Can Intermix rival Net-a-Porter?

An American finance company is betting on it.

Today the store franchise announced new investors, Goode Partners LLC. They’re taking a minority stake in the company, so they’ll inject more money into the company and attempt to make it more profitable.

What does this mean for you?

That Intermix will try to become an American retail supergirl - think more online shopping, more internet editorials, and probably a few new stores.

Of course, none of this matters if you can barely afford their $80 t-shirts, but they do have some good sales, especially with See by Chloe.

Is Mischa Barton going up-market?

On the back cover of this month’s Dazed & Confused, Mischa looks fancy in a campaign for Iceberg, the obscure Italian brand.

It’s quite a shift from the campus casual look of her Keds ads, or that of Bebe’s synthetic mall-chic.

But what’s Iceberg?

The Euro brand focuses on ‘fashionable sportswear,’ and shows every season in Milan. They have recently sought creative input from designer Giambattista Valli, in hopes of raising their profile.

Their association with Mischa (who has the distinction of being the 10th most invited person to British parties, according to Tatler) must stem from the same aspiration.

But is Mischa ready for a more luxe image? Her next movies are ages away, and until people can see them, they’ll still remember her as the wooden Marissa Cooper from The O.C. - or as the girlfriend of this guy.

—ALLIE MERRIAM

Lina , intern for Nylon and MTV

Got Her : Sitting on a bench near Spring Street

Stalked Her : Because we see cute flats all over the city- but never paired with socks!

Shot Her : Because layering is difficult when it’s 88 degrees, but Lina had it figured out.

She Says : “My socks are Michael Kors, and this dress is from Forever 21. But shh- it’s actually a skirt!”

We Say : Frock-a-doodle doo!

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

We don’t know what New York Magazine gave Jack and Lazaro before they filmed this segment, but whether it was pot or vodka or Strawberry Quick, we’re awfully glad.

As the boys talk with fashion director Harriet Mays-Powell, they pull several pieces from their upcoming September show. All of them look incredible; all of them forecast some major moods for next Spring.

Keep a close eye on the sharp grays and the lean, cinched body shapes - even the tank top they show at the end is lanky and meant to hang loose.

And to the secret designer who forwarded us this video, along with the panicked message “They already have their samples?!”, a quick reminder:

Fashion Week starts in five weeks.

Get psyched.

Oh - and when did Jack McCollough start looking so much like Derek Blasberg?

True, it’s July, at least until tomorrow. But as the summer winds down, it’s hard to avoid thinking about winter wardrobe options - like coats and hats.

Fortunately, Fall/Winter look books are here to give inspiration to our winter outfit planning.

We just caught a glimpse of H&M’s book on the Fashion Spot, and found some chic winter accessories among their chunky, Giles-esque sweaters.

H&M’s knit hat, at left, reminds us of the massive caps Marc Jacobs sent down the runway in Fall 2006.

Though Marc’s version is considerably wider (and harder to pull off), both hats evoke a similar feeling of being bundled up in a snow storm - and looking adorable.

H&M’s knit hat also has the slight advantage of being much, much cheaper.

But is it already over?

—ALLIE MERRIAM

Scientists pat themselves on the back today for their latest toy:

An umbrella that predicts when it’s going to rain.

But sadly for the Inspector Gadgets out there lusting after this gizmo, they’ve forgotten an important point:

The reason you need to know if it’s going to rain is so you can pack your umbrella, or not. If you’re already lugging your umbrella everywhere, because it tells you when it needs to be opened… well, then you’ve got the classic Mean Girls situation that’s referenced above.

A better suggestion:

Make us a pair of shoes that tell us when it’s going to rain. And when it does, have the shoes grow a protective coating for the leather.

And also:

Make a cuter umbrella.

Companies have always used models’ images to sell products. Now, they use their names, too.

But it’s not just high fashion that gives an insider’s wink to its models and muses (think Marc and the Stam).

Now mass brands are calling their favorite items “The Gemma”, proving the concept of a stylish namesake has trickled down to bigger labels.

While Jill Stuart and Ralph Lauren bring us a Gemma bag and a Gemma shoe, so do LK Bennett and Stride Rite.

If you love fashion enough to spend several hundred dollars on a bag or shoe, chances are you know why it’s called “The Gemma” - or “The Raquel” or “The Freja.”

But in the case of Banana Republic, Juicy, and Rocket Dog - all with “Gemma” items - we have to wonder:

Does their target customer even know Gemma’s last name?

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

The more we think about it, the more this article in the NY Times breaks our heart.

It’s all about how young city professionals bought apartments in New York, all without trust funds or Wall Street jobs.

How did they do it?

“They gave up smoking to cut costs, they stopped meeting friends after work for beers, they didn’t buy new clothes, and they stashed away tax refunds and as much of their earnings as possible.�

OK – quit smoking – that makes sense. But quit shopping?

“They said that it was hardest not to spend in the beginning: In one case, they missed shopping so much that [they] splurged on a pair of $300 Prada shoes. After wearing them a few times, he realized they didn’t really fit, so he sent them to his brother in Spain. Those shoes became a symbol of the perils of impulse shopping. Over the next two years, they each saved $15,000.�

Wait - how many pairs of Prada shoes were these people buying if they saved $15,000 in two years?

We won’t think what percentage of our income is “investedâ€? (right?) in clothes, shoes, and accessories, but what’s the point of having your own apartment in New York without some beautiful dresses to hang in your closet and a small army of shoes to defend the place while you’re gone?

“Yes, I look like a schlub, but I do own an apartment!”

We’ll never give up our style for that. But what would it take to make you quit shopping - a peek at the apartments of other Manhattanites?

—ALISON COOL

Things we’ve discovered on MySpace with glee:

A casting call for Gareth Pugh’s fall show, a video of Hilary Duff and her stylist, the real homepage of Daisy Lowe.

Things we wish we never found:

The “Thin Cult,” a network of twisted pages that say things like “my name doesn’t matter until I’m 97 lbs” and “This Means War - on my body.”

There are photos of skin and bones, along with heroin heroines - scary, skeletal girls staring into the camera as if it were an empty bowl. Some MK-in-rehab photos, too.

No doubt this will be blamed on magazines, on Lily and Sasha and Gemma, on us because we think they’re beautiful, but that’s okay, we can handle it - as long as it opens up a bigger discussion, starting with this:

Why does MySpace disable the pages of emo kids and thirteen-year-olds, but it lets the Thin Cult stay?

It’s difficult to pick a favorite designer from Berlin’s incredible fashion scene, but we might have to go with Svenja Specht and her Reality Studio label.

We love the moody elegance of the layered looks in her A/W 07 collection, which play with volume, texture, and pattern in somber shades of black, navy, and grey – but give you a flash of hot pink once in a while to lighten things up.

Right now, her designs are available only in Germany, Scandinavia, and Japan.

What kind of protest march do we have to stage for Kirna Zabete or Eva New York to pick them up?

—ALISON COOL

Helena Christensen is one of our favorite faces, so we were thrilled when Monsoon announced her as the new face of their eco fashion range - even though Monsoon is only sold in Great Britain.

Meanwhile, UK chain store New Look unveils its upcoming organic collection, which will be modeled by Fearne Cotton, a London TV presenter.

What does this mean for American girls?

Nothing - yet.

But pop culture trends often trickle from the UK to the US - American Idol, text messaging, and fast fashion are good examples.

So next season, if Selma Blair models a new brand of eco-friendly jeans from Gap… just don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Many trends from the 1980’s have returned to us - leggings, bangs, day-glo sunglasses - and, according to the Telegraph, so has the Sloane Ranger.

The style of a Sloane Ranger - so named because of their proximity to London’s Sloane Square, the epicenter of preppy privilege - was immortalized in the book The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook. Their icon was Princess Diana in the early ’80s: feathered hair, pearl earrings, high waisted jeans and Wellies.

Of course, a true Sloane Ranger had to have impeccable breeding, manners, education and… bank account.

The stateside version of the Sloane Ranger was documented in The Official Preppy Handbook. Like the Brits, American preppies attended only the right boarding schools and colleges, all while wearing Topsiders and madras shorts.

The authors of the British book are releasing a sequel, Cooler, Faster, More Expensive: The Return of the Sloane Ranger to honor a new generation of Preps. These Sloanies update the look and lifestyle of their predecessors by adding a little more flash and a lot more money.

But this time, there are different tribes: The Thumping Sloane (a group with traditional values and a taste for parties, like Prince Harry); the Chav Sloane (publicity seeking trust fund kids, like the LA-transplant Lady Victoria Hervey); and the Turbo Sloane (one who likes money and isn’t ashamed to make more of it, like Quintessentially’s Ben Elliot).

Is there a stateside resurgence of preppy style, too? Maybe we should get to work on Are You Wearing Two Polo Shirts With their Collars Up? The Return of the Preppy Handbook.

—ALLIE MERRIAM

We just arrived in Berlin, where we bump into NYC-based artists on every other street corner. While trying to convince ourselves that Berlin isn’t just another neighborhood in Brooklyn, we stumbled across the charmingly low-tech local label Wasted German Youth.

Their high-contrast shirts and hoodies appear regularly in Berlin fashion glossies. We also see kids sporting them on the street – and if they’re wasting their youth, at least they’re doing it with style and panache.

Wasted German Youth sells at Apartment, one of the coolest boutiques in Berlin, but you can also order their t-shirts the old-fashioned way – by mail. It’s part of their tribute to the early punk rock and hardcore scenes, when kids headed out to the post office to send their xeroxed black and white Zines all over the world.

With Alice Roi looking to the Misfits for inspiration, Marc Jacobs whipping out the Manic Panic, and Giles taking punk rock 10,000 years into the future for fall, we say:

Trip down memory lane!

But what’s so wasted about the modern German youth?

—ALISON COOL

Sue, 30, jewelry designer

Got Her: In Tompkins Square Park

Stalked Her: Because she dressed for the weather and still looked great.

Shot Her: So we could show two of our favorite rain tricks:

Pairing boots with shorts looks sexy and helps relieve the hot-and-sticky feeling you get from summer rainstorms.

Meanwhile, a billowy blouse is great for thunderstorms when it’s too warm to wear a jacket - just wear it over a tank and peel off when you get to your destination.

She Says: “When it rains, you plan everything around the Wellies. I’ve tried wearing other shoes, but these are the only ones that work!”

We Say: You can stand under our umbrella.

Sunglasses can be an expression of your personal style, but what exactly do these Dolce & Gabbana shades say about their wearer?

“I like Chemistry!”

“I wear protective face gear while playing field hockey!”

“I’m avant-garde!”

But really, if you’re going to wear “Science Goggles,” the ones at right might be a better choice. The Dolce glasses are $275, and these are only $20.

Meanwhile, don’t you think they’d look great on a really cool guy - or maybe Agyness?

—ALLIE MERRIAM, who wanted to call this post “Orange You Crazy About Dolce?”

If you’re hooked on Kate Moss’ Burberry ads, you should get yourself a trench coat (on sale now at Net-a-Porter).

But for rainy day adventures and jumping in puddles, this “rain cape� from the Belgian label Pelican Avenue might be more fun. It’s water-repellent, lightweight, and digitally printed to look like futuristic tie-dye.

The designer, Carolin Lerch, worked for Bernhard Wilhelm before starting the Pelican Avenue label. Each season, she collaborates with artists from different disciplines to create unique pieces based on a concept - this season, it’s “hide and seek.â€?

We fully endorse wearing this rain gear - but please leave your patterned galoshes at home!

—ALISON COOL

When Jane folded, Ms. Pratt told The New York Times that she was planning a new magazine launch for teens and ’20somethings.

What she didn’t mention?

That the launch may be with Gwen Stefani, pop star, L.A.M.B lover, and aspiring media empress - at least according to the Sassy girls.

If the coupling is true, it means Jane has her first cover girl, Gwen has another outlet for her entrepreneurial cravings, and whomever gets hired will have the two blondest bosses in the world.

We bet the soundtrack for the office will be killer, but wonder which company would front the glossy - Hearst has the Oprah magazine, but maybe Time Warner is a better fit for Gwen, since it already owns a record label?

Also: Will a magazine that lumps 10th graders together with 22-year-olds be a success?

Well… both groups of girls own Harajuku Girls tees (and so do I, at 25…)

Something we discovered this weekend:

If you’re out of laundry detergent, you can do an entire load with a cup of Dr. Bronner’s.

We love this idea, especially since it means your clothes get clean with biodegradable soap.

But before you try it, some guidelines:

*If your clothes sport major stains, nail them with a Tide Detergent pen before they hit the Kenmore. It’s not the most eco solution to the problem, but Dr. Bronner’s can’t get grass stains out of jeans without some help.

*Use a few healthy squirts for your whole load, or else face the problem of suds.

*You still need fabric softener - try the kind in sheets that you add in the dryer.

Besides helping the environment, using the soap can save you some dry cleaning bills:

It works really well when you’re handwashing corsets, tights, and cashmere.

We’ve had our eye on the online clothing store ASOS since it was crowned Britain’s fastest growing fashion business. After all, if Net-A-Porter and TopShop can realize they should be selling to America, it’s only a matter of time before we get our own ASOS shop.

So last week, we learned that ASOS stands for “As Seen On Stars.”

And this week, we learned the website takes designer clothes - “as seen on stars” - and copies them completely!

The latest:

Miu Miu’s metallic patchwork bag (left), which gets renamed the Keira bag and sold for about $40.

The ironies:

*$40 is still more than Keira paid for her free Miu Miu tote.

*Miu Miu’s bag only works because it looks tacky but costs hundreds - in the weird world of fashion, that tension makes it cool. A cheap-looking bag that’s actually sold cheap, like the one on Asos?

Probably not.

Kate Spade announced Friday that she’d exit her own brand, which is now owned by Liz Claiborne. The question is, will it survive without her?

It’s true that Liz Claiborne is a millionaire franchise, with Juicy Couture and C&C California under its umbrella. But those brands aren’t built on a person’s lifestyle, and Kate Spade is more like Martha Stewart than Monica Botkier - her bags aren’t just cute, they’re a nylon embodiment of a cool way to live.

We know when magazines are named for women, they tend to fold when their founder leaves - witness Mirabella and Jane.

But what about clothing labels?

Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Cristobal Balenciaga are gone from their brands, yet their legacy keeps going. But those houses were founded before websites, product placement, and publicists. Kate Spade’s label was decidedly modern, and it wasn’t really built on beautiful handbags - it was built, instead, on living beautifully.

