Hong Kong, June 9 -- Extravagant, theatrical shows on enormous sets inside the French capital's Grand Palais became synonymous with the luxury label during the long reign ofGerman designer Karl Lagerfeld, who died last year. But his discreet successor Viard, the Kaiser's longtime righthand woman, said recreating almost life-sized space rockets, jumbo jets, river gorges, Eiffel Towers, and even complete Alpine villages with snow and ski slopes were not her thing.

"I have never been a fan of pharaonic shows, even if they were great with Karl," she told the French daily, 'Le Figaro'. "Sometimes he would ask me, 'Is it too much?' and I would reply, 'For you it is great, but I dream of a little show,''' Viard added. Even so, she said that cor...