Now in their second season of working together at Nina Ricci, designer Harris Reed and stylist Carine Roitfeld are having a rockin’ good time.

A video of the two headbanging to David Bowie, as DJ Michel Gaubert sits between them looking comically deflated, went viral on Instagram moments after the French brand’s spring collection bowed at the Sorbonne university in Paris.

Reed found his groove this season with a mashup of polished glamor and bohemian rock attitude – think Paris chic meets Los Angeles swagger. On his mood board were images of a coolly dishevelled Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg lounging on a bed, or David Bowie in a glittering leopard print jumpsuit.

His looks came straight out of a fantasy dressing-up box: Ricci’s signature polka dots were mixed with metallic jacquards, tortoiseshell sequins and acid-hued python prints. Model Colin Jones channeled Jimi Hendrix in a patchwork pea coat, and you could picture Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler in the silky robes, flared pants and trailing scarves.

Reed’s personal style is a more streamlined version of boho chic, and there was some of that too, like a sharp black pantsuit worn barechested with oodles of heavy beads.

The designer has come a long way since his studious, early interpretations of Ricci’s Jolie Madame style. Roitfeld has pushed him in a more sensual direction, reflected this season in peak-shouldered jackets and lingerie-inspired silk skirts, accessorized with knee-high python boots with sculptural wedge heels.

Also new this season was Reed’s first handbag for the label, the Grand Bal, a paneled leather style that will launch next month at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City.

Speaking at his pre-show fitting, Reed said bias-cut dresses have sold out on the brand’s web site and at Saks, so he let go of some his more theatrical volumes. “Everyone was laughing when we got here, like, ‘Oh, the racks aren’t as exploding as they were before.’ They were not getting hit in the face by bow tops,” he said.

Ashley Graham showed off one of the black silk slipdresses, spliced with diagonal panels of polka dot chiffon and lace, with an oversized bomber jacket worn off the shoulder like an opera coat. As they took their final runway lap, models shook their tousled beach waves to the Janis Joplin soundtrack. Maybe they also needed a good release.