Overwhelmed by the burgeoning sale season - and the very real possibility that we’ll get trampled at the Proenza Target Press Preview tomorrow - Fashionista seeks counsel in the mightiest shopping expert of all, Barneys phenom Simon Doonan. Here’s what he told us about navigating the fights for Fendi, the crowded dressing rooms, and - oops - the credit card bills that come with…

To Avoid Waiting On Line: We suggest shopping daily from 10:30 AM to 12 PM and also between the hours of 2 PM to 4PM.

What To Wear: We suggest women wear leggings and tank tops and men wear a sport shirt and jeans. (Don’t forget to wear your running shoes: you never know when you might have to make that mad dash for the last pair of Prada shoes.)

Assistance: If you find something you love, hold on to it: someone else may love it, too!

Additional Suggestions: Always look your best: People have been “discovered�? in stranger places…Please don’t feed the animals…. “Cruise�? every department: You might meet your future husband or wife. Suggested opener- “I’m buying a tie for my father, does it go well with this shirt?�?

Keep in mind, while Simon’s tips were specifically for the Barney’s Warehouse Sale, which happens in February, they seem to be apt anywhere with a 50% discount on footwear…

Gemma Ward may be skipping New York Fashion Week to film a movie, but that won’t stop her from walking the runways in Houston, Chicago, and Dallas. She’s somehow been corralled to join “Fashion Week Live,” a cross-country roundup of Fall’s greatest hits.

Organized by IMG, the event aims to bring fashion to its scattered fans, but it’s also putting two major forces in very close proximity: new supermodel Gemma and old-school supermodel Naomi Campbell, who co-stars on the tour.

Certain fashion scions have quietly mentioned their worry over the combination - specifically Naomi’s mercurial demeanor, at times lovely and calm and at times… not. Still, Fashionista’s not worried - it should be a gorgeous show, and whatever happens backstage, we hear that Gemma took boxing lessons in Tribeca last year, so she can certainly take care of herself!

Lily Cole’s appearance on the Gaultier men’s runway was a little bit awesome and a little bit odd: what’s a top female supermodel doing on a guy’s runway? Sure, some men have crept onto women’s catwalks before - Burberry and Chanel’s Spring shows spring to mind - but watching Lily’s slounchy slink was different and somehow unsettling.

Style critic Tim Blanks says this:

“[Gaultier has] always understood that ambiguity can be an asset, in the same way that assumptions are a liability. Look at what hairdresser George got away with simply because the husbands of his lovers assumed he must be gay.”

Meanwhile, I remember this one time when a boy and I swapped jeans because we both wore the same size; then our tees, then our sweaters, then our scarves. Running out the door to dinner, it was the first time we felt like we belonged to each other, and at the time, that felt sexier - and less anxious - than wearing a dress.

To see the full collection, go to Men.Style.com.

Emily: 18, model and new New Yorker.

Got Her: leaving a casting call for Fashion Week.

Stalked Her: Because when a 5’10 giggly wisp walks by, you sort of have to notice.

Shot Her: Because she admitted her “Chloe” wedges were discount, and that made them look even cooler.

She Says: “I’m from Perth, Australia - I’ve only been in America for a few days. New York is incredible, but I didn’t realize how cold it would be, so I didn’t really pack any proper winter things. That means I’ve been doing some crazy layering - sweaters under blouses, two dresses worn together - but everyone seems to like it!”

We Say: Keep piling your clothes on like that, and you’ll get a TopShop campaign by Spring.

Attention, Karl fanatics:

The Chanel documentary Lagerfeld Confidential won’t hit New York until at least late February, but if you’re going to the Europe shows or studying abroad, there’s another way to get a sneak peek:

Head to Colette on February 5th. The ultracool Paris boutique is set to host the world preview of the movie before it’s official opening at the Berlin Festival. That means you’ll get a peek at Karl’s life, his work, and backstage operations during Fashion Week - a must-see for anyone trying to crash their Fall ‘07 show.

Not that we’d ever recommend that…

“Dear Fashionista,

Don’t you think M&Ms should sponsor a Project Runway challenge?

Just imagine the clothes they would make inspired by candy.

It would be like Austin’s corn husk dress, but better, because it wouldn’t be so healthy. I think maybe the designers wouldn’t be so mean to each other if they just ate more chocolate.

—Chelsea.”

(We can’t exactly recreate an LV runway accessory, so let’s just say we’ve been inspired…)

You’ll need: 1 yard of rhinestone trim. 3 yards of thin ribbon, 2 yards of a ribbon of thicker width. 2½ yards of pom-pom trim. This should all cost $30 at a craft store.

Step one: Cut the thin ribbon in half. You’ll end up with two pieces that are 1½ yards each. Then braid together the two pieces of ribbon with the rhinestone chain, making sure to tie a knot off at one end.

Step two: Rip the wider ribbon down the middle - if it frays, even better. Then take those two pieces of ribbon, grab the pom-pom trim and the braided ribbon from step one, and double-knot together the ends to form the enclosure (you want a big knot so that there’s lots of ribbon at the end).

Step three: Let the pieces tangle together. Twist them and knot them wherever you feel appropriate. Then put the whole thing around your neck.