Sending whip-smart thank you notes. Smiling through your sunglasses. Looking incredible just off a plane. That’s Kate Spade.

It took Halston years to revive after the man himself faded; Perry Ellis is gone; Anne Klein and Bill Blass are just now getting back.

Does Kate Spade need Kate to keep going, or did you forget forever ago that she was even real?

We know leopard print is big for fall – from the shiny belted dresses at Michael Kors to the fluttering caftans at D&G – but what about cow print?

Apparently, the folks at Reebok are more into dairy products than African safaris. Their new Freestyle “Cow Print� is a limited edition run that will only be available in August.

But is it limited edition because it’s so super cool, or because not that many people would wear shoes that look like they might moo?

Could you make the transition from leopard print to cow print?

—ALISON COOL

A fact:

Pucci patterns are kind of ugly.

Another fact: We can’t help but love the iconic 1960s swirls.

While we dream about a vintage silk Pucci mini-dress, like the one Jessica Stam wore to her birthday party last year, we might just settle for this new limited edition Pucci for Guerlain eyeshadow set.

It’s about $75 at Sephora (France first, US a little later), and we know that’s a lot of money.

But the colors are cute, and a little Pucci eyeshadow on your lids is far more flattering than gigantic psychedelic whirls on other parts of your body - so those afraid of bold colors or prints in your wardrobe can still enjoy the Pucci experience.

Plus, with a make-up bag this garish, you definitely can’t lose it in your purse!

—ALISON COOL

Mamen, 25, FIT student, and her sister Marieta, 26

Got them: Deep in conversation at the corner of Prince and Lafayette

Stalked them: Because we have a soft spot for stylish sister duos.

Shot them: Because, while their outfits were complementary, they both showcased their own individual style and avoided looking too matchy.

Mamen says: “I recently got this top from a flea market and I love it. I think you should always dress with feeling!”

Marieta says: “I got this dress at Mango. In general, I like clothes that are retro-inspired.”

We say: Watch out, Olsens.

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

You’ve got the awkward stance, the artfully messy hair, the House of Holland tee.

But so does everyone else in Nylon.

So if you’re looking for a way to stand out on your next photo blog appearance, check out Kameraflage.

The technology works like invisible ink - designs are printed in colors invisible to the naked eye, but clearly shown when photographed using a digital camera.

There are so many exciting possible uses -

We envision Britney traipsing around in a tee that screams “Screw you X17!” whenever a paparazzi snaps her…

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

Forever 21 may have our summer wardrobe covered, but this fall, our hearts belong to H&M.

Why?

Because their new face is Leigh Lezark, the DJ and Manhattan obsession who just got back from Florence, where she shot their campaign.

Despite speculation last year of a self-designed clothing range, she’s just wearing the normal clothes - no H&M for MisShapes line - but the move will counterbalance the giant herd of blondes (Lydia Hearst, Erin Wasson, Theo Richards, Jessica Stam) who will wear Cavalli’s newest diffusion line in H&M ads.

The new photos should be gorgeous, but… um… very filled with eyeliner.

Also: Don’t expect her to smile.

Hear the word “romper,” and here’s what we see:

Strollers, sandboxes, Juicy Juice, PBS daytime shows- anything geared towards the under-six set.

But, as we’ve seen this season, the romper is no longer exclusively for those with babysitters and mid-morning naps. The classic playground staple has made its way into high fashion territory, and it’s a force to be reckoned with.

Kate Moss featured the Guatemalan Playsuit in her TopShop collection, and American Apparel has recently introduced several one-piece versions of their signature knits. We’ve also spotted short jumpsuits at H&M, Urban Outfitters, and Forever 21 (not to mention on every block in Soho, too.)

Sift in the rompers of fashionoids like Nicole Richie, and the trend is that much harder to ignore.

We’re all in favor of easy summer ensembles, but we have to question just how easy a romper would be to actually pull off.

So, we’re posing the question:

Are rompers cute and wearable, or a really bad idea?

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER, as inspired by SABRINA BACON and her MANDATE OF HEAVEN obsession.

Astral Projection for Beginners is dotting subway readers, tie dye is everywhere, and Todd Rundgren hits are blaring from trendy bars.

And with the resurgence of New Age comes our new favorite Japanese brand:

Cosmic Wonder Light Source 1.

Besides having a really amazing name, the label captures the astro-hippie aesthetic perfectly.

Yukinori Maeda – the mastermind behind the brand – keeps himself busy with lots of different installation, performance, and design-related projects.

If you’re not feeling the pale purple tent dresses, we still recommend checking out his new magazine Cosmic Wonder Free Press 1 – this is the wave of the future!

—ALISON COOL

Paris is the land of Repetto, so girls have raided dance stores for white jazzy Oxfords for some time.

But now, guys are getting into them, too!

We really love these black and white ones from French sneaker shop Schmoove , which also makes a white patent leather male jazz shoe.

The website has a good selection of amazing shoes for guys – another indication that men in Europe are much more shoe-conscious than Americans, which is a mixed blessing (pointy alligator dress shoes for guys are like, normal here).

But perhaps the look will get lost in translation and never make it overseas.

Will you let your boyfriend get jazzy?

—ALISON COOL

The story in Styles about bangs is seriously blowing our mind.

First of all, bangs have been “in� for about ten years now, as far as we can tell. But now the NY Times has noticed, so they get their own psychological analysis.

And apparently, women over the age of thirty have a pathological fear of fringe devotees:

“To me, they scream: ‘I’m cooler than you, I have a lot of sex, and if you leave your husband with me I’ll devour him,’ said Meredith Hays, a literary agent in Manhattan with an unbanged brow.”

Bangs are a key element of many cool haircuts, and it’s much easier to look intimidating when staring behind an artfully arranged layer of hair.

But who knew that a haircut could inspire this kind of explosion of insecurity?

Here’s our rundown of bang styles:

A leftover discussion from last night’s party:

As a female celebrity gets more popular, does she also get blonder?

Consider Britney’s heyday morph from brunette teen into blonde temptress, complete with a yellow snake.

Or Claire Danes’ red hair transforming, slowly, into white-yellow tresses to match her supposed A-list status. The same “omigosh” observation goes to Emma Watson, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Kidman, and Beyonce.

Models do it too - Agyness Deyn had honey hair when she first exploded, and now she’s a tow head. Mariacarla went blonde too, after her Givenchy campaign, and Kate Moss had a blonde phase that’s still growing out.

Even Kate Winslet, our favorite actress ever, had a strawberry hue in Heavenly Creatures that turned into a soft shade of butter by The Holiday.

But Marilyn Monroe is long gone, and sex comes in all colors - so why are starlets still hitting the bleach?

We appreciate nature as much as the next person, but really, we are “Indoor Girls” and unlike Divine in a John Waters movie, we don’t camp.

Luckily, cult-favorite Dutch designer Marcel Wanders has teamed up with Puma to create the “I Hate Campingâ€? collection, for those of us who aren’t so convinced that the wonders of nature are just as good as Barneys.

Our favorite item is this “villa� (don’t say tent!), with an adorable black and white graphic print and best of all, a tiny little flag on top.

It costs about $600, which is absolutely more than you’ll spend at EMS.

But: think how much you’ll save on hotels!

—ALISON COOL

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld isn’t just a stunning beauty (and the owner of some amazing Alaia…). She’s also a prolific Parson’s graduate.

The daughter of Paris Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld put her education to work in this month’s V.

Julia designed a page for the magazine, and has her byline right in the middle of the layout - and it looks like she’s the only designer who’s got that privilege. We don’t remember seeing any other Julia magazine designs, but we do recall a super-cute invite to the Luella party last fashion week. She also designed Zac Posen’s Christmas cards.

Maybe next she’ll re-design her comp. card for IMG models?

— NATALIE MATTHEWS

I’ve had terrible things happen to my favorite clothes.

I’ve splashed gingerbread batter on a Calvin Klein cashmere sweater. I’ve sent a YSL ankle boot’s heel straight through a subway grate. Once, I got pen on the patent leather toe of a Lanvin pump.

In all those instances, though, I knew that I was at fault. I’ve learned to not wear cashmere when in the kitchen, avoid subway grates even if I think I can sprint across them, and always keep shoes in their shoebags.

But when I stain my Rick Owens, I really don’t think I’m to blame.

Because Rick Owens gets stained by WATER.

Or, more accurately, the dye fades when his signature jersey fabric comes in contact with water (Famous dry cleaner Madame Paulette told me so, after I turned on a faucet in the general vicinity of a Rick Owens skirt - tragedy).

I take basic precautions, like drying my hands very carefully and checking the weather forecast before heading outside in my Rick, but the damage is inevitable. Water is lurking everywhere, waiting to stain me.

Fortunately the stains are pretty hard to notice unless you’re looking for them - at least that’s what my friends tell me.

But beware, all you Gareth Pugh fans -

As his clothes are now manufactured in Rick Owens’ Italian factory, they, too, may be threatened by air conditioner condensation.

Stay vigilant!

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

The guest of honor at a Gramercy hotel luncheon yesterday wasn’t a celebrity or socialite, but Fendi’s newest must-have bag.

But does the hyped “To You” tote really deserve a party chicer than one we’d throw ourselves?

It does convert from handbag to clutch: yes, cool.

But the bag’s pattern also resembles a beach ball or parachute: not so cool.

While its aesthetics are certainly debatable, it’s “It” factor is doubtless - besides the Fendi seal of approval, the bag has something to make it even more popular:

A five thousand dollar price tag.

But if you can’t get onto the wait list, try not to panic:

You can just order this similar, slightly less beachy clutch from Target… it’s $9.49.

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

Yesterday, we learned from a salesman at Barneys about a problem with shoplifiting in the shoe department.

Except, the thieves aren’t taking the whole shoe. They’re just taking the ankle straps.

Why?

To wear them as bracelets.

Of course, we deplore the actions of those sneaking off with the straps, and leaving Barneys with a beautiful pair of Lanvins that they can’t sell…and that we can’t buy.

But we have to give them credit for having a pretty good idea.

This morning we attached two of the ankle straps from our pair of silver Gucci sandals together, and wound them around our wrist. The result looks a lot like the double-tour bracelet that Martin Margiela designed for Hermes.

Just promise us one thing:

That you’ll use your own shoe straps to DIY this trend.

Because, you know, we really wanted those Lanvins…

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

Bruce, 24 J. Crew Corporate

Got Him: In Soho, on Crosby Street.

Stalked Him: Because we like it when sneakers look professional.

Shot Him: Because the white Chuck Taylors, the jeans, and the tucked-in shirt were so clean and All-American - and as it turns out, he’s from Iowa!

He says: “This isn’t from J. Crew, actually. My shirt is from a thrift store and my pants are from Italy. I found them at a vintage shop in Florence, called Vintage 55.”

We say: Call me!

—ALLIE MERRIAM

Our award for the most French accessory of the summer goes to this new set of Pétanque balls from Louis Vuitton.

Pétanque is the game of tossing small balls so they land near another small ball on the ground. It’s possibly the most beloved and traditional French summertime sport. As we play it in Paris, we realize it makes Ultimate Frisbee seem so….declassé!

These leather-clad balls are resplendent with LV monograms and come in their own luxe carrying case.

We think they’re a perfect hostess present for your most Marie Antoinette-esque friend, when you visit her chateau in Marseille.

They’re also the perfect thing to hurl at a naughty boyfriend - perhaps the one in Monday’s post, who surprised his girlfriend with a fake Louis bag?

—ALISON COOL

If skull scarves are starting to seem too pedestrian, may we recommend this “collar� from French artist and designer Andrea Crews?

While it looks pretty startling when worn au naturel, but the only realistic way it could go over bare shoulders is if you’re wearing a strapless dress.

Otherwise, it could look pretty cool over a t-shirt or a sweater.

We think it would work for girls or guys, but we can’t guarantee that it would keep you warm.

Would you wear it?

—ALISON COOL

Since hats are so big for fall, aren’t gloves the inevitable partner for the new take on the ladies who lunch look?

We’ll ignore the first image that comes to mind - the single, fingerless Chanel mitt Lindsay Lohan sometimes wears - and focus instead on the beautiful pairs at Marc Jacobs and Burberry on the runway this season. Tizzy pop tarts aside, we do think that leather gloves are pretty special.

We especially like this pair from the French label 1-2-3 , which are made from soft black leather with perforations for texture.

The silver piping around the keyhole cut-out is charming, even if we suppose it would compromise the hand-warming qualities to a certain extent.

These sweet little gloves go for about $50 – way less than the cost of the single Chanel hand warmer.

—ALISON COOL

Our favorite Page Six scoop today pegs the cast of the new Cavalli for H&M ads:

Jessica Stam, Erin Wasson, Devon Aoki… and Steve Aoki, her older brother, who runs record label Dimmak and has previous modeling experience on The Cobra Snake.

To be fair, Steve did once serve as the face of an energy drink, but it’s still pretty funny he’ll blanket H&M ads across America. So why did they choose him?

We suspect H&M is taking cues from UNIQLO, whose oddly candid campaigns have the feel of a private joke. If you know Missy Rayder and the Ruff Club DJs, you feel the ads speak right to you, and whomever you were partying with at 4 am last night.

If you don’t get them, then it’s just a bunch of cute teens on the wall. Either way, it seems to be working at the cash register.

By roping Steve into a group of fashion models, H&M keeps one foot in the “underground” scene, even as its brand gallops to the mall.

One more thing:

Terry Richardson, the skin-loving photographer who shot those UNIQLO campaigns? He’s doing H&M’s Cavalli spread.

Hopefully it will be Stam he shoots naked for some of the ads, and not Mr. Aoki.

WHICH party-flitting fashion editor has a funny way of getting what she wants? After cutting the line at a club’s bathroom, she caught some heat from a girl at the front who was waiting. Her response? “You’re ugly.” The girl stepped aside.

Levis announces another lawsuit today, this one against Abercrombie & Fitch.

According to WWD, the suit is similar to Levis’ ongoing pursuit of Polo Ralph Lauren jeans, centering on pocket stitches allegedly trademarked by Levi Strauss and stolen by Ralph (and now, by Abercrombie).

We speculated on Monday that the suits were more a business move, meant to preserve Levis’ dominance in a growning (and increasingly unstable) denim market. What better way to beat your competitors than to tie them up in court?

