. And his aim was to use unexpected furs in a lighthanded way. The most surprising was kangaroo skin, mercury-colored and double-faced, like a soft leather. But there were also mixes of civet, mink, fox and goat that had applications of a shading technique or were appliquéd on tulle. Small tufts of fur decorated lace dresses, including a vibrant shade of peony pink. Another pirouette at Worth The corset of a ballerina kind has marked the delicate steps forward of the slumbering Worth Couture - at least for its recent presentations to the press. The designer Giovanni Bedin took the corset once again as the starting point for a shapely tail coat that grew down into a long robe. Then he added frills as turbulent as surf on a stormy sea. Frills rippled around the thighs, cascading down pant legs or rolled over the inside of the fishtail jacket. The brief collection was played out in shades of white, grey and black. But what is the point of turning a show on one single idea and image? It looks as though the House of Worth needs to push forward its vision to make a statement that speaks for the brand.