Step four: Act blasé when Mischa Barton sends her assistant to ask how you already got the necklace of the season. Be cryptic and tell her it only took thirty bucks to get off the wait-list.

—by Kevin Khuong, Fashionista Intern

My favorite fashion quote from last season came backstage at Zac Posen, when Sean Lennon took a big breath of cigarettes, double-sided tape, and tulle, then screamed at the surrounding paparazzi, “It smells like fashion back here!”

This season, smoking will be banned backstage at the Tents, so that deathly chic smell will be gone. Instead, Bond No. 9 rolls out with their latest scent, Bryant Park. Inspired by the mad rush of heels and flashbulbs, the perfume will be sampled by fashion VIPs in the Tents this week, then released to the public with the spring collections in March.

And though the name is evocative of Fashion Week, the scent is not - while “Bryant Park” the perfume smells like roses and pink pepper, Bryant Park the place smells like pretzels and hairspray - mmm, fashion!

Addendum: the bottle was not designed by Pucci. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t compare it to Burberry…

No doubt you’ve heard the rumors - Proenza Schouler’s Target line is already available on the internet, and all it takes is some savvy clicking to find it…

Well, Fashionista’s done some investigating, and here’s the real deal:

For about four hours yesterday, the Proenza line was available on the Internet, thanks to a handy loop in the web called “Shop Local,” where you can place orders at a specific Target store instead of their national database. Once Target realized that thousands of shoppers were already buying Proenza, they pulled the entire line from the web, and it remains hidden until Thursday, when it will be properly sold on Target.com.

The truly crazed can go to eBay, where some sneaky (unethical? gross?) shoppers are already reselling their ordered goods. Or you can camp out in front of Opening Ceremony in New York City, where the line debuts this Friday morning.

Until then, if you’re really itching to buy some designer Target, here are your options: shop the Behnaz Sarafpour clearance sale on the national website now… or go here and take your chances…

Heroine Chic: I just had the weirdest dream.

Fashionista: Tell me.

Heroine Chic: I dreamed that the Kate Moss for Top Shop collection got leaked online, and that it looked a little bit like shiny disco trash bags.

Heroine Chic: Whatever. This is silly - it was only a dream. Want to get Starbucks for dinner?

Fashionista: Just like Kate!

Catstalker: Like Gawker Stalker, without the Clooney - unless, of course, he’s in a photo shoot with Gemma Ward…

Who: Sienna Miller

Where: Spin Magazine’s afterparty for Brit rock legend Paul Weller, at the Gramercy Park Hotel (NYC)

When: Very late last night, after the Factory Girl premiere and Chelsea afterparty

Why: There’s only so long one can stay at a Factory Girl party before wishing for an actual Factory party.

And We Love It: Because Sienna is a new British superstar and Paul Weller is an old one. She’s getting credit for bringing the Brits boho, and he’s widely known for shaping the Mod revival in the UK. Sorry Jude, but this might be better company…

(Do you have a Catstalker moment? Email tips@fashionista.com to tell.)

Those with some time to kill tonight should rush to Forever 21, where there’s a stash of 2-ply cashmere cardigans for $30 each.

The catch: the sweaters are thin, and only available in larger sizes, so here’s the trick: buy two and layer them with a minidress. Slide one underneath it, and then throw one on top like a slouchy grandpa cardigan. It might be the only way to break out your spring clothing stash without dying of frostbite.

Sadly the sweaters aren’t available online, but when shipping costs as much as the clothes you’re buying, why bother?

Don’t lie - you peep into townhouse windows walking home from the Marc store. Now you don’t have to - this site lets you peek into other’s apartments without staring, stalking, or splurging on a telescope for a better view of your neighbors (and memo to the Time Warner Building boys: consider yourselves busted).

URL: NYC Inside, an independent website set up for apartment addicts

SEE: inside dozens of Manhattan apartments.

GET: the feeling that everyone in town could compete on Top Design

LOVE: the fact that some fashion folk are involved - can you guess whose apartment belongs to Alexis Rodriguez, the PR director at Diane Von Furstenberg???

GO!: http://www.nycinside.com/

Fashionista is proud to present Deal or No Deal, in which a group of style insiders check out a discount fashion item and answer that pressing question - is it worth it?

Notte by Marchesa bow dress, originally $780, now $390 at Bergdorf Goodman Online.

Ali Lang, MTV stylist: “It’s expensive, but with Fashion Week around the corner and Restaurant Week in full effect, it is either liposuction or that dress, which will make you look a size smaller..If it works, then I am buying two in case I spill something on one. So yes, definite deal especially if you compare it to the cost of
lipo!”

Gina Kelly, Seventeen Fashion Director: “This is a total deal. I love that Marchesa does a “secondaryâ€? line. Buying a Notte is like buying Marchesa—which makes you one step closer to looking like Sienna Miller!”

Jenny Feldman, ELLE Fashion News Editor: Deal. This dramatic black Marchesa number cleverly incorporates Grecian-style draping, metallic detail, and a strapless neckline—all very of-the-moment. While I’d prefer to drop the big bucks on a less formal, day-to-evening dress that could go from work to cocktails, at $390, I couldn’t turn down this one either.