But as long as they’re happening, we may as well make it fun.

Anyone want to guess who Levis will sue next?

We’re betting Calvin… or maybe TopShop, who just settled a suit with Chloe this morning for about $25,000…

If you’re like us, you dream of someday being one of fashion’s anointed.

That is, getting featured on the Sartorialist.

But how to get photographer Scott Schuman’s attention? We’ve gotten a little obsessed, taking inventory on exactly who appears on Scott’s website, and we’ve decided to share the fruits of our research.

Here are our tips for catching Scott’s eye:

If you’re a guy, show some ankle. A Thom Browne suit, shorts, even capris are all Scott-approved choices.

You may even want to draw attention to your exposed ankle by wearing an ankle bracelet - we cringe, but Scott loved it - he even took a close up.

Note: If you’re a celebrity in rehab, this might not be the way to go.

Also for guys, your chances of getting snapped are better if you wear a khaki colored suit, or at least a beige colored jacket.

If you’re a girl, wear a dress - 60% of Scott’s chosen girls do. Belt it at your natural waist. Add a pair of gladiator sandals. He loves those.

And no matter who you are:

Throw out your sneakers and flipflops.

Put something around your neck; a necklace, or better yet, a scarf.

Hang out in front of Fanelli’s at the intersection of Mercer and Prince Street.

Ride a bike, wear a hat. Ride a bike while wearing a hat. Do not, under any circumstances, wear a helmet [editor’s note: Faran wishes very much that you would all wear helmets, but it’s true, they’re not on The Sartorialist].

Now go out and look for Scott!

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

While perusing Brooklyn-based Oak’s online store, we found an interesting new trend in menswear:

The all-in-one (or, as we see it, the lazy man’s style starter-kit.)

First, we spotted a cotton henley from 3.1 Philip Lim, with a sewn-in scarf at the neck. Then we eyed a black tee from Ksubi, complete with a three-button vest attached to the front.

Sure, the shirt/scarf combo will catch the Sartorialist’s attention (and the vest that of Kate Moss wannabes), but these two-for-one pieces seem to cater to a set that’s either too clueless or too careless to put together something truly original.

They could also be really hungover.

And when you factor in the price ($288 for Philip Lim’s creation, $110 for Ksubi’s), it’s hard not to find the ‘prepackaged-casual’ movement a bit ridiculous - you can put your own scarf and shirt together for about $75.

This definitely redefines ‘effortless cool.’

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

Usually, when we can’t afford a favorite designer, we wait for their diffusion line.

But Alber Elbaz has a different alternative for budget-conscious Lanvin lovers:

He’s made them miniature, hand-painted porcelain dolls wearing the collection’s signature looks.

But are they really that much cheaper than Lanvin’s clothes?

WWD reports the limited edition dolls cost $345 each—not exactly the price of your average American Girl ($87).

The elegant dolls certainly have a cool factor that Felicity and Addy don’t. They’ll add a bit of eccentricity to your apartment décor, and give you a small piece of the Lanvin dynasty. But photos of them haven’t been released yet, and we worry they’ll look creepy - or like Bob Mackie Barbie!

Instead, we see an easy way to have the best of both worlds:

Order a kitschy Madame Alexander fashion doll ($95), and save the rest of the money for these Lanvin sandals ($170).

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

On Monday, we asked what you’d do if a friend’s boyfriend gave her a fake designer bag— and told her it was real.

Most of you assumed the boyfriend knowingly purchased the fake, and lied about it.

The statistics support you:

According to a study in the Guardian, two thirds of UK consumers who’d bought fakes were aware that they were buying a knockoff.

Two thirds also said they were comfortable admitting to friends and family that they’d bought counterfeits; 20% more than in 2006. Spending on designer fakes has correspondingly increased by 10%.

We’re curious about the increasing social acceptability of buying $50 “Goyards”. Why is the taboo relaxing?

Natalie knows some socialites who buy fakes, as a way of seeming more rebellious.

Faran posits that people feel angry about how much designers charge for their merchandise. Buying a fake is a way of getting back at a label that they feel has excluded them.

Another theory? Buying fakes allows women to buy into a brand, without feeling guilty about extravagance or the tragic “label whore” status.

Even a woman who can afford to buy a real Chanel Cambon may hear the voices of her boyfriend or friends as she slides her Amex over the counter at Bergdorf’s.

“Don’t you really have better things to do with your money?”
“It’s disgusting to spend the rent for a Manhattan apartment on a handbag!”
“You could be feeding a homeless family! Helping end genocide in Darfur! Saving the manatees!”

Our hypothetical girl might go to Chinatown and buy a fake, telling herself that what really matters is the design of the bag, not the label. And there’s a lot of social pressure against caring too much about brands, especially for women. In such a climate, buying a fake seems more okay to more and more women -

As the Guardian study found, sometimes a fake can even inspire pride.

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

There’s something so classically chic about a bicycle.

It evokes images from old movies, where beautiful starlets rode them in full skirts and sun hats (in lieu of helmets).

It also brings to mind Scott Schuman’s obsession with the innately stylish who would rather hit the pavement on wheels than by foot.

And now, this fashionable (and eco-friendly) mode of transport is in the spotlight at Joy Ride - a film festival at Colette dedicated to bicycles.

The festival - founded and directed by Brendt Barbur - explores and celebrates the use of bikes in the urban landscape.

If you happen to find yourself in Paris between now and September 1st, you can check out the show.

If only a bike were all we needed to get to Paris…

SARAH MUEHLBAUER

Last night, we headed over to the Left Bank to check out Shebeen, a tiny little bar that’s a mecca for the French folk set (yes, Irina was here).

The music was amazing, the musicians were tres adorable, and nobody wore fake glasses or rehab jeans.

Instead, French scenester boys focus their energy on their hair. Specifically, making their hair look as Bob Dylan-esque as possible. We lost count of how many chain-smoking, poufy-haired Frenchies we spotted, but we promise it was remarkable.

We don’t know if the hair will happen stateside, but we’ve been humming “Tangled Up in Blue� with a big smile on our face ever since…

—ALISON COOL

Seven For All Mankind announced their new spokesgirl today, and it’s Estee Lauder star Carolyn Murphy.

She’s certainly beautiful, but we think it’s a little ironic that Estee Lauder is trying hard to get hip, while Seven seems to realize its new place as a “cool mom” staple, and hired an older face to match.

Note how Seven jeans have stayed familiar to their trademark cuts, while forward-fueled jeans like Made in Heaven and Habitual bend with trends (note their new high waists and wide legs for Fall).

If Seven clings to their bootcut and butt-boosting shapes for another few years, they may change the look of “mom jeans” as we know them - but they might lose what’s left of their youth base in the process…

Because really, when was the last time you bought Sevens?

If Repetto has mastered the classic black ballet flat, then we would have to say that Paule Ka rules Parisian wedges and platforms.

While Paule Ka’s simple, feminine dresses in subtle pastels are very popular among the fashion cognoscenti in France, we really think that she reserves her genius for her footwear line.

If we thought there was any way we could possibly walk in them, we would immediately snap up this pair of sculptural platforms from the spring/summer collection and stomp away.

But for everything in between the terrifying heights of the Paule Kas and the comfy elegance of the Repettos and for insights all along the spectrum of fancy French footwear, we are indebted to I Love Shoes , where we enjoy reading about Marie and Jennifer’s recent purchases during the big sales here in July.

Yes, the site is in French – but so is Paris Vogue – and who doesn’t speak the universal language of shoes?

—ALISON COOL

Proof that it’s all in the timing:

On Thursday night, Sienna will host the launch of her new clothing line, Twenty8Twelve, with her sister (and head designer) Savannah.

Simultaneously, Sienna’s recent ex, Jamie Burke, will play with his band Bloody Social at The Delancey.

If you’re into spotting mannequins, the Delancey should be your place, since - as Darla Baker memorably told us - “this band has so many model groupies, the concert looks like a casting!”

But it’s pretty clear the real party will be at the Gramercy, where Savannah will unveil her Victorian-laced line to America, and Sienna will pull every style titan who hasn’t escaped to the Maldives for summer.

And though tipster Amy wonders if Sienna will stop by the concert afterwards, we seriously doubt it.

After all, Sienna doesn’t need to hang out with a rock star -

She already is one.

We actually really like the clothes, too…

Bryn, 23, Fashion publicist

Got Her: Interrupting her conversation on Broadway

Stalked Her: Because a tall blond wearing a slipdress on a crowded street will always catch your eye.

Shot Her: Because her tortoise-shell glasses gave her possibly risque outfit a smart librarian edge - as did her large leather tote.

She Says: “This is just a slip I’ve had since 8th grade - with a tie from another dress I’ve lost but for some reason still have. My shoes are vintage Gucci, and this is a vintage Levenger bag.”

We Say: Mix business with leather…

—ALLIE MERRIAM

Remember Laundry by Shelli Segal?

The upscale mall brand was once bound for Bar Mitzvahs and birthday cocktails, but Liz Claiborne has other ideas for now.

The company wants to boost their brands, including the glitzy suburban Juicy Couture, and the cool flyover Kate Spade.

As for Shelli Segal’s former label, Liz Claiborne rechristens it as “laundry BY DESIGN” - otherwise known as “lbd” - a play on “Little Black Dress” and a ploy to make the brand your new staple.

In a press release, Liz Claiborne promises the line “will set trends,” … “reflect a completely modern outlook,” and “make cool clothes that girls want to wear.”

But will you?

Shots from their new look book might help you decide…

WHICH fashion protege has some naked photos flying around? Guess the jet-set life has some risks… though not too many, as the person in question looks gorgeous in every picture they’ve ever taken.

Last year brought us the Marie Antoinette movie. This year, we have the perfume. But the fragrance will cost you exponentially more than the DVD - it retails for $900, about the same as those Chanel penguin sweaters.

Did we mention “Marie Antoinette Sillage de la Reine� comes in an eyedropper-sized bottle?

Clearly, the scent is for those girls whose heads would have come off in the Revolution. But the selling point is that the fragrance is an exact replica of the French icon’s, and not just a gimmicky perfume emblazoned with her name.

Bellasugar describes its aroma as “very regal�.

But while we love Marie Antoinette, we can still feel regal enough spritzing a $65 bottle of Marc Jacobs Rain onto our wrists - just like we know Kirsten does.

As for the $835 we’re saving, it could probably buy us a plane ticket to France - and a cab ride to Versailles.

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

The CFDA just announced their ten finalists for the CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund.

Winners get $200,000, mentoring by a major fashion figure, a giant spread in Vogue, and probably their own Target line.

The new kids are:

Band of Outsiders, a preppy mischief menswear brand that presents their clothes on a blog (swoon).

Erin Fetherston, the Paris-trained BFF of Kirsten and Zooey with Leith Clark and a lot of heart necklaces on her side.

Koi, the under-the-radar Thai label run by Nunthirat Suwannagate

Michael Bastian, the former men’s fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman.

Philip Crangi, a jewelry designer with a thing for hammered gold

3.1 Phillip Lim, whose sweetly slouchy dresses you probably already own

Rogan, the BFF of Bono whose jeans get worn in by rock stars before you buy them.

Three AsFour, enfant terribles with pretty architectural dresses

Vena Cava, Brooklyn girls with Paris style

VPL by Victoria Bartlett, whose company initials stand for “Visible Panty Line.”

Our hearts go out to Sophie and Lisa from Vena Cava (whose design is pictured, left), but we think Phillip Lim has this one in the bag, with ThreeAsFour getting a second place award, since they have so much support from Vogue’s Sally Singer…

The winners are announced on November 15, and you can expect to see the Vogue team at all their shows in September.

And also, here’s some fashion trivia: The Casting Director books 3 out of the 10 shows on this list.

If eBay’s not your thing, try Etsy, a site where users buy and sell their own goods— and everything is handmade.

That means if you’re tired of browsing for Marc dresses, you can support a fledgling designer and buy one of his unique pieces.

Items on the site range from delicate hand-painted scarves to funky wallets constructed from old Prada ads - our favorite thing we found so far, and a bargain at $20… even on eBay, Prada wallets go for more than that!

Yes, there are the inevitable oddball items, like bras made out of carpeting. But it’s worth it to browse, because Etsy has more cool finds than the latest issue of Dazed and Confused.

When you find something great, you can click on the seller’s name to see more of their offerings, and to view their feedback responses.

But unlike eBay, everything on Etsy has a fixed price, so there’s no auction anxiety to go with your shopping.

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

Grey Ant’s High Waist Braid Jeans are tricky to wear.

With the heavy detailing, butt-hugging fit, and wide leg, we’re not sure these jeans have mass appeal.

Thus, we’re a bit perplexed: Why is Urban Outfitters producing their own copy?

Most of Gray Ant’s signature touches appear in the Urban version (braiding, high waist, wide leg), but the elimination of additional braiding on the front pockets makes them a bit easier to wear. We do like the Grey Ant fabric better though, because it’s softer.

But jeans like this will only work if they’re tailored perfectly, and even then, it’s a stretch.

So would you pay the $330 for the high end pair?

Or would you try to work the $68 version, which may be more likely to look bad Urban knock-offs (which, well, they are…)?

—SABRINA BACON

Sarah, 30, London Art Buyer

Got Her: During a business trip to New York, on Broadway

Stalked Her: Her jazz shoe-and-dress combo caught our attention in the middle of the lunchtime crowds.

Shot Her: Because her skull belt AND necklace proves that you should always travel with your accessories!

She says: “My dress is from A.P.C. - but in London! My shoes are from a small boutique called Labour of Love in Islington, north London. The belt is McQueen, but this necklace is just from some junk shop. You can take my picture - but don’t slag me off!”

We say: Frock and roll.

—ALLIE MERRIAM

Shopping on eBay is easier than walking in flats, but it still scares some people.

I’ve done it for years, but my relationship with eBay is a long, complicated affair.

We’ve had our good times (last month, a Herve Leger skirt for $32) and our bad (the year 2000, a fake Kate Spade bag, $9.99, traumatic - someone glued fabric to four pieces of cardboard and stapled them).

But I’ve stuck with eBay for all these years, partly because I’ve had a lot of time on my hands (grad school, people), but also because I love a great deal.

Below is a list of tips for future (and present) eBay shoppers.

All you need is time, patience, and an internet connection. A PayPal account won’t hurt either…

—ALLIE MERRIAM

Here in America, skulls might be reviving themselves from a trend backlash, but in Europe, they’re still everywhere.

