The latest craze to sweep fashion-conscious Paris is cross-dressing – at least among the political class. As the most attractive candidates for next year’s presidential elections strut their stuff down the political catwalks, they have been busily stealing each other’s clothes.

Ségolène Royal, glamorous would-be candidate of the Socialist party, has been trying out a traditional rightwing number with her tough talk on law and order. Nicolas Sarkozy, the centre-right UMP’s super-smooth model, has been cutting a dash in his socially inclusive gladrags – although thankfully he has stopped short of sporting Ms Royal’s turquoise bikini.