Fashionista: Deal, but only if you’ve got at least one party where you know you’ll wear it.

Compare and contrast: best buds Lily Donaldson and Gemma Ward in the new Dior campaigns…

HEL looks is a street style exhibit happening this month in Copenhagen. The show features over 400 photographs taken last year in Helsinki, Finland, where everyone from junior high kids to 80-year-old grandmothers shows off their idea of personal style.

It’s an incredible exhibit, but going to Copenhagen is a little harder than getting to Williamsburg (though just as foreign, to some people). That’s why the event organizers have uploaded the photos onto their webiste, where you can check them out from wherever you want.

But maybe some Finlandia vodka is in order, just out of respect?

HEL Looks presents Helsinki Gademode: Street fashion from Helsinki
Nordisk Ministerråd og Nordisk Råd, Galleriet, St. Strandstraede 18, 1255 Kobenhavn K

10 January - 25 February 2007. For more info, email liisa@hel-looks.com

Are you still obsessed with French Vogue’s December issue? The one that gives John Galliano the reigns as guest editor, and hails Sasha Pivavovra as its peg-legged drag king? Fashionista certainly is, and we’re panting over Sasha’s model portfolio, rife with pics from the shoot.

Meanwhile, the runway still throbs with Anna Sui’s swashbuckling, slightly insane Spring show during Fashion Week, where pirate chic was almost as popular as Mischa Barton.

Here at Fashionista, we don’t have any Dior eye patches, but we do have this ultra cheesyPirate Name generator, where we rechristen the Buckaneer wannabes of Paris, Milan, and New York. After all, even Jack Sparrow had a civilian name once… what was it again? Keith Richards?

John Galliano:: Arch-Pirate Hook-Handed Harry

Sasha Pivavorova: Dirty Jane Jailbird

Anna Sui: Skull Crusher Ivy

Vivienne Westwood: Pegleg Flirty

Coco Rocha: Bloody Love of the Baltic

Elizabeth Spiers: Belle, Master of Horror

Maybe it’s because we have no desire to see Babel, but here at Fashionista, our most riveting Oscar race is the one for Best Costume Design.

We predict the little gold man will either go to Patricia Field, the extraordinary stylist who bought half of The Devil Wears Prada wardrobe at Century 21, or Milena Canonero, who did the confectionary costumes for Marie Antoinette.

The Pro-Field side says that the Devil’s costumes defined the movie’s characters as much as the acting did, and the transformation of Anne Hathaway from Vassar grad to Conde girl was brilliant. Also, the severity of Emily Blunt’s eyeshadow should get an award of its own.

Meanwhile, Milena’s corner has piles of historical research, plus piles of antique lace and silk, to make its case for a Best Costume Award, and the small anachronisms - barrettes, Converse sneakers, Hard Candy nail polish - that sneaked into some frames might only help the cause.

Whom will the Academy choose? Fashionista predicts Pat Field - if only because she’ll give a hysterical acceptance speech, perhaps unsuited for prime time TV…

Fashion Week is three days away, but some designers are jumping the gun. Last night, Monica Byrne culled a crowd of Vogue girls and A&R boys to check out her first formal presentation.

Monica’s a Nebraska native, though she studied design in Kansas. After a series of billowy collections that buried girls in chiffon (and were inspired, memorably, by crop circles), Monica scaled back her shapes this season and created tightly cut dresses in geometric mohair and lace. Then she packed them up and carried the entire collection downstairs - to the “secret” hotspot La Esquina, which happens to be right next to her apartment.

Click below to view photos, and get Monica’s take on her Fall clothes…

It’s so cold I can’t stop shopping. Maybe it’s denial - I can’t wear my mini-dresses for another 20 degrees. Maybe it’s boredom - I can’t take long walks anymore, and Heroes is losing my affection. Whatever the reason, my credit cards are getting more exercise than the Dance Life cast and now I’m antsy.

If you’re like me - or just waiting for Proenza for Target to hit this Friday - check out New York’s sick list of sales and bargains. There’s also a blogger named Cheryl, who painstakingly lists her favorite sales of the week on her site.

Meanwhile, I know the rest of the country reads this blog, so: if you have a favorite shopping site in your state, send it over - faran@fashionista.com - and we’ll feature it next time!

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is all about the clothes, but admit it - there’s nothing like a little star stalking to match your new bubble trench, is there? Here’s the latest influx of confirmed celebrities for the shows:

Elettra Wiedemann is the daughter of Isabella Rossolini, the granddaughter of Ingrid Bergman, and the face of Lancome. She’s also the hostess of Chris Benz’ first presentation on Monday night at Christie’s. Joining her is another genetic coup de grace - the actress Eva Amurri, who is Susan Sarandon’s daughter and stole our hearts in Saved.

Meanwhile, Eve is performing at the Miss Sixty after party on Thursday night, and someone you’ll love or hate could grace the stage at Rock & Republic’s Saturday bash (yes, that was a hint). But our favorite musical guest will be at Tracy Reese. - can you guess? As Style.com reported this morning, Zooey Deschanel will perform at Erin Fetherston’s Sunday show. And we can’t say where Rachel Bilson will be during Fashion Week, but you should keep your eyes peeled just the same…

Finally, here’s a fun thing to think about: Dakota Fanning appeared in Marc Jacobs’ ads… but will she appear in his front row next Monday?

