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Lacroix shows bullfighter chic while Lagerfeld champions the peplum

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Following Vivienne Westwood's advice earlier this week on how to dress to impress during the current credit crunch, Christian Lacroix offered his own words of wisdom at the presentation of his spring line in Paris this week. "When times are hard, the best medicine is to face the crisis with guts," said the French designer.

On the catwalk his philosophy was translated into a bullfighter-inspired collection, the highlight of which was a cape and skinny, gold-embroidered trousers combination.

The French maestro also embraced the gypsy look, with feminine, one-shoulder, peasant-style dresses, some featuring embellished corsets, and finished with flurry of ruffles and bows in a rainbow of colours.

Karl Lagerfeld championed the return of the peplum for next season, and further accentuated the waist by cinching it in with patent black and white belts.

Sheen also was a recurring theme in the German designer's futuristic collection, where skinny trouser and pencil skirt ensembles were interpreted in metallic-finish fabrics.

At Givenchy the inspiration was unmistakably back on the range, with a collection which had a distinctly Western feel. Black leggings were decorated with print effects echoing the pattern on cowboy boot uppers while jeans were overlaid wtih leather chaps.

Other collection standouts were trousers embellished with gold and white fabric sections reminiscent of gun holsters.

Photo: © Alphapress.com
Advocating bravery in the face of the current financial crisis, the French designer presented a matador-inspired collection 
Photo: © Getty Images
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Karl Lagerfeld's silhouettes featured narrow waists accentuated with a long, flared peplum 
Photo: © Getty Images
Photo: © Alphapress.com
At Givenchy trousers were defined with white prints reminiscent of the side detailling on cowboy boots 
Photo: © Rex