INSPIRATION L'Officiel 1972... Michael Kors SS||2013

This fun striped outfit from an L'Officiel editorial, photographed in 1972 by Roland Bianchini [left] looks pretty much like a pattern and color inspiration for Michael Kors' SS||2013 bathing suit [right].

INSPIRATION Paul Poiret 1912... Givenchy Resort SS||2014

In the 1910s, the oracle of the mode was the amazing French designer Paul Poiret, who employed the language of orientalism to develop the romantic and theatrical possibilities of clothing with enigmatic silhouettes such as his iconic "lampshade" tunic and his "harem" trousers like this outfit from 1912 [left]. The work of Poiret, mostly for the silhouettes,  came to my mind when I saw the Resort 2014 collection of Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy [right].

INSPIRATION Miu Miu FW 2012||13... Lanvin Resort SS||2014

This wonderful dress created by Alber Elbaz for the Lanvin Resort collection 2014 [right] might have been slightly influenced by a similar dress from Miuccia Prada's Miu Miu FW 2012||13 [left], while both of course recall the work from the 1960's of Paco Rabanne. Are the sixties already back again?

INTO THE ARCHIVES Yves Saint Laurent and Betty Catroux 1969… Saint Laurent SS||2013

Everytime a new creative director takes over a famous maison, their debut collection is mostly an homage to the design heritage. Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent is no exception in that, even if he would prefer to appear always more special than others. His fist collection for SS||2013 [all rights] had numerous quotation of Yves Saint Laurent work for his ready to wear line Rive Gauche, especially details from the outfits worn by Yves' muse Betty Catroux in 1969 [all lefts].

INSPIRATION Clara Bow 1933... Maison Martin Margiela SS||2007

The wonderful silent movie actress Clara Bow wears an amazing stage costume in her comeback movie "Hoopla' from 1933 [left]. Maybe this image has been an inspiration to Martin Margiela while creating the trompe l’oeil bra bodysuit [right], that has also been reissued from the original SS||2007 collection in  MMM's collaboration with H&M.

INSPIRATION Mary Eaton at the Ziegfeld Follies 1923… Christian Dior FW 1949||50

This dress by an unknown designer worn in 1923 by Mary Eaton performing at the Ziegfeld Follies [left] might have been an inspiration to Christian Dior while designing the "Junon' dress, in pale-blue silk net embroidered with iridescent blue, green, and rust sequins, for his FW 1949||50 collection [right]. Mary Eaton was an leading American stage actress, singer, and dancer in the 1910s and 1920s. A professional performer since childhood, she enjoyed success in stage productions such as the Ziegfeld Follies and early sound films such as Glorifying the American Girl.

INSPIRATION L'Officiel 1972… Miu Miu FW 2013||14

When I came across this beautiful L'Officiel editorial by Patrick Bertand from 1972 [all lefts] with huge blue butterflies painted by Claude Poulain, the pattern and colors of the outfits immediately reminded me of Miuccia Prada's FW 2013||14 collection for Miu Miu [all rights].

INTO THE SAME IDEA... Roland Mouret and Victoria Beckham FW 2013||14

INSPIRATION Chanel SS||1991… Michael Kors FW 2013||14

This wonderful picture of nineties super models Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, photographed by Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfeld wearing Chanel SS||1991 [left], might have been on the inspiration board of Michael Kors while working on his FW 2013||14 collection [both rights].

INSPIRATION Vogue US 1991... DSquared SS||2013

The 'Wild At Heart" editorial for Vogue US featuring super model Helena Christensen [other than Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Karen Mulder, Tatjana Patitz, and Stephanie Seymour], photographed by Peter Lindbergh in 1991 [left] ... might have inspired Dean and Dan Caten to create some similar looks for their DSquared SS||2013 collection [right].

INSPIRATION Nick Cave's soundsuits 2010… Jeremy Scott FW 2013||14

Nick Cave's hypersonic 'soundsuits" [surreal textiles that he wears while modern dancing] created by the artist in 2010 [left] might have been an inspiration to create this funny yellow fake fur outfit  for his FW 2013||14 collection [right]. Nick Cave, born in 1959, is a fabric sculptor, dancer and performance artist that uses found materials to create the suits and they range from the natural (twigs or birds) to the highly ornamental (buttons, beads, embroidery). His 'soundsuits" are wearable fabric sculptures that are bright, whimsical, and other-worldly.

INSPIRATION Mademoiselle Gabrielle Chanel 1912… Chanel Resort SS||2014

Who could be a better inspiration to Karl Lagerfeld for his Chanel collection than Mademoiselle Gabrielle Chanel herself... photographed in 1912 on the beach of Etretat in the Normandy wearing a comfortable pale colored ensamble [left]. This casual summer outfit actually might have been on Karl's inspiration board for the Resort SS||2014 collection [right], look at the details like the collar, the fabric flower on the belt and the hemline. Watch also "Once Upon A Time' on The Fashion Video Spot.

INSPIRATION Givenchy SS||2013… &Other Stories SS||2013

The beautiful colors and graphic layout of Givenchy's SS||2013 Antigona Architect Satchel bag [left], might have been an inspiration to a clutch version proposed for a lower budged range by &Other Stories [right], and available in the stores right now for 75,00 Euro.

INSPIRATION Diane von Fürstenberg 1976... GAP kids SS||2013

The president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and successful fashion designer Diana von Fürstenberg, known for her iconic signature wrap-dress created in the seventies [left], has launched a gorgeous little collection for Gap kids, which is her second collaboration with the American label. The limited edition 'explorers collection' re-imagines the designer's signature bright colors and patterns, taking its inspiration from bold African safari prints applied to items like miniature trapeze dresses, skinny jeans, colorful espadrilles and wrap dresses [right].

INSPIRATION Tom Ford FW 2012||13… H&M SS||2013

The beautiful FW 2012||13 Natalia kidskin bag by Tom Ford with a very particular and oversized metal hard wear closure [left]… might have been more than just an inspiration to the much cheeper and simplified version by H&M [right], available now in the stores for 19,95 Euro.