Just in case you missed last night’s L Word, here’s what happened: the willowy sex bomb Shane was corralled into modeling for Hugo Boss underwear.

That meant for about thirty seconds, you could see the almost-naked Katherine Moennig in a pair of Hugo briefs. I’m not sure I’ve seen such indellible underwear imagery since Marky Mark and Kate Moss, and I guess you all agreed - Fashionista got a rush of emails asking if Katherine Moennig was indeed the new face (body) of Hugo Boss underwear.

Alas, it’s not to be - according to Hugo Boss’ American PR department, Shane’s underwear photos were taken purely for the show, and not for a larger ad campaign. The bosses at Boss tell us that it was The L Word’s idea to involve the brand, and their own plot to cast Shane as an undies icon.

Still, it seems the partnership wasn’t purely for TV - click below to see the full-size image of the final fictional campaign, proclaiming “I feel very Shane” and currently circulating around the internet!

Is The New, a feature in which we examine changing tastes and replacement style. Please note, we will never say anything is the new black.

The London Telegraph just did a piece on “The New Sloanies” - translation, the next generation of British aristo-girls - and what they’ve got in their closets. Amid the info on Tattler and Tod’s loafers came this interesting idea:

“If she wears a scarf, it will be a Pucci scarf worn loosely draped around the neck.”

Ten years ago, the Pucci scarf would have been Burberry. Meanwhile in Whole Foods, Fashionista counted a whopping ten girls in Pucci coats, scarves, or boots… a marked jump from last year, when the brand’s swirly neon print appeared fast and short among a sea of black quilted everything. Then there’s last month’s bash for Pucci and Safe Horizons, hosted by Calvin Klein’s former publicist, Annelise Peterson.

Could it be that Pucci is the next big status print? We’ll start counting the swirls on the streets and get back to you…

In 1995, Paul Smith launched the first branded taxi cab in London. Now, two luxury car companies rev their engines for the runways: after Mercedes-Benz announced their title sponsorship for Fashion Week in New York, Lexus jumped in the ring with some financial assistance of their own.

After aiding the CFDA and Vogue with their Fashion Fund last year, the car company helps young designers Thakoon, Rodarte, and Linda Loudermilk launch their Fall ‘07 shows. Besides financial backing, Lexus will drive fashion VIPs to the runways in their new hybrid cars.

Sadly, the fashion friendly vehicles won’t be decorated like the Paul Smith cab, but there’s always next year - with SmartCar finally launching in the US, we can hope that someone wraps the tiny taxi in quilted leather and claims it in the name of Marc Jacobs!

Sam Shipley: 25

Got Him: Outside Cafe Gitane on Prince St., Soho

Stalked Him: Because the former Trovata designer is always adorable.

Shot Him: Because Sam’s hoodie was inspired by a fisherman grandpa, and it looks perfect for the freezing weather.

He Says: “I designed it because I had nothing to wear… I feel like that’s how many designers work; they know what they want and they see it in their head, but it hasn’t been created yet. Also, hoodies are good because you can layer them; you can duck down and hide inside them.”

We Say: Crushing a little too hard to think of something clever. Sorry…

Here’s a fun Fashion Week appetizer: Women’s Wear Daily culled over 40 inspiration sketches from designers preparing to show. So far it looks like a lot of black and red, and something sinister lurking underneath the beauty.

Here’s a hint from Proenza Schouler:

A Betsey Johnson morsel:

And Calvin Klein’s latest mystery.

Enjoy them all at WWD’s website.

“Dear Fashionista,

I couldn’t quite capture the orange glow of Michael Kors, but I do think that chocolate can somehow be made into ‘Jet Set American Style,’ don’t you?

Anyway, that Nina Garcia M&M looked a little lonely.

Love,

S.”

S, this is brilliant. The only thing left is Heidi Klum and we’ve got an entire Project Runway challenge…

A few years ago, I interviewed Cintia Dicker, a tangy Brazilian model with a tangle of red hair. Now she’s in the L’Oreal hair commercials with Scarlett Johansson. Then she was gorgeous and goofy, with a little sister who looked like her, but blonde. “Will she be a model too?” I asked, imagining the two of them scorching runways. “No,” Cintia answered thoughtfully. “I’m not sure I would want her to have this life.”

At the time, I didn’t understand. Of course modeling was a tough job, but really - Scarlett run-ins and free Dior? Come on. I should have said “why,” but I didn’t.

Then after Saturday, I got the idea of “this life.” That’s when I curled up on the casting couch of Douglas Perrett, a New York model pro whose every snapshot is chronicled on his blog, “Confessions of a Casting Director.” In two hours, we saw about fifty girls, a blur of wide-set eyes, towering shadows, and clomping heels replaced - in secret, in the hallway - with Ugg boots when the girls were done.

