Last week Dame Vivienne Westwood showed her Fall 2010 Menswear Collection in Milan that was styled to look like a scene off the streets, from cardboard on the catwalk to disheveled models with frosted hair (more pics here). To top it off, the designer herself was wheeled out in a paramedic stretcher at the end of the show. Since then the feisty Brit has been getting some serious backlash from critics about the shabby spectacle, as well as its odd resemblance to Zoolander. Writer Hadley Freeman stated bluntly, “It’s not only tasteless, it’s unoriginal.”

In case you forgot or, god forbid, didn’t see this classic Ben Stiller flick, clueless male model Derek Zoolander (Stiller) is duped into walking in malicious fashion designer Mugatu’s (Will Ferrell) homeless-styled fashion show entitled “Derelicte.” Mugatu described his creation this way: “It is a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique.”

Some critics are shocked that years later a big designer like Westwood would use such a cheap gimmick, but we wouldn’t write her off quite yet. The designer has noted that the show was inspired by a friend who works for a homeless charity, and one press release stated, “…Westwood found inspiration in the roving vagrant whose daily get-up is a battle gear for the harsh weather conditions . . .” Hm, sounds kind of familiar.

So what do you think…thought provoking? disgusting? humorous? The show can be all at the same time, which is probably the way the Dame herself would want it to be. Fashion isn’t supposed to be too serious. But do you know what is serious? Kids who can’t read. That’s why we need The Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can’t Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too.