Paris fashion week... Le Crunch

What to design during a recession - that is the question which is hanging over the biggest names at Paris Fashion Week.

For most designers, money is not of primary concern to the lavish creative process - the presentations alone cost upwards of £100,000 - but now more than ever each one must consider how they are going to inspire their wealthy customers to grace their doorstep, let alone part with their cash.

French couturier Christian Lacroix, who showed his latest spring/summer 2009 collection yesterday, is not renowned for taking the commercial route but it was clear that he too had given the point some thought.

The result was a fusion of fabulous, feminine flights of fancy - to Spain to be precise - with some very wearable pieces.

Take his opening look - a cream pencil skirt and cropped-sleeve top with a smattering of the usual ruffle and puff - it was polished but with plenty of joie de vivre.

It was as if Lacroix had finally harnessed all the creativity he channels so beautifully into his haute couture collections and diffused it into ready to wear.

You can bet that most of the pretty, young, wealthy Parisian girls could see themselves in one of his navy pencil-skirt dresses or tailored slouch trousers with a sexy boned corset come spring.

Of course Lacroix being Lacroix, everything was festooned with countless corsages, appliqué and riotous embroidery, but the foundations of a great wardrobe were definitely there.

The credit crunch is clearly forcing designers to think more carefully about their customer's needs - so at least one good thing has come of it.