Below is a film strip of the casting session, plus Douglas’ take on the role of a Casting Director. Check it out and decide if “this life” could ever be for you…

If you’re still stuck at work and need some fuel, this voyeuristic trip through some status bags might do the trick… Fashionista also reccomends it for insomniacs - there’s something very soothing about peering inside a Stam bag…

URL: Flickr’s What’s In My Bag thread

SEE: the contents of almost 2000 handbags around the world

GET: the feeling you’re not the only one who insists on lugging your Frizz Ease/ imported Swiss water/ sticker-decked iPod around town

LOVE: the way you can join the group and upload your own handbag homages!

GO!: http://flickr.com/photos/tags/whatsinmybag/clusters/

Henry Holland is famous for his brazenly bitchy t-shirts, which scream neon slogans like Love Me Some Lohan and Do Me Daily, Christopher Bailey. For his big premiere at London Fashion Week, Henry promises to use models’ names on the shirts, but he’s confessed he’s still searching for slogans.

Okay Henry, here are our ideas…

GEMMA
GONNA
GETCHA

WHO STOLE
LILY COLE?

WHERE ARE YA
CRAZY DARIA?

LOVELY FREJA
IS A PLAYA

SHE’S LEAN
SHE’S MEAN
SHE’S AGYNESS DEAN

Anything else?

German Fashion Week just got official, thanks to a new partnership with IMG (who also produce the Fashion Weeks in New York, LA, India, and Australia). While Jil Sander, Wolfgang Joop, and Kai Kuhne would be the obvious choices for a runway lineup (and Karl Lagerfeld would be the dream-come-true scenario), we have another German designer whose clothes would garner a lot of attention… especially for shoppers who like “zee vind and zee vater and all zee happy colors.”

Plus, then Heidi Klum could host the whole week, and that would be super.

You know those Home Depot commercials, where the kid brings in a leaf and the HD staff mixes a paint color to match? A makeup artist named Giella claims to do the same thing, but with lip gloss (and foundation, and eyeshadow…).

Ever the skeptic, we went to Henri Bendel for a test drive. Here’s what happened…

Giella: Hi, I’m Giella.

Fashionista: Hi, Giella. What’s your last name?

Giella: Don’t worry about that.

Fashionista: Oh, I get it. You were named in the mid-’80s, like Cher. I heard you can make lip gloss?

Giella: Yes, what color would you like?

Fashionista: I want it the same color as my pink and purple My Little Pony. And I want it to shine a little bit, too, like her plastic hair.

Giella: Really?

Fashionista: Yes. Mattel is the most underrated style icon in the world.

[two minutes later]

Giella: Here’s your gloss.

Fashionista: Oh. My. Gosh. It’s perfect. It’s like liquid Ponyland. You’re a genius.

Giella: Just a makeup artist.

Fashionista: No really. Now I understand why you have no last name. This. Is. Amazing.

If you want your own Fashionista gloss, you can go to Henri Bendel, or Giella.com. If you want little butterflies all over your photos, you can go to Flip and get as addicted as I am.

Fashion Week’s first confirmed celebrity has arrived, and she’s major: as part of her Factory Girl promotional duties, Sienna Miller hits New York soil next week for a five-day stint including her movie premiere, press interviews, and a few front-row appearances to help with the hype.

We expect to spot Ms. Miller with her pals The MisShapes, and to steal the light from other starlets at Marc Jacobs, Zac, and maybe Matthew Williamson. We also hope Sienna supports some new designers with her boldface presence - she’d look hot in Ruffian, Sari Gueron, Chris Benz, and Vena Cava, too.

Also on hand for the runways: Well, Charlize Theron’s in town promoting not one but two movies; expect to see her at the Designers for Darfur show hosted by Lydia Hearst. Then there’s Sienna’s Factory Girl co-star, Mena Suvari. Is she about to experience a major resurrection, American Beauty style? And who else is coming out for the catwalks?

Email us - dressup@fashionista.com - if you’ve got any ideas. Meanwhile, we’re definitely sitting on more gossip of our own, and we’ll bring you more news when the time is right.

“Dear Fashionista,

This is what happens when a copy editor, with a slight Nina Garcia obsession, runs out of copy (and blogs) to read:

She turns the Project Runway judge into the thing she might fear most: junk food.

I hope y’all enjoy.

—Bonnie Lass”

Hey Bonnie - this is brilliant. Does she kick off all the other M&Ms in the bag if she doesn’t like their shells?

Huge congrats to Hilary Rhoda, the Maryland model and absolute sweetheart whose newest gig is her biggest yet: she’s the new face of Estee Lauder!

Anyone who’s followed Hilary knew it was coming: the All-American lacrosse player is featured in every magazine’s beauty pages because of her electric eyes and patrician, stone-cold features. If Elizabeth Taylor and Lauren Bush were mashed, they’d look a lot like Hilary.

Check out the full-size version of her ad below, then tell us - would you buy mascara from this girl? Or does your loyalty lie with Elizabeth Hurley?

Milena: 24, contributing editor for Dazed and Confused

Got Her: At a house party on Rivington Street

Stalked Her: Because when we saw that dress out of the corner of our eye, we weren’t sure it was for real.

Shot Her: Because when we saw that dress up close, we knew it was for real.

