Runway Trend - Blankets?

After some of the top London shows I was a bit afraid that every fashion week would be showing beautiful dresses paired with bare legs and shoulders. Where were the warm comfy layers? I mean, it is supposed to be for FALL 2009 after all.

Luckily, Paris and Milan seemed to take a more practical route. But I must say I was quite surprised to see so many blankets and gigantic shawls all over the runways. What is the inspiration behind this collective move towards wrapping and cocooning the body in blankets? Is it the thought of a possibly long and cold recession? Maybe some designers have thumbed their noses at global warming and are preparing for the next ice age? Hmm...