Italian designer Fausto Sarli debuted his absolutely gorgeous designs on the catwalk during the Rome Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2009 on January 31, 2009 in Rome, Italy. I had never heard of this designer, but his clothes are truly beautiful, and wearable - a hard feat to accomplish for many high end fashion designers.

The cut outs in these dresses are very sexy, but not over the top. They look classy, but have a touch of vixen. In both dresses the cut out sides can be covered by the attached cape (as you can see in the pic with the black dress).

LOVE IT! The jacket turns into a scarf on the left side. I haven't seen anything like this, have you? You can see what the back would look like from the model walking away, it's the same style.

Gorgeous.

Another one of his sleeve turns into scarf, but this time in a dress with a much lighter scarf. Scarves with bare arms is one of my favorite looks. I think it is the most beautiful way to emphasize the arm.

Love this look. It's so modern and sophisticated.

This is so fabulous I almost don't have the words. I would LOVE to have this in my closet. If this doesn't show up on the red carpet, every stylist in Hollywood should be fired.

While there were many gorgeous designs at the Spring 2009 Runway shows, the ones below stood out to me. Herve Ledger isn't about to give up his ever popular band aid design dress, it's such an all time success, why should he? But this season he did the classic design with only one cap sleeve and in descending colors, a fade from white to black. Armani stayed true to his sophisticated, classic and elegant designs, while Jasper Conran (a designer I had never heard of) impressed with simple, subtly sexy looks. My absolute favorites, however were the Balmain black dress with torn silver and net sleeves as well as the oh so elegant Reem Alcra silk robe dress.

Isabel Marant

Doo Ri

Elie Saab

Blumarine

DSquared2

Doo Ri

Andrew Gn

Jasper Conran

Matthew Williamson

Giorgio Armani

Project Runway Designers

Herve Leger

Balmain

Blumarine

Reem Acra

There are only two questions anyone is asking Paris couturiers this season: "What are your inspirations?" followed swiftly by, "And what do you think about the recession?" John Galliano's answers were "Flemish painters and Monsieur Dior," and to the point, "There's a credit crunch, not a creative crunch. Of course, everyone is being more careful with their discretionary purchases. I am. But it's our job to make people dream, and to provide the value in quality, cut, and imagination."

He'd cross-referenced the soft blues and golds of Vermeer and the elaborate lace collars and sleeves of Van Dyck with typically Galliano-esque hyper-exaggerations of Dior's tight-waisted, full-skirted fifties shapes. As a starting point, it evoked some of the romantic femininity of Dior's silhouette, but with surface ruffles and bouncing crinolined hemlines that went way beyond any sense of postwar austerity. As for the seventeenth-century Dutch elements, there were cross-laced corseted backs and cartridge-paper scrolls standing out on hips, and, as things progressed, tulip prints and blue-and-white Delftware embroideries peeking from the underskirts.

The clothes became lovelier when the collection didn't stick so literally to the Old Masters—either painterly ones, or the founder of the house. When Galliano escaped the sweet Vermeer palette and moved into ivory, as he did with a slim dress implanted with raw-edged georgette rosettes and embroidered with silver leaves, or with an ingenue off-the-shoulder fifties dance dress banded with black bows, it all seemed simpler, fresher, less stilted. And more like the kind of thing that will actually keep Dior clients dreaming, and, hopefully, spending.

For the Spring 2009 fashion trends, designers worked both sides of the crash of 1929, turning out glittery flapper frocks (Alberta Ferretti, Aquilano.Rimondi) and faded sack dresses (Burberry, Bottega Veneta) in equal measure. This trend, called Depression Chic, is a nod to today's recession.

Burberry Prorsum

Marc Jacobs

Alberta Ferretti

Why does Prada's Ready to Wear always look so frumpy? I wouldn't wear anything I saw from their Spring 2009 collection (excluding the shoes and handbags, which were quite good). I know Prada like to do the unisex 'so ugly it's cool' sort of thing but this label is in the same league with designers who actually make beautiful, flattering clothing, I wonder how Prada stays in business. I know millions of people adore Prada's clothes, I just don't understand the appeal, do you?

Here are a few of the upcoming accessories we get to look forward to. They were debuted at the Missoni Spring 2009 runway show. My favorite is the multicolored goat leather tote. It looks so soft, like it would be a pillow for your arm. The snakeskin box clutch has the cute coin purse closure that I like so much. Both shoes are great,but I prefer the one with the non-traditional heel.

Our favorite top end fashion designers usually expand their collection to include jewelry, because really, you need to have jewelry to complete an outfit. Here are some of my favorites.

This is the Chanel Enamel Bib necklace.

This is the Burberry Metallic Floral Garland

This bracelet is Burberry Dégradé alligator-inlay wooden bangle, love it!

This is Aurélie Bidermann gold lace cuff. It would look so good with a strapless dress.

This is Aurélie Bidermann Chain-link necklace with crystal cluster. The stone is actually Drusy, which is basically a crystal cluster, but they heat it to give it various color. Usually, drusy that looks like this has been dipped in Platinum.

This is Aurélie Bidermann Gold Feather Necklace.

This is also Aurélie Bidermann, and my favorite of her designs. It's the Coral necklace with gold detail.

This is Tom Binns Espiral Cuff

This is Tom Binns Pearl and Crystal necklace. I think this one looks so Victorian and luxurious.

Another Tom Binns, multistoned bracelet. Beautiful.

The theme for the Spring 2009 Versace Runway collection was hearts and zippers, both of which were everywhere. In past collection, Donatello tends to favor the really bright, and busy look, but not so with this collection (thankfully). This season Donatello opted for mostly neutral colors, with a bit of yellow, and she used a lot of crocodile and snakeskin embossed leather, which always delivers a nice, rich look. Though the heart and zipper theme was big and bold, it doesn't overwelm the garments. Like many other fellow designer, Donatello chose to design a more subdued collection. Due to the global economy, consumers are predicted to spend on luxury items that will outlast a trend or single season. Her handbags were designed in the same vein, as well as her shoe collection. Personally, this is one of my favorite Versace collections.