She Says: “I hate wearing things that anyone else has, so I search for these vintage dresses on eBay. The funniest part is when people stop me and ask if it’s Marc Jacobs. That always happens.”

We Say: Swirls just wanna have fun.

“I don’t rely on mirrors,” explains Cher in the middle of Clueless, “so I always take Polaroids.”

Now Nanette Lepore goes one step further, commissioning a digital mirror that lets shoppers get instant feedback from friends online.

WWD reports: “Shoppers stand in front of a “magic mirror” and can send a photo or video of themselves to their MySpace page or to friends via e-mail or cell phone. The friends vote “yes” or “no” on the outfit and can text message back. The mirror displays the vote tally and messages.”

The problem: your friends have to be near a computer while you’re shopping, or else the concept doesn’t work.

The perks: you’ll immediately know if your chosen outfit “photographs well” - which for some people (McMullan stars, Cobrasnake fans, bloggers) is actually more important than if the outfit fits.

The pause: WWD may have jumped the gun a bit on the story - according to Nanette HQ, “the mirror hasn’t arrived in the store yet… right now it’s just an idea.” Will any department stores, or Nanette’s own boutiques, actually want to install something like this?

Polaroids, anyone?

Adidas commissioned a slew of films starring Roy G Biv to hype their not-so-new Adicolor line. They launched a while ago, but somehow seem to still be secret, stashed away in the Siberia of the Internet - a URL with numbers only.

Naturally, these numbers which were carefully passed on to us, thanks to a transferred sample sale invite and several martinis in the basement of Peasant.

Was it worth it?

You decide.

Click here and see what Roman Coppola, Jenna Jameson, and a slew of other semi-stars did when Adidas dared them to taste the rainbow. Just be warned - though “Pink” (at right) is the prettiest, “Red” and “Black” in particular are so very frightening.

In that gorgeous fashion way, of course.

Today, the clothes-curious kids at Gawker sent us a challenge: Explain White Converse, and their bizarre blitz across the city.

This is the part where we confess that right now, our closet only has Vans. Plus, this is a big issue - Chuck Taylors are a New York icon, like black-and-white cookies, MetroCards, and Mary Kate’s sunglasses. For such an accessory, we need some help from the ultimate Converse experts - Teen Vogue and Nylon:

Gloria Baume, Teen Vogue Fashion Director: “To me, there is nothing quite as chic as the stark neatness of a White Converse. It’s that slightly nerdy Chicness that makes it so irresistible. Add a little black ankle sock, a pencil skirt and a simple Hanes Men’s neat white T-shirt and it’s very Luella Bartley. Wear it with a tailored black skinny suit and it’s very Jil Sander. Add to all that style the amazing comfort factor …how can you go wrong?

At Teen Vogue we have styled them with skinny jeans, school uniforms, volume skirts, even prom dresses. They run the whole gamut.”

Jane Keltner, Teen Vogue Fashion News Director: “White Converse are a classic—they’ll never go out of style. White is great because it’s like a blank slate. You can pair it with anything and create your own mood. Plus, it looks even better when it’s worn and aged.”

Joe Berean, Nylon Fashion Editor: “I just did a page of ’80s inspired clothing, and the White Converse are in the middle. They look amazing with skinny jeans - somehow, your legs get even longer. Also, it’s freezing cold. Last week it was 60 degrees. People are confused - White Converse are for people who can’t deal with Winter.”

Fashionista.com adds: Also: White Converse are obviously the best kind, because you can draw all over them when you’re bored!

While Gisele Bundchen hasn’t exactly disappeared in the last few years, her persona has switched from an untouchable top model to a Victoria’s Secret spokesbunny and sometime girl of Leo.

Somehow this season, that changed.

Witness Gisele’s rocking fashion comeback, which started in September with her bizarre appearance in The Devil Wears Prada, followed by a December \ Daily Mini cover and now, shots on the front of French Vogue and Elle for February.

Why the sudden resurrection? Well, Gisele is really pretty, really cool, and really recognizable to fashion novices who want to buy a magazine.

But Gisele is more than just a gorgeous supermodel - she’s a healthy looking girl. And in the current too-thin tempest that’s sweeping through fashion, she seems to be some sort of proof that models can be both chic and (relatively) curvy at the same time. Whether she’ll continue her winning streak after Fashion Week - and what kind of models we’ll see on the runways next week - is the hot topic in designer showrooms, casting offices, and modeling agencies all over town.

In other words, stay tuned…

Which Huffington Post piece is more exciting:

This one, about the Fashionista.com launch…

Or this one, which gratuitously shows Markus Schenkenberg soaking wet and holding Diesel jeans?

Nevermind - sigh - we already know…

Skinny Editor: I’m so depressed Gemma Ward is missing Fashion Week to make a movie. Especially to make a movie. Why Gemma? Why?

Fashionista: Oh, come on - she could be an excellent actress.

Skinny Editor: Excellent like that Cindy Crawford movie from the ’90s?

Fashionista: Um, okay, no. But some models become incredible actresses. Kim Basinger? Oscar. Charlize Theron? Oscar. Halle Berry? Oscar. Angelina Jolie? Oscar. Cameron Diaz? Oscar nomination.