We see them on sneakers and sweatshirts, jewelry and handbags, and even evening gowns.

Leaving the CK Collection show in Milan’s Fashion Week, we spotted Polly Fei, model and muse to Pierre et Gilles, wearing the pink and black McQueen skull scarf on her shaven head. Look for this look in an upcoming music video…

Meanwhile, this week in Berlin, a vintage grey Oldsmobile 442 with a skull painted on the hood was used to separate the VIP areas of various parties from the average party goers.

We suspect the stunt was promoting Tarantino’s new movie Death Proof, but maybe it sent a more subtle message to the crowds-

If you can’t get into a fashion party, maybe you’re just as good as dead?

—ASHLEY DAVIDSON

Giorgio Armani already helped design a Vespa, and now he’s getting his own cell.

Samsung will launch an Armani mobile this October in Europe and the States, with a sleek design true to Armani’s brand vision.

The move comes after Prada paired with LG and Diane Von Furstenberg did a Sidekick, but the new gadget’s real competition will probably be the iPhone, which has no fashion connection other than the fact that it’s really cool.

Maybe more interesting?

An Armani Exchange phone already launched last October in parts of Asia, followed by a Calvin Klein phone later in the month.

Will we get a CK one here, too?

Well, the “big news” today is that Thom Browne will launch a capsule women’s collection this fall, but here’s the actual news:

Thom’s been making womenswear for quite some time now.

If you’re friendly with his sales staff - and willing to shell out thousands for your outfit - you can already buy some of his womenswear pieces at his studio and shop downtown.

Whether you’ll look good in his straight-lined silhouettes is an entirely different story, but if you’re killing for a pair of menswear slacks and can’t quite pull off Thom’s proportions - or Thom’s prices - there are some options.

If you’re small, the boy’s department at J. Crew or Ralph Lauren is a great place for pants (and it’s okay if they hit at the ankle for summer, just like Thom’s do).

If you’re a normal size, Trovata also makes some good slacks for girls…

This Spring, Alexander McQueen unveiled his Samsonite luggage - but you couldn’t carry it unless you liked the way his suitcases looked like skeletons.

An easier option?

Stefano Pilati’s “Edition 24,â€? a collection for YSL geared towards “young women who work and who travel.â€? (As opposed to regular YSL, which is aimed at those who travel but don’t usually work…)

If you missed the Nick Knight 24-hour promo film for the line last week, don’t despair – you’ll be able to see it – and more importantly, the full collection when it debuts on September 15.

The line is based on the classic, iconic YSL staples, except in materials that are more weather-resistant and way more suitcase-scrunchable.

Also, the whole collection – 50 pieces in all – is in black, white, or khaki to facilitate matching while jetlagged, and “seasonless,� so you’ll be all set whether your destination leans more towards the Arctic or closer to the equator.

We are totally smitten. But does this mean we can’t wear our old, beaten hoodie on the plane anymore?

—ALISON COOL

If you love vintage jewelry, but feel skepticism about the authenticity of pieces offered by eBay vendors, check out this website (in English, yay!), from Belgian antiquarian jewelry dealers Trocadero.

The graphic design of the site is lacking, but they have incredible ’60s and ’70s designer costume jewelry in excellent condition.

There’s also a good stash of early twentieth century stuff, which is worth checking out for the Art Deco influences on the fall runways, especially at Givenchy and Etro.

We’re more than a little obsessed with this geometric necklace designed by Fiaschi for Pucci in the early 1960s, but we’re really holding out for day we come across a vintage Chanel enamel Maltese cross bracelet.

We bet it’ll still cost less than a Chloe keychain…

—ALISON COOL

We just got word that Peter Som is the new creative director for Bill Blass, and he’s meeting with the label’s design team this week to discuss their Spring ‘08 collection.

The move seems appropriate - Bill Blass is known for floaty, sparkly sportswear and Peter Som has a reigned-in party girl aesthetic that can compliment the label’s original vibe nicely.

Som is also a good fit because of his pedigree:

Before launching his own line, he actually worked at Bill Blass, learning methods of dress construction that have served him quite nicely with his own work.

We heart Peter and we hope the whisper’s true, especially because we’re hearing something else:

There will be Bill Blass menswear by next Fall!

We’ve just arrived in Paris, and naturally our thoughts have turned immediately to Chloé… and baguettes and wine, fine, but mostly Chloé.

While visions of Paddington bags dance in our head, we must face the harsh reality of the miserable exchange rate and the potential economic devastation of $2,000 purses.

More in our price range: key chains.

For F/W Chloé has an amazing gold camera charm keychain, which costs about $400. As we gazed upon the mesmerizing cuteness, we wondered:

Is it worth paying almost the cost of your rent for a tiny ring for your apartment keys?

We’ve talked about designer sunglasses before, but the high-end key chain might just be the most obvious example of how much people will pay to participate in the magical allure of a designer logo.

But at least this Chloé “pouch� from last season is on sale for $200.

Its tiny size is perfect, especially since you’ll have nothing else left when leaving the Chloé boutique in Paris!

—ALISON COOL

1992 was a funny year.

The 90210 fragrance just came out, I was playing with Trolls and watching Blossom on Monday nights, and every cool kid kept their makeup in a Caboodles

And Sassy magazine was there, covering it all.

We know you already saw the Sassy spread of Chloe Sevigny today, but after a few emails - and a few chapters of the new book, How Sassy Changed My Life, we knew:

We had to post the magazine - in its entirety.

We also scanned a couple ads, just so you don’t forget what Nikki Taylor looked like as the face of Cover Girl, or that Rebecca Gayheart, before being Mrs. McSteamy, was the Noxzema girl.

Check out Blossom herself on the cover - and the accompanying story: “Mayim Bialik is not a Dog!”

You won’t see that headline in Teen Vogue…

—ALLIE MERRIAM

The classic Sex and the City episode where Carrie gets her ugly engagement ring was on last night, and with it, the eternal question:

If a guy doesn’t understand your style, can he be your true soulmate?

Or is your aesthetic something so personal that only you CAN understand it, and you’d never expect your partner to try?

It could also be that it doesn’t matter, but I suspect most of you think differently…

Something for the magazine addicts out there to consider:

Before Chloe Sevigny was a Ben Cho muse, a Big Love star, or Beatrice Inn regular, she was Sassy’s first fashion intern!

Chloe worked under Andrea Linnett, who’s now the creative director of Lucky. Andrea photographed Chloe’s every move, turned her outfits into fashion spreads, and eventually had Jay McInerny proclaim her an “It Girl” in the 1993 fashion issue of The New Yorker. She was seventeen years old, with no stylist and virtually no clothing budget.

The proof? This vintage spread from a 1992 Sassy, which features the indie style icon wearing homemade hats and skater socks.

Maybe she really is born with it…

Editor’s Note: We don’t do advice columns, but this was just too good…

“Dear Fashionista,

My best friend has a new boyfriend. Recently, for her birthday, he got her a Louis Vuitton bag, which she ran over to my house immediately. She’s not really a fashion person, at all, and she was so excited.

The problem is, the bag is fake. I could tell just by looking at it. Clearly, her boyfriend didn’t say it was fake, and she has no idea.

Do I tell her that her birthday present is faux? And does this mean that the boyfriend is bad news, too?

I’m sorry, but now all I can think about is her giving her a plastic engagement ring - and not the cool artsy kind from Future Perfect.

What should I do?”

Last week, we wondered at the Coco Rocha blog, a fabulous collage of pert little sentences and pre-model prom pictures.

This week, it’s Lily Cole’s turn to get read.

The British supermodel and future Cambridge student writes her own addictive account of Galliano’s couture show for Dior, and has it published in the London Observer.

Among the highlights:

* Lily admits her 10 lb. dress and 5-inch heels leave her “contorted in pain.”

* Lily reveals that backstage, “Naomi and Linda discuss whether to get [their eyes] taped back- hilarious.” For the curious: Lily did have her eyes taped back, and also her eyebrows.

* Lily muses, “It is not often I credit this job with being particularly hard, but walking a Dior show is one of those rare moments I can really feel, as a fashion model, I’ve justly earned my bread and honey that day.”

We bet her editor at the paper feels the same way with this piece.

Thanks to last week’s examination of the Forbes Top Model list, we’ve gotten more emails than ever about how models get paid.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Models make most from ads. Hilary Rhoda pulls in $1.5 million because she’s Estee Lauder’s new face, not because Vogue Italia keeps putting her on the cover. Gisele hasn’t walked many runways, but because of her Victoria’s Secret earnings, she makes more than most hedge fund managers.

Meanwhile, models who do get booked on catwalks pull thousands of dollars per season - I remember last year, when a designer offered Irina Lazareanu $10,000 just to walk. But more often, the girls get paid (at least partly) in clothes.

Here’s a good example:

When we saw the darling Chanel Iman at Marie Claire’s Supermodel party last week, she was wearing a killer pair of Dolce & Gabbana heels.

The very same killer pair that she wore last season when she walked in their show.

So jealous!

WHICH major young model gave such a hard time to hair and makeup backstage at a big fashion show that when she toppled over - due in part to partying the night before, and in part to ridiculous heels - the stylists backstage cheered?

Diana Kaufmann, managing director of Create Berlin

Got Her: At the Premium Party in Berlin, where she was talking to young designers about the Destination: Berlin project in New York’s MoMA.

Stalked Her: Because she was so bright and pulled-together, while the rest of us were melting in the heat.

Shot Her: Because she was also rocking some understated patterned leggings, a hard thing to do in the summer heat.

She says: “These actually aren’t even leggings. I just cut the feet out of some stockings before I came here.�

We say: Creature of the tights.

—ASHLEY DAVIDSON

Levi Strauss has a number of copyright lawsuits out right now, including several against Japanese brands and even more against big American labels, including Guess, Rock & Republic, and Lucky.

Today they add Polo Ralph Lauren to that list, accusing the lifestyle giant of ripping off their patented pockets.

According to WWD, the brand feels that anytime their pocket stitch - that bendy “V” that stretches across the butt - is copied, it counts as a lawsuit.

But the International Herald Tribune has been on this story since January, and their reporting subtley questions whether Levi Strauss actually feels violated, or whether the company simply has the resources to keep competitors in court for years.

Meanwhile, here’s what we wondered:

Are enough people still buying Levis that the brand thinks it’s being copied? Wouldn’t Habitual and Paper worry more about their pocket design, since those jeans are actually in demand?

Or should we back off in case we’re somehow sued, too?

Tanya D. is the newest girl in the Michael Kors ads, and there’s something misaligned about the whole thing.

It’s not that Tanya D. isn’t shockingly gorgeous, supremely lovely, and worth rooting for - she is.

It’s not that Michael Kors didn’t deliver a strong collection last season - it was well-rounded, easy, cool, and very exciting to watch on the runway.

The problem is the fusion that happens when a brand known for dressing the modern American woman dresses a young girl instead.

Tanya is barely sixteen, and she looks it in this campaign. And it doesn’t matter how gorgeous she is - when the modern American career woman is told that her new ideal is a 10th grader… we just have to wonder.

Cute dress, though.

Notes on the new Dunkin’ Donuts commercial, which stars Naomi Campbell:

1. The commercial is not actually for donuts, nor for any carb product. It’s just for their iced coffee, so anyone excited to see Naomi in the same space as junk food will be a little disappointed.

2. Though Naomi’s vengeful performance is indeed believable, the premise of the commercial is that she’s frustrated with her gardening tools.

But even when Naomi Campbell performed sanitation duty, she didn’t actually work. Now director Zach Braff has her shoveling dirt for fun?

No, probably not.

3. We’re hungry. As usual.

Maybe the tech boys are getting cool by osmosis:

This week, Google unveiled Blackle, a version of their search engine with an inky background.

The company says it’s for environmental reasons - a darker screen uses less energy, and with the millions of hits they get a day, their dark new homepage could potentially save thousands of dollars and also, important resources like oil.

Meanwhile, we’ve found another side benefit of the site:

It matches Chanel Black Satin nail polish, our favorite patent Chloe shoes, most of YSL’s fall collection, and the sex bomb mascara at Lancome.

Not that the tech boys would notice…

Cathrine Elbo, Danish sculptor

Got Her: Under Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, after the Smeilinener show

Stalked Her: Because, look at her! The skirt, the hair, the red lips, the complete aura of happiness… !!!

Shot Her: Because she shows us that you can be a wife, a mother of two, and a professional, and still reflect the joy of a child — without looking like one!

She says: “My friend, Mischa Woeste, made this skirt, and I just love it. Every strip of silk is sewn together by hand! Can you believe that? It takes hours and hours just for one piece! And I feel so happy wearing it!�

We say: Bright is the new black.

—ASHLEY DAVIDSON

Flashback: the mid-90s.

Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain, flannel shirts, babydoll dresses, smeared red lipstick – and of course, the obligatory Doc Martens.

With Marc Jacobs revisiting his grunge collection for inspiration and the recent rebirth of plaid, ’90s redux footwear is the inevitable next step. And ever since Gareth Pugh sent girls down the catwalk in towering platform Docs last fall, we’ve been waxing nostalgic for our foregone clunky black boots.

The thing is – we’ve grown up a little bit since our “I want to be the girl with the most cakeâ€? days, and luckily Dr. Marten’s have too. The boot brand’s collab with Yohji Yamamoto for Fall 07 results in a desirable pair of deep purple Docs.

But with the black, purple, and deep red Yohji Docs, plus the PVC leggings recently spotted on Mischa and Nicole, is ’90s goth replacing ’90s grunge as the go-to influence?

— ALISON COOL

Overheard last night at Alice’s Tea Cup, during the Charlotte Ronson dinner:

Photos of Jessica Stam were so popular after the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, the brand has signed her up to be a VS Angel.

But glittered wings are a major commitment -

Would Stam give up her massive runway career, and starting position as a Paris Vogue favorite, so she could star in a catalogue?

If she took the job, it would put her on track to be the next Cameron Diaz, or at least the next blonde billionaire - remember, five of the top fifteen models on Forbes most paid list have had the VS job.

Can anyone say no to an extra million dollars - even if it means trading Marc for the mall?

Last month, we spotted necklaces that looked like elaborate collars, and literally transformed outfits because of their broad size and bold design.

