In These Economic Times, we all have to be thrifty. So when we asked designers to clue us in on their inspiration for fall 2009, brevity was best. Read ahead for the singular word that sums up Oscar de la Renta, Proenza Schouler, Phillip Lim, and more.

• “Survivor”


• Diane Von Furstenberg


• “Carnivores”


• Alexander Wang


• “Tough”


• Italo Zucchelli, Men's Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection


• “Layered”


• Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Proenza Schouler


• “Proustian”


• Anna Sui


• “Nightlife”


• Chris Benz


• “Interiors”


• Derek Lam


• “Aberdeen”


• Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Rodarte


• “Brighton”


• Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, Preen


• “Quality”


• Michael Kors


• “Rocknrolla”


• Phillip Lim


• “Ménage à Trois”


• John Whitledge, Trovata


• “Wicked”


• Yigal Azrouël


• “Fairytale”


• Georgina Chapman, Marchesa


• “Hieroglyphia”


• Christian Siriano


• “Crystalarium”


• Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, Vena Cava


• “Pop Military”


• Tory Burch


• “Polished”


• Erin Fetherston


• “Passiondesire ”


• Chado Ralph Rucci


• “Moonlight”


• Narciso Rodriguez


• “Soft-Sculpture”


• Behnaz Sarafpour


• “Sleek”


• Nicole Miller


• “Fancy”


• Thakoon Panichgul


• “Divine”


• Monique Lhuillier


• “Joyous”


• Tia Cibani, Ports 1961


• “Powerful”


• Max Azria


• “Tactile”


• Doori Chung, Doo.Ri


• “(Real) Creative”


• Donna Karan


• “Parallax”


• Francisco Costa, Women's Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection


• “Geometric Progressions”


• Carlos Miele


• “Ethnic-Psychedelic”


• Custodio and David Dalmau, Custo Barcelona


• “Lustrous”


• Oscar de la Renta