Skinny Editor: Wow, you’re a Gemma believer!

Fashionista: I LOVE Gemma and I think she’ll be brilliant. I honestly and really do.

Skinny Editor: I hope you’re right. But I’m worried she’ll turn out like this…

“Dear Fashionista,

I just spent way too long on the Become an M&M site, thank you.

First I made myself, then my friends, and now Karl Lagerfeld.

What do you think?

Also: will Chanel’s next nail polish shade be chocolate?

Love, Michelle Martin”

Sure Michelle - then we’ll show you how to make that one, too. xoxo F.

Aimee: 26, stylist for The Scissor Sisters

Got Her: Outside of the East Village fleamarket on 11th St. and Avenue A

Stalked Her: Because she lit up our lives.

Shot Her: Because besides the plastic Louis Vuitton bag, wild print coat, Bathing Ape sweatshirt, Heatherette jeans, and Converse, she also wore a really sweet smile.

She Says: “I bought this bag as a present for scoring the Scissor Sisters job. I was afraid it was going to be heavy, but it’s the easiest of all my Vuitton bags to carry… my second favorite is my Murakami one. I’m actually trying to get Murakami himself to the Scissor Sisters’ upcoming show in Tokyo. Do you think he’ll come?”

We Say: She’s electric.

Do you love Aimee’s outfit? Open our extended entry to see the big picture…

Well, do we? I’m leaving this one alone - comment below if you want to weigh in. Ooh, yikes, I just said ‘weigh in.” Apologies.

One of my favorite Style.com features is Video Street Style, a brief adventure where The Sartorialist parks himself on a street corner, then waits for amazing fashion to breeze past.

This week’s video is a special treat, with Marc Jacobs’ stylist Venetia Scott describing her job, her look, and her overall It-ness.

But did Venetia just happen to walk by the Sartorialist, exactly when his camera was poised and ready? Or did someone call over to Marc’s Spring Street studio and ask, politely, for the stylist to do a cameo on their site?

Watch the video and decide for yourself… unless of course you were there, and then, send us the details!

Virtual sparkles to Chanel for hyping their Black Satin nail polish so very well - and real sparkles to us for showing you how to make it…

You’ll need: 1 bottle of Wet & Wild black nail polish.
1 bottle of wine colored nail polish, any brand, with a little shimmer.
1 plastic chinese takeout lid

Step one: What was the big rule of 7th grade art class? Always mix dark colors into lighter colors. So. Pour out some of that wine colored polish onto the plastic lid. Go for about two tablespoons.

Step two: Dump a teaspoon of the black nail polish onto the plastic lid. Mix it around with the black nailpolish brush.

Step three: Keep going until you get that vampire blood color that you absolutely love. Then put it on your nails.

Step four: Wave to Karl Lagerfeld from fingerless leather gloves. With your new Chanel inspired (okay, copied) nails, he will absolutely wave back.

Today’s Page Six had a Sundance item on Fenton Bailey, a director whose documentary on Christian cults might meet some creepy opposition from its subjects.

But as fashion addicts know, there’s another Fenton Bailey out there, one more connected with Gemma Ward than Jenna Jameson.

Is the other Fenton Bailey…

a) Karl Lagerfeld’s bodyguard, who famously lives in the Kaiser’s garage

b) Vivienne Westwood’s 22-year-old lover, a bartender at her local pub

c) A face of Burberry, and the son of photographer David Bailey

d) Trovata’s new designer

The answer when you…

A confession: we love Rachel Roy, the California native whose clothes are taking red carpets and haute closets by storm. Rachel began her career as a Rocawear intern and worked her way up, first through the Rocawear ranks and later with her own eponymous label. And it’s really, really gorgeous.

A favorite designer of Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley, Rachel is also the mom of seven-year-old Ava and wife to rap mogul Damon Dash. Rachel’s Fall ‘07 collection debuts next week, but before the madness of Fashion Week set in, she joined Fashionista for a discussion on her process, her latest pieces, and - yes - her favorite curse word.

Click below to read Rachel’s interview, and then check out her favorite charity, The World Food Program, which helps children in developing countries get nourished.

lMy fashion escape is music, the kind you hear in dim basements on scary street corners at 3 am. I like it before it’s big, when it’s still too loud and too raw and usually high and dizzy. I like the music festivals, too - Coachella with Nicole Richie playing hipster; Lollapalooza with shredded chiffon girls onstage; and CMJ, which started off as a college music festival and turned into a Scene.

I asked my friend Gurj how it happened, and she said, “Sometimes, you just need a time to be with your community, with the people who really get it, and show off what you can do. CMJ is when everyone comes to show off.”

The same is true with Couture - a week of fashion shows in Paris where every dress is hand-stitched and hardcore. These aren’t the clothes that every woman wants; they’re for the truly obsessed: Neon pink Dior kimonos with silk that’s draped like origami. A floor-length leopard print chiffon gown with little Chanel logos down the back. Bridal gowns for billionaires. And this - a vampire vixen of an evening gown, worn by Brazilian beauty Raquel Zimmerman and made by Ricardo Tisci of Givenchy.