This month, we can report the trend is spreading, and also seeping the other way:

Last week, intern Natalie (left) wore a Marni necklace with her tattered t-shirt. It took us all day to realize the black leather cuff wasn’t part of her top.

Then we got Cynthia Steffe’s holiday look book (right), and noticed the reverse:

Giant jeweled collars that looked like necklaces, sewn directly onto her sheath dresses.

As Chloe keeps flaunting their embellishments and Galliano soaks himself in jewel-encrusted nostalgia, expect to see more of these collared pieces on the runways -

But the exciting thing will be if more designers like Marni churn out the detachable pieces somewhere between a necklace and a bib.

Imagine being able to transform your outfit with a simple snap at the neck…

We’ve always been obsessed with Vivienne Westwood, and our trip to her homeland has lead to a shopping obsession: We must buy something from Vivienne’s line.

But despite our admiration and affection, her Anglomania diffusion range is very hard to wear – and we’ve seen the pieces sitting forlornly on sales racks all over town.

Luckily, Viv won us back with her recent collection for the super-lux, UK-based Rug Company. While she’s worked with the carpet company before, we think the new rugs – based on patterns from her S/S 2006 “Active Resistance to Propaganda� collection - are the coolest yet.

But we can’t buy them, because they cost more than Prada shoes.

Until we enter the tax bracket where “price upon request� seems reasonable, we’ll settle for these active resistance pins, which you can buy on the (relatively) cheap from Vivienne’s somewhat schizophrenic manifesto website.


—ALISON COOL

Well, we all had it wrong.

Daisy Lowe isn’t the new face of Agent Provocateur, despite some good gossip, some great photos, and some ad work on A.P.’s perfume campaign.

Instead, the honor of ousting Kate Moss goes to Maggie Gyllenhaal, the actress whose talent is the biggest part of her sex appeal.

It’s because of that fact that we like the choice, as truthfully, the only way we remember Maggie’s breasts and thighs (and other parts to be corseted) are because

1. When she was pregnant, we saw them in every tabloid possible.

2. When she was in Secretary, she sliced them with knives and razors, and then James Spader got to spank them.

Though we’re always sad for less of Kate, the choice of Maggie seems - for lack of better phrasing - a bloody good call. Especially because it’s true that Daisy would have been prettier.

Well done, Agent P.

WHICH young Vogue cover girl was so cruel to the girls in her class that they nicknamed her “the horse” and neighed behind her back? She must be better behaved on photo shoots, since she’s now earning over $1 million a year.

Some of you were in a tizzy yesterday, when Gwen Stefani revealed her lawsuit against Forever 21 - she claims the store was knocking off some of her Harajuku Girls designs.

But apparently, the musician relies on her own copy cat instincts more than we might have known.

Flypaper spotted their Giraffe Modal tee — a dead ringer for a design from Crowded Teeth.

We did some further research, and it seems that Crowded Teeth did have it first - their shirt debuted in Fall 2006 , while Gwen’s looks like a new addition to a t-shirt group called “The Modus” - in the past, she’s made Lion Modus tees and Elephant Modus tees.

We know that graphics - like textiles - sometimes get bought from one firm by several fashion houses, but still -

What’s happening here?

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

Spotted after a spot of tea:

Her silver metallic dress was what initially caught our eye, but on reflection, her blue manicure is the true touch of genius.

We’ve been seeing plenty of hot pink nails this summer (and we like them, a lot).

But something about the blue and the silver fusing looks totally fresh.

Of course, we still have some shameful memories of the powder-blue pedicure, when we thought was a good idea in middle school…

[Editor’s note: Actually, Faran still thinks this is a good idea, thank you Clueless…]

And now all of a sudden we’re kind of feeling like getting a blue manicure.

Are we, as the Brits say, going bonkers?

—ALISON COOL

If you adore your flirty bras just as much as their clothing counterparts, you’re probably familiar with an issue we discussed last week:

Sizing differences.

Most of us have one go-to bra size we look for when shopping. Bras seem simple, so unlike dresses, they won’t vary from store to store—right?

Wrong.

Interns Natalie and Sabrina proved it after fitting into dozens of differently- sized bras at stores ranging from Victoria’s Secret to Kiki de Montparnasse. According to the labels, we miraculously ranged all the way from 32As up to 36Bs, without ever going under the knife…

—SABRINA BACON and NATALIE MATTHEWS

Today’s Wall Street Journal makes the claim that “preppy” is back.

The problem?

It never went away.

It’s tempting to declare the apocalypse on a style trend (white is the new black! dresses - no pants - no dresses!), but the preppy influence is everywhere from Ralph Lauren’s continued success to Marc’s recent Nantucket totes, and even Hilary Rhoda’s streak from a Maryland field hockey game to the Chanel runway. But while the style’s dominance never changed, its customer base certainly did.

Upper East Side boys have long embraced L.A. hip-hop staples. (Think Timbalands and Nantucket Reds.) Finally, the vice versa effect has set in.

With rappers like T-Pain rocking both the mic and the madras plaid, it seems the hip-hop/preppy mix is here to stay.

Will you hop on the bandwagon? If so, will you do it by pairing existing pieces in your closet, or will you spring for one of Unruly Heir’s basketball hoodies- made of seersucker?

— NATALIE MATTHEWS

Some people found our Vanity Sizing exposé to be scary, so imagine our glee when we realized one blog actually used it as inspiration:

The experts over at Smarter.com wrote a piece on Vanity Dry Cleaning instead.

Apparently, many garments tagged with “Dry Clean Only” labels can handle a spin in the washing machine (something we’ve suspected for years but been too scared to try).

The article reports that most cotton or synthetic fabrics (even wool) can safely be cleaned at home. The trick is in using a cold-wash delicate cycle or washing by hand (and never taking risks with anything silk!). Some cashmere sweaters can even get ruined by dry cleaners!

The site also cautions that dryers are less reliable than washers, so it’s always best to let clothes hang dry.

What the article doesn’t mention?

Without extra cleaning expenses, our wardrobes could be that much bigger…

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

We spotted this dress (and the girl wearing it) out and about in London, and it occurred to us that this might be the perfect way to wear ruffles without looking frou-frou.

The clean, simple contrast of black and white erase the girly factor of the ruffles, so the dress becomes a cute, but sophisticated, play on textures.

She wore it with bare legs and silver flats. Despite our obsession with summer legwear options, we think that this kind of dress looks best without tights – otherwise it could go too Wednesday Addams.

We say: we love it, but are horizontal ruffles flattering for the rest of us?

—ALISON COOL

While walking in the East Village yesterday, we were assaulted by the following phrases:

WORK IT

FIERCE

MISS THING

WHERE’S CUTTING UP

LOOKIN CUNTY

OVAH!

No, we weren’t being catcalled by a crew of ’80s drag queens (though that would have made our day).

We were looking at Patricia Field’s store window, and reading the words emblazoned on her tangerine tube dress.

It’s $42, which makes it half the price of Henry Holland’s tees…and maybe too similar, with its bright colors, basic cut, big bold lettering, and ribald phrases.

So despite what her dress says, we don’t think Ms. Field is looking too fierce…

ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

Question: What do Audrey Hepburn, Elvis Presley, and a skull have in common?

You might be thinking “a death certificate” and that’s not wrong - just morbid.

A better answer?

Each of the iconic faces stars on its own hoodie from Brooklyn-based Headhoods.

The young company - which boasts its inception from “a good coffee buzz” - hand-prints recognizable heads onto both sides of an American Apparel sweatshirt hood, so you can go incognito and still get noticed.

The unisex pieces range in price from $45 for a vest to $60 for a jacket, and can be purchased directly from the Headhoods website.

Come on - it’s never too early for Halloween.

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

We’re in London for a few days, running around town, hoping to bump into Kate Moss and Pete Doherty, going vintage shopping, and eating scones galore. Last night, on London’s trendy Brick Lane, Angel Adoree – the woman behind British fashion insiders’ favorite invite-only vintage parties – hosted a party to celebrate the opening of her latest venture.

Her brand new T-shirt Patisserie combines two of our greatest loves – fashion and sweets.

You can pick any color of t-shirt (or baby onesies) and then have it emblazoned with any witticism you can dream up. The best part is the packaging – the shirt is rolled up and wrapped to look exactly like a cupcake and packed together with a sweet treat in an adorable pastry box.

We think it would be a great gift, and a good opportunity to use your House of Holland-inspired fashion slogans.

But does anything rhyme with Fashionista?

—ALISON COOL

New things to know about Esteban Cortazar, the Miami designer who had Madonna in his front row at age 17, a CFDA membership by 20, and a brief fashion sabbatical at 21:

*He moved to New York a month ago and lives near Battery Park

*He’s in the process of setting up a studio

*He’s under new financial management

*He’s sitting out the Spring ‘08 season, and we’re massively bummed because his shows are always big productions (Remember last year, when the entire runway was coated in autumn leaves? Quite spectacular.)

But Esteban tells us he’ll be back on the catwalk next February. If you’re craving swooshy silk before then, check out cutie Caroline Trentini in some of his clothes…

Yesterday. designer Anya Hindmarch was in Manhattan to personally witness the chaos her “Not a Plastic” bags created.

And just in case you missed it:

There were 20,000 totes up for sale in New York’s Whole Foods stores, for $15 each. Within the hour, all of them were gone - despite a flood of rain so epic, it scared Fashionista into buying an ark on eBay.

Meanwhile, Ms. Hindmarch took her PR team and her umbrella (ella, ella…) and swept into the Bowery Hotel. That’s where we had a chance to ask her what some of you have asked us all along - is this all overhype?

And in Beijing, counterfeit “plastic” bags have already hit the streets… but that’s another story. Ours is posted below.

Nina and Skylar, 19 and 20, summer students.

Got Them: Outside their dorm on Third Avenue, just after it poured rain.

Stalked Them: Because we were reminded that sometimes, you crush on people just for what they’re wearing.

Shot Them: Because Nina’s print dress is incredible. Maybe we wouldn’t have paired it with such severe boots, but we also wouldn’t have ordered the clouds to dump an Olympic pool of rain onto the East Village. Skylar’s puffy sneakers coordinate nicely, and he seemed to genuinely believe in his sweatband.

She Says: “I got my dress at the Avenue A fleamarket!”

He Says: “I got my sneakers in LA.”

We Say: We just got a craving for massive college mischief. Cute.

Our favorite word from LA:

Benjamin Cho has signed on to do a larger line with Thrive, a California label fronted by stylist Johnny Wujek.

You may remember Johnny as the cute guy who may have stolen Mischa Barton away from Brandon Davis, but we remember him for his topless website.

Images of their new collaboration haven’t been released, but obviously, this is now a brand to watch - and an encouraging piece of gossip, since Ben Cho is too good a designer to not be doing more accessible (read: slightly cheaper) clothes.

Stay tuned…

Intern Sarah spotted this Anna Sui dress at Bergdorf Goodman ($138 on sale), and it’s identical print sister at Forever 21 ($24.80).

Though the cut may be a bit different different, the dress pattern has clearly been swiped - especially since Anna Sui has almost all of her textiles created exclusively for her designs!

Even more exhausting:

This is the third time (or is it the fourth?) we’ve found a connection between Anna Sui’s bohemian rhapsodies and the flimsier versions at Forever 21.

With Diane Von Furstenberg and Gwen Stefani both taking the retail giant to court, we have to wonder:

Will Anna be next?

Every season, there are certain pieces that show up over and over again, everywhere from V to Vogue.

What’s funny is, these pieces are almost always too expensive, too weird, and too directional to ever end up in anyone’s closet - despite becoming emblems of their particular season.

So why do we see them in the pages of every glossy?

It’s the very factors which make these items impossible for real-world-wear that make them so appealing to stylists.

They produce strong, memorable images. They sum up what’s in and exemplify it - in the most literal way possible. They function as a sort of fashion shorthand.

This season it’s all about metallics, so Balenciaga’s gold robot leggings and Dolce and Gabbana’s wide silver belts (complete with lock and chain) are getting the most attention.

Those items won’t ever be best sellers. You won’t pick up a pair of the Burberry Prorsum gauntlet gloves that are showing up everywhere. But you might buy a matte pair that’s a little longer than the ones you got last year.

Now that the F/W 2007 editorial coverage has started, we predict that this is the piece you’ll be seeing everywhere:

What Faran’s dubbed “the lego shoe,” made by Balenciaga.

Get used to seeing them, and be glad you won’t ever have to wear them… they’re so hard to walk in that Ghesquiere coated his runway with sticky Coca Cola to keep his models from sliding.

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

Lance Armstrong and Nike announced a deal today that would make the LiveStrong brand more than just bracelets.

A full line of tee shirts, jackets, and even LiveStrong sneakers are in the works for next season.

The story brings up an interesting question:

Can a charity stunt become a brand?

There hasn’t been anything quite like it in fashion before- M.A.C Viva Glam and Gap (Product) were charity initiatives born out of huge companies, not the other way around. And though Nike was involved in the LiveStrong launch, they’re now suddenly involved in a clothing franchise.

One more thing: Adidas has Stella McCartney, but if LiveStrong founder Lance Armstrong continues to date designer Tory Burch, will she do a capsule collection for the cancer foundation?

Imagine: Tory Burch for LiveStrong for Nike.

Yellow sequins, we envision.

Book covers are an item of nostalgia for us-

We think back to third grade, when our math workbooks were plastered with Lisa Frank. Then we think of junior high, where hand-scribbled paper bags or concert posters were the only acceptable options. And then we think of high school, where putting any obvious thought into the matter was very uncool.

But now we’re all grown up, and book covers are once again coveted.

That’s why we were thrilled when Styledash clued us in to the ones on Kate Spade’s website.

It’s not just that they’re adorable (they’re splattered with illustrations of great classic reads)- they’re also free, and available for download.

We may no longer have our textbooks, but the new Harry Potter could use an outfit…

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

In case any of you boys out there were wondering how to best complement your fake glasses, may we suggest the newly trendy comfy classic – the cardigan.

Mr. Rogers made the cardigan a staple, but the designers at Stray Boys made it cool again, with this striped zip-up design for those chilly summer nights…

Zippers are all over the place for fall – from the coat dresses at Lanvin to the rippling zippers at Junya Watanabe – and they’re just beginning to show up in menswear as well.

