>>  I'm not sure if it's just me or not, but when I first saw this look from the Ruffian Fall 2008 collection (L), I immediately thought of the Balenciaga Spring 2006 collection (R).  The fitted jacket with skinny black lapels, the stiff brocade material, the black belt with gold embellished buckle, the cropped fitted pants . . . they're all very similar to my eye.