At first I thought it was a little much, but then I remembered - this is show-off time, the bigger the better. So I guess all I can say is, rock on, Ricardo.

Check out Style.com’s new feature, The Vogue Index, where the magazine’s crave-worthy fashion finds are easy to scroll, but sadly not to steal.

And here’s a memo to Conde execs looking for internet gold: we’re dying to click on the clothes in the Index, then get swept to a shopping site where we can buy them.

Immediately.

Before we realize that $720 is too much to spend on a minidress. Or an apartment, for that matter.

Last November, WWD reported that Phoebe Philo was quietly sketching new clothes for The Gap (intrigue!). Now an anonymous source at Gap tells us that Phoebe’s undercover clothes are rolling into stores this season (excitement!).

The only problem? Phoebe isn’t a proper guest designer, so her outfits remain anonymous on the shelves (outrage!).

To quell this fashion injustice, we’ve culled our best guesses - based on Phoebe’s personal style and also on her runway years at Chloe - and come up with a short list of her possible outfits (obsession!).

London scientists just created a disposable dress that’s made from dissolvable polymer. While the dress melts down in water, its fibers are strong enough “that they can survive a sweaty party,” but probably not rain - or tears, should your boyfriend break up with you for wearing a plastic bag out to dinner.

The London Telegraph calls the dress “a symbol of our throwaway society, not to mention the stuff of male fantasies.” Meanwhile, Fashionista wonders if it’ll be sold in the ultimate place for disposable fashion, Forever 21.

We’re slightly obsessed with the recent M&M publicity blitz, especially the Become an M&M website where you can design your own candy character.

Of course, after a massive sugar high and several moments of should-we-really-do-this?, we made our own Anna Wintour M&M. Enjoy her, and - if you’re so moved - create your own M&M Fashionista and send it to us - we’ll publish the best ones the next time we’ve got a carb craving.

With the CFDA emphasizing “healthy” models this season, maybe it’s no surprise that some designers are opting for “sporty” looks. Fashionista’s already seen some Olympic-inspired outfits for Fall ‘07, but they’re not what you think - instead of little tennis skirts, polos, jerseys, or even racing tanks, young designers are embracing a new inspiration: scuba.

Which young designers?

Can’t tell you yet. Stay tuned for the runways.

This camera-phone photo was sent from a reader in London. But what is Kate Moss doing in it? Guess and win a Starbucks date (or, okay, a Starbucks card, if you’re afraid of us).

faran@fashionista.com

Bonne chance!

(Streetwalker, a post in which we pay homage to The Sartorialist while recognizing those he may have missed…)

Andrew: 18

Got Him: Outside of his NYU dorm on Third Avenue, East Village

Stalked Him: Because his giant gold Marc by Marc bag is both undeniably adorable and totally not okay, all at once.

Shot Him: Because besides the bag, he was rocking some neon Adidas sneakers and jeans that are skinny but somehow not anorexic. Kid friendly, blogger approved.

He Says: “The jeans are Cheap Monday, and I love them but their fly keeps unzipping when I walk. They’re not the best behaved jeans.”

We Say: Most likely to succeed as a junior Barney’s Co-Op buyer.

This E! claymation spoof on the Olsens had us laughing so hard, we coughed up our lattes. Pay special attention for the line “Ashley is perky, and I’m creative because I’m wearing bracelets,” which should probably win an Emmy all by itself.

Most of us noticed Purple Magazine when Carine Roitfeld became its cover girl last year. Since then, editor Oliver Zham has been pushing his French publication further into the States, hosting elaborate dinner parties with Terry Richardson, arriving at various style bashes with scores of cool kids, and quietly courting his latest cover stars.

Which brings us to this rumor: Sean Lennon starring on Purple’s next cover, along with a certain starlet who used to be his girlfriend.

Perhaps all will be revealed during Fashion Week, when Olivier reappears with a party at Beatrice Inn to paint the town Purple.

In the meantime, can you guess which girl might pose with Sean on a future Purple front? That is, of course, if she’s not too busy with luxury rehab…

Fashionista is proud to present Deal or No Deal, in which a group of style insiders check out a discount fashion item and answer that pressing question - is it worth it?

Marc by Marc Jacobs suede studded pumps, originally $380, now 53% off - or $179 - at Bluefly.com

Tinsley Mortimer, socialite extraordinaire: “Buy those shoes! They were almost $400 so now it’s a great deal. They’ve got a rounded toe, which makes them very good for the season. They’re a great color, I mean, you could wear a very plain outfit and those shoes will just make it. Plus they have that little ankle strap, which is so great for shorter dresses. Get them!”

Zaldy, L.A.M.B. designer and Scissor Sisters stylist: “Don’t do it. The rounded toe is already a little tired and the studs make them less chic. Plus, $200 is still a lot of money, and suede is impossible to clean. That’s not a bargain to me.”

Lydia Hearst, model/ heiress/ redhead: They’re wonderful shoes but they’re not incredibly cheap.
To me, a bargain is $25 in a sample bin on the last day at Barney’s! You know?

Fashionista: Take another $100 off, and you’ve got a deal.