We guess you could wear the cardigan sans fake glasses, but you know how we feel about this…

—ALISON COOL

The Anya Hindmarch “I Am Not a Plastic Bag”(s) just sold out of Whole Foods. That’s over 2000 bags gone before 11 am. More later…

A few weeks ago on the comments boards, there was some model nostalgia for Gerren Taylor.

The funny thing is, she just turned sixteen - we were all missing a model who was maybe in 8th grade when we first started our style crushes.

Oops.

Anyway, Ms. Taylor has resurfaced on the New Faces board at Storm!

We’ve sent them a request to interview the former Teen Vogue obsession, and we suspect she’ll be surfacing - or should we say resurfacing - on various runways in September - ironic, since although she’s been working since she was 12, this is the first year that model regulations would have prevented her from walking… except she’s actually, finally, of age.

While we wait for Gerren contact, enjoy the now-vintage ad she did for Marc by Marc… way back in 2004.

Wow do we feel old.

In case metallic hot pants aren’t exactly your thing, we have another, more innocent idea, for layering under short dresses – bloomers!

Besides being a really cute word, bloomers – like these ones from Swedish designer Ylva Liljefors – will keep you covered for bike rides, trampolines, and any other activity that might make skirt- or dress-wearing hazardous.

Plus – the cute gingham pattern and the ruffles look so cute peeking out, it’s almost tempting to just wear them as shorts.

You can find them online, for about $80 – at www.branten.com – one of the best websites for hard-to-find Scandinavian designers, and also endearingly offering free shipping worldwide.

—ALISON COOL

At Berlin Fashion Week, Ashley finds her own style stars…

Wiebke, Berlin student

Got Her: In the Mitte district of Berlin

Stalked Her: Because she managed to fuse the ’80s Berlin club look with the current nautical trend, and still look casual. And naturally platinum hair is a rare commodity, even here.

Shot Her: Because she’s got white canvas sneakers, which proves the trend is stamping the entire world - not just Soho. Plus with the glasses, she is just adorable (in that severe Berlin way).

She says: “I actually wore this to look friendly and bright today because I have to hand fliers out on the street for work. It makes me feel like I’m at the sea, not on the hottest sidewalk in Berlin.�

We say: Mellow yellow.

—ASHLEY DAVIDSON

In Almost Famous, Penny Lane and her group of Band-Aids get traded to a rival band for beer.

In fashion, the shuttling of beautiful girls is relabeled “casting” and usually calls for champagne instead.

But there’s one interesting thing about PPR’s recent buyout of Puma that’s still pretty funny:

Two of the company’s biggest (and most beautiful) faces have recently been pulled onto the Puma campaign trail.

First there’s Lydia Hearst, who designed a Puma bag for Heatherette last season, and now stars in their summer ads. But last year, Lydia was the face of Bottega Vennetta - a big PPR label.

Next is Irina Lazareanu, who revealed to Style.com in Berlin that she’s the new face of Puma. We really hope they let her design her own sneakers and workout gear, because we would totally wear it, but there’s something else:

Irina is widely acknowledged as the muse of Nicolas Ghesquiere, the creative director of Balenciaga… a company owned by PPR.

So Puma, do tell: Was there a crate of Moet that came along with your new contract?

Danish boys have perfected the science and art of looking good in the summertime – in no small part due to the contributions of local menswear designer Mads Norgaard.

The key to the look is the combination of loose, but tailored shorts, with the perfect button-down. The best part? The rolled shirt sleeves! That’s the small but crucial detail that signifies that you know how to relax and let loose.

While Norgaard is best-known for his men’s collections, he doesn’t let the girls down either –

His womenswear line has a lot of the same subtlety and eye to detail.

—ALISON COOL

Today’s WSJ brings both tired and shocking news:

The boring news is the Thom Browne for Brooks Brothers collaboration, Black Fleece, will finally hit stores this fall.

The long-awaited alliance has been brewing for over a year, so we know what to expect upon its arrival. Fashionable males will surely snap up Browne’s trademark tight, short suits— just as stylish girls snatched Proenza for Target dresses.

The shocker?

Browne’s Black Fleece line offers dozens of items for women as well, and we’re afraid these pieces will sell slower than Kevin Federline CDs.

Why?

Women are used to seeing designers collaborate for cheaper- than-usual prices (Vera Wang for Kohls, Libertine for Target).

But Browne’s Black Fleece items retail for aristocratic prices. Especially considering what they are.

Maybe we’re being too harsh. But how many women do you know would buy a $4,500 dress made out of gray flannel? Or consider it a wise investment to drop $ 10,000 on a fur cape from Brooks Brothers?

We’re suspect that if you suddenly found thousands of dollars for menswear-inspired fashion, you’d turn to Alexander McQueen or Paul Smith.

Do you agree, or will you covet these Black Fleece pieces like you would the new Harry Potter ?

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

The full schedule for London Fashion Week hasn’t been released yet, but we can report that Issa will hold their show first - on September 15 at 7 pm.

The floaty line by Brazilian-British designer Daniella Issa Helayel held their first New York show last year, with Jessica Stam as their poster girl and a parade of sequin maxi-dresses and hand-drawn prints. Our favorite moments were the swooshy mini sheaths, and the way Jessica Stam bent down, smoothed the curling Persian carpet that made up the runway, and then walked out into the press pit.

This year, our favorite moments might take place in the line’s latest edition:

The Issa taxi.

Apparently, Daniella bought some old-school British cabs on eBay and gutted their insides, stocking them with chairs reupholstered from Issa fabric.

Those who can’t hitch a ride in London should stay tuned - there will also be a designer cab in New York…

Months ago, Gap saw its redemption in designer pairings, million dollar Vogue covers, and rumors of Phoebe Philo.

Now they think their true savior is you - if you’re a girl between 24 and 35.

The Post reports that Gap’s new initiative is to banish hoodies and tees, going instead for a smaller range of “classics” - like khakis and denim - that worked for them in the past.

The paper is charitable, noting that “no one is expecting Gap’s business to improve overnight.”

But to us, the move seems like a step backwards, especially since their new, not-so-secret weapon is designer Patrick Robinson, whose runway experience could translate to great directional wear for the masses.

Also, perhaps there’s a reason why Forever 21, H&M, Zara, and Club Monaco are trampling The Gap.

With more fashion awareness in our pop culture than ever before, don’t most young adults want to translate that into their own wardrobe?

And how exactly can you do that with khakis - unless they’re the odd ones that Nicolas Ghesquiere did for Balenciaga this year.

Aside from the slightly disturbing name, we are seriously intrigued by the new Danish label Black Milk. Their metallic jeans are interesting and would probably look good on the right person, but it’s really the 1960s, Anna Karina-esque jackets and sweaters that make our heart beat a little bit faster.

Each season, Black Milk works with a different artist to create unique prints and designs that fly out of their Copenhagen boutique. All of their pieces are based on the concept of contrast, which is interpreted in different ways each season.

We also love their philosophy – not unlike their Swedish neighbors at Cheap Monday – of commitment to creating designs that are edgy, unique, and affordable.

—ALISON COOL

As if Karl Lagerfeld wasn’t busy enough, his newest line – K by Karl Lagerfeld – is debuting for F/W 07.

K is Karl’s concession to the high-end denim market - and a brainchild of the Hilfiger/ Lagerfeld union, when Tommy’s company bought Lagerfeld’s self-named brand.

This lower-priced line (not to be confused with low priced!) includes jeans branded with a signature K, knitwear, and tees. The collection is eerily reminiscent of Karl’s own style: skinny ties, rehab jeans, fingerless gloves.

We found images of K’s ad campaign online – and could not get over how Brazilian model Jeisa Chiminazzo was styled to look like a mini-Karl!

What is most surprising is her wholesome and innocent smile – two adjectives rarely associated with our man Karl.

Sadly though, the line is only available in Europe and Canada - so die-hard Karl fans will have to head north of the border for their Lagerfeld fix.

But maybe there’s an eBay hope…

—ALLIE MERRIAM

First Katie Holmes gets booted from Berlin Fashion Week - now skinny models are also seeing the exits.

The HUGO show at Brandenburg Gate may have opened the season, but afterwards everyone was talking about how Italian designer Raffaella Curiel sent 15 of her 30 models back to their agencies in Rome.

One model reportedly fainted, and after the designer personally made a panini for her, she called the agency and requested that they know longer send models below size 40 (you may know it as a Size 6).

Today, inside the Premium showroom in Berlin, designers were talking about a total change of their own industry standards.

Though many German designers regulate the BMI on their models (nothing below 18, we’ve heard backstage), talk among the industry this week is finding an official standard for the German fashion world.

Meanwhile, we think Vlada may have gained approximately two pounds for resort season. She still looks like walking death, but with some potential.

—ASHLEY DAVIDSON

Toeless boots continue to make us gag, but we’ve found a new contender for the most heinous shoes of the season – the brand new ECCO 2nd Nature line!

Their website waxes deep about the difficulties of creating stylish, comfortable shoes:

“Design is one quality. Comfort is another. The art is in combining the two – without compromising either. We take our inspiration from nature and use our experience as a framework.�

We’re not sure where exactly in nature you might find this appalling shade of green, or what kind of experience would lead someone to design such horrifying flats.

All we know is, these Kermit-the-frog clunkers almost make the toeless boots look good!

Are these the ugliest shoes you’ve ever seen, or what? And isn’t this a step back for the green clothing movement?

—ALISON COOL

Reader Jason emails in with this news:

“I just saw Emma Watson with her probably mother and brother in the H&M across from the big Bloomingdales.

She looked really cute, much better than i expected her to in person.”

We don’t know what’s better - that Emma really is adorable, or that her Chanel addiction is kept in check with $16 jeans.

Meanwhile, it seems Emma really is quite smart -

She knows that H&M in America has totally different stuff than H&M in England!

When we first saw Marc Jacobs’ new heart-watch charms, our thoughts immediately went to the scariest movie of all time - The Wizard of Oz.

The tick-tick-boom of Marc’s necklace reminded us of the Tin Man’s big reward, except smaller, cooler, and presumably less creepy.

Maybe that’s why Urban Outfitter’s blatant copy was almost a relief to see -

Instead of spotting it and immediately thinking of flying monkeys (so scary! ew!), we thought instead of Marc by Marc Jacobs, how much better their necklace was, and how much more it cost ($125 at Saks, versus $9.99)

Of course, we’ll need to buy the cheaper one, since The Wizard of Oz has cost us years of therapy, which have been very expensive…

Thanks to Greg for this cut clip from Factory Girl.

The beginning shot of brunette Sienna is cute, but obviously the big highlight is Mary Kate, speaking.

She looks gorgeous and seems disaffected enough, and we love that she assesses the entire room as “not very chic.”

Maybe most intriguing:

Her speaking voice hasn’t changed much since the days of So Little Time, so it feels like we’re listening to a talking porcelain doll.

Mary Kate, you’ve done it again…

Sasha Pivovarova, the Russian supermodel and Gemma lookalike, is well known as the face of Prada.

She’s been featured in advertisements for the house’s womenswear collections, and in the ads for their LG phone.

Since F/W 2005, Sasha has been the lone model in Prada’s campaigns – which, at two years, is practically eons in the fashion world.

But if Prada’s new ads are any indication, her reign may soon be over.

In the Fall campaign, which features Prada’s new hand-concealing clutches, Sasha is joined by models Anabela Belikova and Irina Kulikova.

But Sasha is represented by IMG Models - the same agency that handles these newcomers - and also placed Gemma Ward in her first fashion show (also Prada) and ad campaign (also… Prada).

So although the fashion house is keeping their new faces in the family, we’re starting to wonder if this is the beginning of the end for Prada’s one woman ad campaign…

—ALLIE MERRIAM

Name: Georgia May, 15 London student

Got Her: On Lafayette St.

Stalked Her: Because her purple dipped locks begged us to take a shot. And her blue and green color-change wayfarers almost changed our sentiments about the overplayed sunglasses.

Shot Her: Because we always love the urban cowgirl vibe, especially when it’s amped up with a shot of colorful hair. We also love the would-be-for-fall ankle boots in the middle of July.

She says: “I totally just threw this on this morning! Cliche, I know. The shirt is from a random shop in France, jean shorts by Seven, the wayfarers are from Patricia Field’s and the boots are from TopShop. My rule is to always wear what I want, even if it’s outrageous…style should always be spur of the moment.”

We say: The proof is in the purple.

—SABRINA BACON

We think that jewelry is taking a turn to the geometric for fall, as in the clunky art-deco inspired necklaces from Marc.

We love the modernist, architectural aesthetic of House of Flora’s autumn/winter line of jewelry and hats.

The plastic and Perspex pieces, especially the necklaces, feel very clean and new – totally different from the current vintage look of long dangling lockets, keys, and hearts – which is getting a bit tired.

As for the plastic hat at right –

We can appreciate it aesthetically as a sculptural work, but as for wearing it? We vote no.

—ALISON COOL

From the wardrobe of Sienna Miller to the dorky teen in your high school math class, vests are a piece that can be high or very (very) low fashion.

Recently, we’ve spotted lots of girls wearing simple vests as an accessory over tanks or sundresses.

And of course, the vests (or waistcoats, as the Brits says) from the Kate Moss for TopShop collection has resurrected the style - though really, TopShop was selling them for over six months when Kate’s line hit their stores.

But like many trends (Example: Wayfarers, Keds, Fringed Minnetonka boots), the vest can be a challenge to pull off without looking like another wannabe groupie.

Of course, certain vests are a more wardrobe friendly than others. A neat black vest will be easier to incorporate into an outfit than a patchwork sweater vest or a denim one.

Not to mention that in the summer heat, piling on the layers can be uncomfortable.

What do you think:

Are you wearing a vest?

—ALLIE MERRIAM

We’ve always been into checking out dancewear shops to find cool tights, and sometimes we’re astonished by what we discover.

The latest:

While perusing leotards online, we came across these metallic short-shorts.

Once you get over the cheesiness of the photo, and the mild horror of children in heavy make-up modeling an item touted as “metallic booty shorts,� the true genius of the shorts emerges…

They’re perfect to wear under a dress that’s just a little too short.

And for $16, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get them in every color!

—ALISON COOL

Our favorite weekend gossip comes from Berlin, where our spies tell us that Katie Holmes and baby Suri showed up for the Hugo Boss after party, only to be turned away at the door.

The official reason was that the party was too crowded, but we hear the Germans really dislike Katie - according to one friend in Berlin, “we think her marriage is a sham.”

Well, obviously, but isn’t her cute haircut enough to compensate?

