According to Gaultier, his inspiration was a recent piece of popular culture. James Cameron’s latest film, Avitar, not only grossed $2 billion dollars, but it also was the spark that fueled what was, arguably, the most imaginative production of the entire season. Hopefully, his show was an exciting preview of what NY Fashion Week has to offer.

For more exciting Fashion Week coverage, read Riley Keough’s interview on Modelinia.com.

Elie Saab, the king of red carpet fashion, introduced his Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009 collection at Paris Fashion Week. This season, the Middle Eastern designer offers a sober and stylish assortment of eveningwear, featuring everything from one-shouldered and strapless numbers to poufy sleeves and ruffles.

Intricate embroideries and crystal works looked fabulous on dusty blue, lilac, ivory and beige. Deviating from his hallmark empire bust line, the designer took a different approach, creating lean silhouettes in silk taffeta, chiffon, satin with brocade and organza detailing.

Highlights of the show:

Image Courtesy: Vogue.co.uk

The Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009 show at Paris Fashion Week portrayed the sophisticated and delicate woman in white, with a subtle touch of black. Atypical of spring attire, the models walked in pristine A-line silhouettes with dramatic white paper-flowered crests on the head. Despite white galore, the collection was not an exercise of minimalistic design – designer Karl Lagerfeld enhanced the collection with a surprising amount of detail.

Cropped jackets featuring squared shoulders, bridal gowns flaunting laced/organza hem, and short layered dresses paired with tights were dominant throughout the show. As for accessories, craftily designed white paper tiaras seized all the attention. Lagerfeld’s collection exuded freshness, blending classicism and modernism the Parisian way.

Take a look.

Image: Style.com

According to Binhejaila, it was a struggle to find any fashionable clothing when she took up the hijab (a headcovering). Perhaps this “ordeal for dressing” was the reason that Binhejaila began her studies in fashion design. Today, rather than accept the commonplace dark robe, Binhejaila designs single-layer “complete wear” – offering Muslim women a fashionable alternative.

The Arab Peninsula has long produced intricate embroidery and embellishment in women’s clothing. But with the enforcement of Shariah law abaya (the long black robe for Muslim women), the rich craft of embroidery and use of colors in Islamic clothing fell by the wayside. Binhejaila’s complete wear collection, rich in color and floral prints, is an endeavor to bring back a festive spirit into clothing, while maintaining the dignity of Islamic dress code.

From laced satin and flower-tucked jackets in white to a stylishly hooded abaya with large buttons – Binhejaila is proving that she can blend the west with east. Undoubtedly, this collection was designed with U.S. and U.K. Muslims in mind.