PARIS (AP) — Fashion designer Jeremy Scott has just the antidote for crisis-induced malaise: The world's favorite optimist, Mickey Mouse!

The American-born designer, whose pop-culture-inspired prints have won him a cult following among fashionistas and celebrities, sent out his winter 2010 pret-a-porter collection Saturday inspired by the beloved cartoon character.

"When he came in 1930, in the middle of the Depression and all of those horrible things, he brought so much joy," Scott told reporters backstage. "And I thought, 'That's kind of where we are now. Why not Mickey Mouse?'"

He adopted Mickey's colors, black, white, red and a splash of yellow, for his palette, sending out graphic sweater dresses in black, little red dresses covered with Mickey's iconic profile and a skirt emblazoned with oversized telephone keys in canary yellow.

A bulky scarf and coat were made from white gloves with black piping that looked like Mickey had just slipped them off.

Other standout pieces included a bustier, dress and coat covered with bright, plastic buttons and a simple, swingy yellow coat that proved Scott can do normal, if he tries.

Scott's use of kitschy, pop-culture icons helped forge his reputation as a master of low-meet-high art, and Saturday's show didn't disappoint. Beyond Mickey, there were dresses covered in black telephones, their coiled cords tracing a messy web across the red background.

Rap superstar Kanye West praised the show as great.

"I love the colors," West said. He was dressed for the occasion in a sweater with an oversized pink poodle — signed Jeremy Scott, of course.

Other front row guests at the show — held in a gloomy hall in a Paris medical school — included Peaches Geldof, daughter of activist-rocker Bob Geldof, and singer Beth Ditto.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.