Katie’s a regular at Paris Fashion Week, but the buh-bye from Hugo Boss might prompt other fashion brands - those that don’t believe aliens secretly rule the earth - to eschew Ms. Holmes as well, and win consumer loyalty and approval in the process.

Poor Katie - but maybe Posh Spice can lead her to redemption.

We remember when the Delia*s catalogue starred Cintia Dicker and tons of bootcut jeans. When it clogged our high school mail boxes, we would sprint to figure out which we needed more - the giant stack of sparkly lip gloss pots, or the purple knit gloves and hats. We were a little obsessed.

Now we’ve grown up, but Delia*s lives on - as Intern Sarah reminded us when she flipped through their website and fished out this Marc by Marc knockoff.

The length is different but the shape, the color, and the trim are all the same.

But maybe the joke’s on Delia*s -

The Marc by Marc tunic is adorable, but not a great seller - it’s on major clearance at Saks and Net-A-Porter.

Maybe its mass market twin is in for a similar fate…

People and US Weekly have addictive features called “Who Wore It Better,” a style showdown where celebs in the same dress get graded.

But why do stars wear the same clothes, especially designer clothes?

The last time you showed up to a party in Miu Miu, did anyone have the same thing? Probably not.

And while Los Angeles is a small place, and celebrities do often shop the same stores - Milk, Lisa Klein, Max Field, Satine - it’s still awfully weird.

Until you realize that most celebrities get their clothes for free, either from stylists or from publicists. And if a new dress is gifted to one starlet, it’s usually sent to them all.

So will celebrities start shopping for themselves? Probably not. In real life, it may be considered uncool to wear the same dress as another girl, but in Hollywood, it’s just another excuse to have your photo taken.

In fact, we heard from a celebrity publicist this weekend that on occassion, celebrity “friends” plan such double-dressing outings for magazines.

But every once in a while, the celebrity double is really a matter of chance - remember when Reese was told her Chanel dress was vintage, when really, Kirsten Dunst wore it two years before?

What is it about gray that is so Scandinavian?

Our time up here in the Nordic lands has given us a newfound appreciation for the intricacies and charms of tonal grays. Less stark than black, more forgiving than white – gray just might be the perfect neutral.

We love the way Carin Rodebjer used grey in her spring/summer collection –

It makes these floaty dresses work in a way that they totally wouldn’t if they were in brights or neons instead of cool, classic grey.

Our mom hates the color gray and calls it “mouseburger,â€? (and at this, Faran says “Eeeeeeew!”), but we think it’s our new love interest!

—ALISON COOL

Hilary Rhoda’s ads for Estee Lauder finally hit magazines.

The Maryland native looks gorgeous in the campaign, but we wish she was used in a fresher way - after all, if Estee Lauder is going after a new group of younger, cooler customers, they might want to revamp their marketing and not just their faces.

But maybe Estee Lauder is going for a specific kind of teenager - the one who worships Teen Vogue and its ultimate poster child, Bee Shaffer.

The daughter of Anna Wintour is a student at Columbia University and a pro at shiny hair - but she’s also a more poised double for Ms. Rhoda.

Coincidence? Or something more?

Libertine for Target hit the web yesterday, and with it came the realization that skulls are still here.

There were the original high fashion skeletons from Galliano and Lucien Pellat-Finet.

There were the McQueen scarves co-opted by Urban Outfitters and still worn everywhere (this weekend I reasoned I couldn’t throw mine away, so instead I used it as a beach blouse).

And then there came the inevitable Sunday Styles story, the Damien Hirst diamond sculpture, the plates from Thomas Paul, the Cheap Monday pop-up store, and everything from Insight.

But despite complaints, scoffs, and annoying bedazzled skulls worn on annoying bejeweled MTV stars, the trend still hasn’t gone - in fact, it’s still going.

The kicker: It’s the fad about death that’s refusing to die.

Every once in a while, Fashionista emerges from weekend rehab to share something amazing.

This weekend is one of those times.

The August issue of Harper’s Bazaar has finally arrived, and with it comes something so deftly funny, so seemingly bizarre, and so unbelievably cool that we have to wonder if Glenda Bailey hasn’t become some sort of mad genius.

She’s commissioned Julius Preite to illustrate The Simpsons at various fall Fashion Week shows, and to create a cartoon Linda Evangelista to accompany them.

Among the highlights:

Lisa trading in her pearl necklace for something from Alber Elbaz.

Homer dressed as Karl Lagerfeld.

Bart in the front row of Louis Vuitton.

Enjoy, and huge thanks to Jazzi for tipping us off.

Tom, 36, product designer for M.A.C cosmetics

Shot Him : Outside the Apple store at Prince and Greene

Stalked Him : Because we were thrilled to see Wayfarers paired with something more original than a faux-vintage rock tee and fedora. But we couldn’t figure out what was the better preppy foil to his rocker beard and Wayfarers.

Is it the purple-striped button down, or the sliver of pink sock peeking out between his cuffed jeans and dock shoes?

He Says : (In adorable London accent) “I like this city! You’re the second person this week that’s asked to take a picture of my outfit.�

We Say : Yes, but would we be the first to ask for your number?

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

Knitwear is something of a cause celebre this season, with Ben Cho’s runway heroics involving needlepoint, Giles Deacon’s sweeping scarves, and Ruth La Ferla’s recent homage to the new fashion sport.

We’ve seen some crazy knitwear, but Swedish designer Sandra Backlund takes the cake when it comes to stretching the sartorial possibilities of yarn.

Her current collection consists of five highly sculptural red knitted dresses, and we love all of them.

The best part is how Backlund’s designs manage to look both haute couture and snuggly – a combination that we never dreamed possible!

But are the dresses wearable? We’ll let you be the judge…

—ALISON COOL

Twenty8Twelve is coming.

Sienna is already wearing pieces of the collection out on the street, but this outfit doesn’t seem to represent her line at its best.

We much prefer the pieces she’s showcasing in British Vogue.

After all, if Sienna’s a real designer now, she should understand:

You can’t take an oversize pillowcase, cinch it with a bow, throw on a bolero, and call it a day.

We know you can do better, Sienna!

We believe.

Plus, we have proof of your otherwise excellent collection, if you click below.

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

What are you doing this weekend?

Some of you are going to the beach, some of you are wishing you were going to the beach…

But all of you should be tuning in this Sunday at noon when SHOWstudio goes live with its 24 hour fashion film.

They’ve cast model Jessica Miller, they’re flying in Stefano Pilati, and they’ve cobbled 19 reader-submitted treatments into a script to showcase the new YSL capsule collection.

If you missed getting in on the screenwriting action, you can still do your part:

Nick Knight is asking you to submit “slogans and statements…to reflect Nick Knight and Stefano Pilati’s initial Godard reference point for the project and also YSL’s continuing association with the socially engaged woman”.

We guess so, if by “socially engaged” he means “lady who lunches”.

You can view the slogans already submitted here.

Our favorite so far?

“Beauty is retouched.”

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

Chanel may have told WWD that Emma Watson “chooses to wear Chanel” - and really, who wouldn’t choose to wear when they can? - but it does look like Hermione’s red carpet dresses have landed her in the right spot:

Ms. Watson has just signed with Storm Models, the London home of Kate Moss and Lily Cole, where desks are buzzing that the young star is indeed in talks with Chanel to do some sort of campaign.

How likely is the rumor?

We’re not optimistic. Emma is a great girl, but Chanel often dresses young starlets, which fuels rumors of campaign deals, and then it all crumbles. Remember: Ashley Olsen, Lindsay Lohan, Lily Allen. And as much as Karl loves “youthful spirits” - which is exactly what he told me last year when I asked him - his favorite faces seem well into their ’20s. Remember: Selma Blair, Diane Kruger, Raquel Zimmerman.

We bet Emma will land a big fragrance deal instead, but if the modeling thing doesn’t work out, the Tatler cover girl shouldn’t worry:

She can always fall back on her acting.

London Fashion Week claims that no girl under sixteen can walk on its catwalks.

Anna’s first reaction was, “Oh no, what about Johanna Stickland?”

My first reaction was, “Big talk and little girls, but why will things change?”

But then, another thought:

If London does succeed at rutting the junior high girls from their catwalks, and other cities follow, the girls who’ve just turned sixteen (and seventeen, and eighteen) have completely lucked out.

It means they get another 2-3 years to develop, expose, and attempt to oust the various Lilies and Julias before another new class comes to stake their clothing claim - so Irina K and Allie Michaels could get a little breathing room before the industry pegs them as a star or a stick figure (or both, as we’ve seen with Catherine McNeil).

Our favorite out of the new bunch is Georgia Frost, because she’s awesome (and pictured at left).

But how old is Tanya D, really?

Have you ever had one of those days?

You know, when it’s hotter than Scarlett with her clothes off, and your makeup is sliding down your face?

We all have. But, in all likelihood, you never thought that streaking Secret Platinum on your forehead would be the solution.

Celebrity makeup artist Joanna Schlip begs to differ.

Ms. Schlip (who boasts a clientele that includes both Scarlett and Eva Longoria) has been emailing beauty editors with her summer tips, and she tells them applying antiperspirant before foundation is best way to keep makeup fresh and dry.

Oh, and there’s more:

She also preaches that cherry Jell-o powder makes for the best lip color alternative in high-heat conditions. A lick of the lips and a dab of packaged gelatin is apparently more effective than our $28 Benetint lip stain.

Toilet seat covers as blotting-paper also made the list of tips, but we’re not ready to go there.

Are you?

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

WHICH young Vogue cover girl hasn’t quite mastered her flirting skills? She thanked an Ivy League crush for his cuteness with a framed, signed photograph… of herself.

After seeing some of Anna Tascha Larrson’s jewelry at a shop in Stockholm, we checked out her website to find out more.

That’s where we found this gold-plated earphones necklace.

It also comes in silver, but we’re more into the gold. All of her jewelry is handmade, and often comes in limited edition collections.

We love the witty take on the ubiquitous ipod white earbuds – and the snarling of the necklace really looks like how our headphones look after floating around loose in our bag for a few days.

It’s a nice variation on the layered gold chains of last seasons.

But we see one potential hazard — if you wear it, is everyone going to ask what’s on your playlist?

—ALISON COOL

The Olsen girls are billionaires, but they still need you to work for them for free.

If you’re good at running errands, sourcing fabrics, organizing desks, and steaming clothes - all while wearing sunglasses bigger than a socialite engagement ring - then you might be able to join the MK & A empire and intern for The Row.

Reader Kara sent us to a Craig’s List post about the position.

It says:

“The Row is all about a classic, chic sensibility for women and men, incorporating tailor made techniques to all of our garmets. We sell to the best botiques [sic] worldwide New York (Barneys), Los Angeles
(Maxfield), Paris(Marie Louisa), Tokyo (Isetan, Adelaide, etc.) and others.”

And while the position doesn’t pay, those hired could sell scraps of twin gossip to the tabloids and make several thousand dollars…

Which is about the amount you’d need to buy anything substantial from their upcoming, cravable collection.

When we think of Fergie’s signature style, a few things come to mind -

Bare midriffs, microscopic minis, loud colors… did we mention bare midriffs?

But it appears the pop princess has recently adopted a wardrobe with more of a rock inspiration.

Over at Go Fug Yourself, you can trace Fergie’s fashion transformation from glitzed-out call girl to Libertines’ groupie (the band, not the Target line.)

We’re glad Fergie’s branching out a bit (after all, there’s only so much hot pink we can handle.) It’s just that her ‘new look’ isn’t really a new look at all.

In fact, most of her outfits look like they could be Kate Moss for Topshop throwaways, or steals from the depths of Sienna’s closet.

We’re not going to hold the rehab jeans against her (really, we can’t), but the rest is up for debate.

Is it Fergilicious?

[Editor’s note: And as we were writing this, intern Natalie mused, “Maybe it’s the meth!”]

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

We love Kelly Clarkson, but it’s definitely not because of her clothes.

That’s why the news that American Idol will launch a clothing line was so confusing, and a little disheartening.

The whole point of the contest is that you can win because of your innate talent - not because you’re pretty or stylish, a point made painfully clear than Antonella Barba (the contestant whom we called “Princess Jasmine”) got cut despite her knockout face, body, and wardrobe.

Regardless, American Idol has paired with Lyric Jeans on a line of junior clothing, which will be available this fall and next spring in department stores.

We hope it bears little resemblance to the clothes actually worn on American Idol, which are so cheesy, they should come with their own dairy farm.

Would you expect to see this when flipping through the racks at Barneys?

Maybe in 10 years, according to Pamela Golbin.

The Louvre costume curator prophecies in today’s WSJ that “in another decade….no true haute couture members will remain.� Instead, the spectacle of couture will adopt the accessibility of ready-to-wear.

Currently, up-and-comers (Gustavo Lins, Lefranc-Ferrant) show alongside powerhouses (Armani, Chanel) during Paris’ haute couture week. If you like the smaller designer’s couture dresses, you can buy them…in pre-made sizes, the very next day.

Not so shockingly, it’s due to matters of money that the smaller design houses make their experimental dresses so easily accessible. Though fiscal matters certainly won’t force Karl and Giorgio to do the same, other factors might.

Consider the facts: Last year, only eight of the ten members of the French haute couture federation chose to show.

This year, it was down to six.

Next year, will Carine Roitfeld have only four shows to attend?

With a customer base smaller than the Waverly Inn’s reservation list, and designers like Ungaro electing not to show this year, is couture’s artfulness and tradition in danger of extinction? We hope not….

Unless it means the amazing couture designs (this season’s Chanel) will be included in with the designer’s ready-to-wear…. and priced accordingly…

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

Our latest vintage obsession is Mah-Jong, the quirky Swedish label worn by all the youthquakers in 1960s and 1970s Stockholm.

We would love to get a hold of one of their bold-patterned, Marimekko-meets-Missoni velvet dresses, but alas, they are mostly locked away in museums in Sweden.

Mah-Jong was part of the Swedish “Progg� movement, which was all about breaking away from the status-quo, avoiding consumer culture, listening to “progressiv musik� and refusing to wear clothes that were mass-manufactured under unfair labor conditions.

Kind of resonates with what’s happening in fashion right now…

While Google searches for “vintage mah-jong� usually turn up chintzy bracelets made from mah-jong tiles, original clothes from the collection were featured in Tillsammans (Together), a really great film from 2000 that was set during the 1970s progg-y Swedish youth movement.

