John Galliano was inspired by Dutch Master painters and the colors and texture of Dutch pottery and tapestries for Christian Dior’s Spring 2009 Couture collection.  The couture collection showed no signs of the recession and Monsieur Galliano did not have a budget to keep in mind while creating.  Really, do couture and budget even belong in the same sentence?  When asked to comment on the state of the economy, Galliano stated:

Of course I’m sensitive to the economy. Of course I’m aware of it. I read the newspapers; I watch TV,” he said Sunday. “But [dealing with it] is not my job. My job is to do the best I can to show the possibilities of Dior. When you’re standing in a hurricane, you have to keep your feet firmly on the ground. If you panic, whew…you fly away.

Christian Dior’s “New Look” also was definitely a reference especially with dramatic waistlines. I also loved the voluminous, architectural sweeps and oh, the hats with elaborate plumage! Read the full story to see more photos and a bit of the inspiration behind the collection.

I’m a giant fan of Alexis Mabille, the man behind the Treizeor, famous for his fabulous bows.  His couture collection was very clean and simple and his program notes said it all:  “Let’s not be bothered with over-designed clothes.”  I’m a fan of simpicity and loved his color palette of red, purple, white and black (some of my favorite colors!).  Two standouts for me were the high-waisted trousers and the white wedding gown paired with a black veil.  I also loved the hair, which was inspired by a painting by Diego Rivera. Alexis Mabille is one of my favorite new designers and I can’t wait to see how he develops his line.

Source