—ALISON COOL

That dress.

We’ve mused that perhaps it looks better in your head than on your body (that is, if you’re not Irina).

So at this point, perhaps it’s fitting that the dress of so many’s dreams is the garb of an imaginary friend:

Simone, Barneys creative director Simon Doonan’s other half.

Simone also wears Stella McCartney sandals and Shu Uemura false eyelashes. Doonan has a lot of fun fleshing out her life. Fashion is, after all, a realm of fantasy.

We like the idea of imaginary fashion friends a lot. They can wear Louboutin stilettos all day, Comme des Garcons pieces without fear of ridicule, and they wear the same size in every designer.

What would you dress yours in?

(Please don’t say That Dress).

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

You probably don’t own anything by Libertine, but that might change next week.

That’s when the Los Angeles label launches their first line from Target – a sharp turn from the one-of-a-kind, reworked vintage pieces they create for The Olsens, The Trainas, and the magazines.

But how can the brand Anna Wintour described as “very Galliano� maintain their cool in a store that also sells barbecues and Barbie bedding?

Designers Johnson Hartig and Cindy Greene (who’s also a member of Fischer Spooner, the coolest glitter band ever) explain…

We’ve been having a little diction dilemma lately:

What do you call the clothing that’s not quite old enough to be vintage, and not quite new, either?

Is it “nouveau vintage”?

Or just…used?

Once you’ve figured that out, tell me this:

What do you call a ">Forever 21 knockoff of a Prada sandal from 2003, as spotted by reader Sarah Z?

How about:

Newer, but not necessarily cuter…

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

The Danes won’t stop churning out new designers – we don’t know if it’s the free education, the state support of artists, or what – but you can hardly turn around in Copenhagen without stumbling into an exciting new boutique or bumping into an emerging designer.

In any case, the fairly new Danish label Won Hundred, which has been churning out ready-to-wear collections for men and women since 2004, definitely stands out from the crowd.

Their spring show was inspired by classic film noir styles, and the dominant color was – you guessed it – black!

And it could look boring, but it’s not thanks to this color rule:

The designer’s are choosing just the right shade black – pure, solid dark dark black – with no fading for us.

Are you ready to put away your colors, pump up the Smiths, and go back to it?

—ALISON COOL

Braving the sauna that is New York in July, interns Natalie and Sabrina ventured into Soho, exploring something just as undeniable as the city’s heat:

The fashion world’s sizing differences.

We hit every store on the spectrum, from mass-market retailers (Old Navy, H&M) to high fashion boutiques (Prada, Barneys Co-op).

As followers of the Teen Vogue code mixing high and low, we’re used to H&M’s size zero skirts in our closets rubbing fabrics with the Miu Miu size sixes. Still, we find the concept of crazy sizing as confusing as the concept of open-toed high-heeled booties.

While common girl knowledge dictates that our favorite pairs of jeans will inevitably run the gamut of sizes, we have to admit we often expect simple items like dresses and shorts to be a little more constant.

Affordable retail chains certainly have a much broader customer base to consider when fitting their clothes, but that doesn’t mean Sabrina didn’t laugh when 5â€?10 Natalie couldn’t get an Ungaro size 6 over the edge of her collarbone—

Later, she zipped herself into an XS at Club Monaco…

But what about the rest of her wardrobe?

—NATALIE MATTHEWS AND SABRINA BACON

Quick:

Name one film starring Camilla Belle, aside from the vaguely successful and entirely forgettable horror flick When A Stranger Calls.

Next, count how many of your old fashion magazines have the B-list actress on their cover. You’ll find, as we have, that her fashion press completely overshadows her IMDB cred.

While the fashion world has certainly adopted out of work actresses before (Olsens, anyone?), they usually do it as a nod to the girl’s personal style.

The difference with Ms. Belle is she doesn’t get tabloid coverage, so the only times we see her “style� is when she’s actually been dressed by a professional.

Although she looks great in clothes picked out for her, we don’t know what Camilla’s personality or everyday style are like.

If fashion magazines use actresses as their cover girls in order to convey a certain personality trait, what exactly are Camilla’s covers saying to consumers?

Perhaps that she frequents Rose Bar fashion parties, and has a few friends on the masthead of Teen Vogue?

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

It’s the season that’s traditionally designated for Pucci caftans by day and tan-showcasing minidresses by night.

Yet this summer, we’ve seen hordes of girls dressed in tights, darks, and heavy fabrics, bearing the more somber mood of fall/winter than spring/summer.

Certainly global weather over the past few years has been even less predictable than Courtney Love’s next breakdown.

So is it inevitable that as the boundaries between weather’s seasons fade, fashion’s seasons will dilute as well?

Vogue’s Sally Singer thinks so, noting that the Fall’s strongest collections were, in effect, seasonless.

But do you shop for July sweaters and November tank tops?

And if so, what does this mean for the future of the rigid Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter designations?

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

Hilary, freelance pattern-designer (currently working with Chris Benz and Chaiken)

Got her: Scoping the produce at the fruit and vegetable stands on Houston.

Stalked her: Because her look might be what summer is all about.

Shot her: Because she transformed a very retro dress into a modern staple with help from the right accessories, and because her gold sandals make the look cleaner, when usually they look like off-duty footwear for a Vegas showgirl.

She says: “This dress is a find from a Vermont thrift store, and I scored the sandals off Zappos. I try to play with patterns and proportions and put things together that wouldn’t normally work.”

We say: All the clothes that’s fit to print!\

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

You know how it went down:

In the late ’90s, actresses starting replacing models on magazine covers and in ad campaigns. The supermodel was declared dead. We were sad (editor’s note: Anna was sad. Faran really liked seeing Kate Winslet on the cover of W).

Today, we blame the communists.

They supply casting directors with an endless parade of very tall, very thin, very indistinguishable, very boring girls from the former USSR - not supermodel material.

But lately, it seems like fashion is interested in models again.

Vogue is putting them on the cover, printing their biographies, and plastering their product recommendations all over Style.com.

Model fansites and communities are exploding with people dying to tell you just how much they love the new Doutzen editorial.

Some of it, we think, is the desire to feel like an insider:

Talking about Lara Stone is a way to let people know that not only do you look at W, you read the small print - and Cathy Horyn’s blog.

And some of it seems like buying into the promise of the glossy pages. We think that a girl who looks so cool, so edgy, so chic, must be ten times more fascinating than Jennifer Aniston.

More and more information about models is being made available, and some agencies have even created personal, “official” websites for their top girls, complete with forums and blogs.

The problem is, the pictures are so great that the words seem just a little…disappointing.

We were sad to learn on Coco Rocha’s blog that she doesn’t know “its” from “it’s,” watches TV as a primary hobby, and does her signature pose (you know, the open mouth) because “she just does.”

But she takes amazing photos, so perhaps it’s not fair to ask her to write like Proust.

After all, we wouldn’t want you guys to start expecting us to work it for camera like Coco.

P.S.- Two words: prom pictures.

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

Ana, painter

Got her: Crossing Sixth Avenue in the Village

Stalked her: Because- from a distance- she was a doppelganger for a certain artsy icon/ band-breaker.

Shot her: Because her outfit is a perfect example of how to successfully merge ‘easy’ and ‘elegant.’ And because her hat was just the right dose of quirky-chic.

She says: “This hat I got from Daffy’s, and the dress is from a hippie shop on Greenwich Ave. I think that when it comes to choosing clothes, comfort is the most important thing.”

We say: She’s (not) with the band.

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

If you’re patient enough to wait in a 40-person line at the Nanette Lepore sample sale, you might as well carry some bags full of cheap but fabulous goodies back down in the elevator - and did we mention the elevator line is just as long?

That said, the Nanette Lepore sample sale does have some elusive great finds, but they don’t come in the flavors you might expect.

Don’t look for the breezy summer dresses or pastel knee-length skirts you’re wanting right now. Instead, go for the pants and shorts passed over by all the frantic shoppers scraping you with their Stam bags.

While the dresses are only $140- $165, what’s left is more for your grandmother’s closet than your own. Meanwhile, the adorable boyfriend jeans left ignored are just $85.

Similarly, Nanette Lepore’s shorts (which work with a cute blouse and flats) are only $75— plus, they’re a good investment, as their threads won’t unravel after the first wear - unlike the Urban’s version.

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

One of the more interesting fashion companies in Denmark is Noir, who have shown beautifully-tailored womenswear for three seasons now, earning them cult status among Danish fashionistas.

While the label is known for borrowing playfully from menswear and its stark Scandinavian color palettes, Noir has been getting the most buzz for starting its own textile company – Illuminati II – which will deliver organic and fair-trade cotton fabric aimed at the luxury fashion market starting in 2008.

The cotton is sourced in Uganda.

We like Noir’s moodily gorgeous designs a lot, but even more:

We like the idea of fashion companies thinking about sustainability and labor all the way down the supply chain, without turning it into a celebrity ad campaign.

It’s like American Apparel without the icky 1970s porn factor!

—ALISON COOL

This fall is all about hats.

Whether you’ve already cast aside your Prada turban or have your eyes on a Marc Jacobs topper, chances are you won’t find a more head-turning hat for autumn than these psychedelic Nordic numbers from Danish export Søren Bach.

Bach won the prestigious Todd & Duncan award at Royal College of Art London in May when he showed his senior collection, and he’s already been fielding calls from Louis Vuitton, for an interview, and Bjork – who wants to wear one of his hats in a music video.

Even though we’re totally into giant pom-poms and all, we’re holding out for Bach’s next project – shoes and handbags! Can’t wait.

—ALISON COOL

In a world of $250 “artfully distressed” denim and shoes that cost more than a month’s rent, DIY projects are a tempting (and affordable) alternative.

We at Fashionista both understand and fully support this notion.

That’s why we’re thrilled with the number of DIY emails we’ve received over the last few days, and we’re more than happy to share.

The style mavens over at Condenasty took a cue from our post on Malene Birger’s amazing necklace and got crafty.

The formula? A black sash and ball-chains from the hardware store.

Brightestyoungthings quenched their Marc craving with a DIY inspired by his metal-studded flats. They use black Capezio ballet slippers as their building block, which earns them points for being cheap and chic.

And today, Styledash features a “vintage jeans” tutorial from Threadbanger - apparently, coffee, sandpaper and a cheese grater will do the trick.

These are bound to keep us busy (more like ‘procrastinating’), but if you’ve got any brilliant DIYs of your own, feel free to tip us off.

—SARAH MUEHLBAUER

Confession: I get a lot of skincare stuff for free.

It is usually expensive, European, and smelling a little like medicine and a little like ice.

And while I’ve never had particularly icky skin, I never felt glowy and amazing either. Until I ran out of the costly stuff, and got some facial scrub from The Body Shop - for $12.

And suddenly, my skin was movie-star amazing, to the point where even guys took notice.

I told one of them last night about my cheap skin scrub from the mall, and he said, “Well, it’s a mass brand for a reason - millions of girls wouldn’t use it if it didn’t work!”

Which leads me to wonder if most makeup isn’t really an Occam’s Razor of an issue - the simplest answer is usually true, and the reason big brands are popular is because more people buy them / like them / want them.

But does this mean my Wet ‘n Wild lip gloss is just as good as Stila?

Kate Moss’ TopShop collection is basically just her closet reinterpreted - in bigger sizes, cheaper fabrics, and purged memories of Johnny Depp.

So when TopShop chairman Sir Phillip Green announced he’d prosecute anyone who ripped off his designs for the supermodel, we didn’t take it very seriously.

Apparently, Forever 21 didn’t either.

Though their version of Kate’s “Guatamalan Jumper” is a frock instead of a playsuit, it’s inspiration and style twin is clear.

Kate’s costs about $100; Forever 21’s retails for $20.

We dare you to look cute in either of them, without the help of a rock star boyfriend, a ShowStudio camera crew, or a modeling resume the length of the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Seattle Times has a piece today on fashion blogs and their influence on American style.

The article argues that The Sartorialist and The Cobra Snake can cause trends with the same force of a runway show, because of the instant exposure and universal access that comes with the Internet.

We’re not sure a great photo by Scott Schuman can quite compete with Nicole Richie’s latest sunglasses, but when it comes to the fast fashion chains, we’ve seen as many knock-offs of Nylon Street Style as we have of DVF.

The influence can also be felt on the runways: Missoni’s slouchy silhouettes didn’t come from Angela and Margherita’s personal closets, and Phillip Lim’s red plaid embrace looked straight outta Greenpoint.

But maybe most interesting was the story’s title:

“Look Sharp: Your Style Could End Up on a Blog.”

Which begs the question - have you upped your style on lazy weekends, in hopes a long walk can turn into a Sartorialist spread or a turn on Streetwalker?

Because, um, we have.

Stockholm was fun, but now I’m in Copenhagen, home of delicious pastries (yeah – Danishes!), beautiful furniture, and of course, great style. There are a dizzying amount of cool boutiques, young designers, and edgy looks in this town.

One of the coolest streetwear brands here – Wood Wood – just did a collaboration with Nike, resulting in possibly the most awesome windbreaker we’ve ever seen.

(Not that there’s much competition in the windbreaker market, but still!)

The pattern looks like a maze, and if you look carefully, you can find a little cheetah being chased through the labyrinth. Very “Where’s Waldo� (and also those Teen Vogue spreads they keep doing on sporty chic).

Wood Wood has stores in Copenhagen and Berlin, but you can also get the jacket online, where it costs about $150.

—ALISON COOL

After speculation that Louis Vuitton could buy the brand, Proenza Schouler has finally sold 45% of itself to Valentino.

How does this affect you, the Proenza addict?

Right now, it doesn’t. Valentino insists its new partnership is purely financial and strategic - they’ll help the boys with branding, distribution, sales, and staffing - but not with design.

But in the future, this is probably good news for those of you lusting for a structured corset or a silken swing-coat:

Now that Proenza has access to Valentino’s textile mills, they’ll be able to churn out even better clothes for the same price. The possibility of a mid-market diffusion line is more likely, since they have the funding to produce bigger orders. Shoes, handbags, and perfume are definitely on the horizon. And Proenza will get a Paris office, though it’ll be for sales and not for design.

And don’t jump ahead:

While rumors did swirl that the Proenza boys would still be put in charge of Valentino’s brand upon his retirement, we’re being told not to back down from our Zac Posen theory just yet…