Traditionally a taboo color combination, the pairing of orange and black dominated the runways for Fall 08. Orange accents paired with black ensembles made bold appearances, seen in the high collars at Prada and the opaque tights at Alessandro Dell' Acqua.

Aquascutum, Christian Lacroix, Gaultier and Narciso Rogriguez reversed the new combination, swapping out the traditional little black dress for more vibrant orange creations paired with opaque tights in black and burnt orange.

Moschino Cheap & Chic did their own version of Halloween-chic with a black and orange printed coat, and Comme des Garcons took the trend to new heights with a voluminous tulle skirt and top, finished off with black tights and dreadlocks.

We've always considered black and orange to be a spooky combination worn only on the day of the dead, but since it's now a runway trend, will we start seeing it on all the other days, too?

--AUDREY SMITH

Faran: So... everyone at Chanel Couture had hair like Anna Wintour? Is this because Wintour and couture rhyme?

Faran: or because Karl wants to suck up?

Natalie: funny - we thought it was very YSL, but yeah, i guess Anna, too.

Faran: also worth noting that very few big girls have showed up. Just Coco and Trentini so far. And then lots of Kim Noorda.

Faran: missing - Stam, Raquel, Aggie...

Natalie: I think you're right about the big girls missing. Shall i write, or would you like to?

Faran: You think this is more pressing than ANNA WINTOUR HAIR?!

Natalie: hahahahaah

We thought it was weird when we first saw a sort of body contour look at the Miu Miu Fall 08 show. But when we saw it again at McQueen's Resort 09, we were kind of frightened: is this a trend we're going to have to get used to?

Putting aside the question of wearability for a moment, the outfits have the potential to make you look like you instantly dropped ten pounds - Or maybe that's only the case on the models. Either way, the clothes do offer a pretty awesomely slimming optical illusion.

However, as Natalie put it, we're not sure we'd want to wear something that outlines our uterus. And the contours do seem to mimic a skeleton rather than an actual body (which may indicate a whole lot about the fashion industry, but that's a whole other conversation).

But sticking to the issues, could this be doable for daily life? Or even sometimes nightlife? Or is this just another catwalk craze, one that kind of looks like a cross between a cat woman and a speed skater skinsuit?

-- HAYLEY PHELAN

I've been carrying around a zippered Y-3 wallet under my arm for a week, and suddenly, life is easier. I grab everything I need, all at once on my way out the door, which is too much to fit into a pocket-sized wallet.

So I'm particularly delighted with the newest unexpected twist from this season's menswear runways - the introduction of clutches to men's wardrobes.

If you think about it, it's really not far-fetched. Men carry briefcases and portfolios, which are just as hard to carry as a clutch. So why not switch out an attaché case for a sleek Marni envelope? Plus, these days, we're carrying cell phones, wallets, Blackberries, keys and a bajillion other things. A giant messenger bag isn't always a convenient, or appropriate, accessory for a night out.

Dries Van Noten's zippered patent leather option is pretty basic without adding too many buckles or other distractions we're sure most guys wouldn't approve of. We love the blood red Ferragamo, left - it's big but not annoying.

We bet Marc will be next in line with some playful clutches, since he's obviously a fan of them himself.

The only problem? Keeping your girlfriend's hands off them.

--KYLE HAYES

MK was the first fashion lover we noticed embracing the full finger ring back in December, and we loved it. Now, we're spotting Rihanna wearing one (and sometimes two) during her ongoing media blitz - most recently at the the awesome BET Awards.

While the trend takes cues from calvary armor of the 16th century, the ring variation has typically been reserved for more hardcore Goth culture. We still don't know whether to call them "Gauntlet Rings," "Full Finger Rings," "Armor Rings," "Over the Knuckle Rings," or some variation thereof - but Googling will turn up some pretty diabolical results. And everyone still thinks we mean "Brass Knuckles". Definitely not.

Vivienne Westwood has been making her "Armour Ring" for years, but it's a little expensive and we're on the hunt for a more delicate looking variation, like the filigree version Rihanna's sporting at left. Maybe it's a sign, but we're not having much luck.

So in the future, if you see us on the street giving someone the finger, at least you'll know why.

-- JAZZI McGILBERT

--KYLE HAYES

We had a good laugh in the Fashionista office a few weeks ago, when The New York Times declared chipped nails to be trendy, and we were like, "Well shit, then we've been fashionable since fifth grade!"

Now Vogue UK wants to get into the messy makeup act, too, giving us instructions on "how to do Stam's 'starlet - post tearful tantrum' look" as illustrated at left.

For the record, we've never seen or heard Jessica Stam throw a tantrum, but she looks awfully convincing as a girl seething glitter at left.

Vogue UK is awfully stoked to smear their makeup this summer, and it's leading us to think there might be a general and very silly trend going forward:

Has fashion become so accessible that in order to truly seem "in," you have to violate it in the most against-your-instinct ways? Like never washing / brushing your hair, chipping your nails, smearing your eyes... really?

It's an interesting trend to discuss, and an interesting theory to volley, but we won't examine it too much because frankly, our specialty is looking low maintenance. If being messy right now means being fashionable, then we might finally have a shot at that Vogue Best Dressed List... cough, Alexandra Kotur, cough!

Marc isn't the only one who's feeling the love these days - Heart-shaped bags are becoming the shape of choice.

Last year, Lulu Guinness incorporated heart-shaped clutches into both her Holiday Resort collection and Love(RED) campaign. Later that year, Erin Fetherston created a giant heart-shaped tote for her GO International line, which was released just in time for every college girl in the Northeast to work it into her Valentine's Day wardrobe. Now, Topshop has added its own version to their summer stash.

We think the look's adorable, but we wouldn't suggest pairing a heart-shaped bag with any of Marc's heart-y Resort, lest you end up looking like Gossamer (from Looney Toons!)

--KYLE HAYES

Let's call it The Sartorialist Effect:

After years of tiny flowers dotting the fabric of Paul Smith shirts, the motif seems to be stretching into more men's fashion - most specifically, and surprisingly, into men's streetwear.

You can find floral guys' shirts at H&M now, and floral ties at Steven Alan and Urban Outfitters.

But our most surprising find were these red sneakers from Nike, which feature tiny dotted blossoms all over their leather fields, at Opening Ceremony (Ok - so they're sized for women, but the store purposely carries up to a women's 12 - which is a men's 10 - especially for boy shoppers.)

The kicks retail for $125, and if a boy wore them out on a date with us, we'd be kinda psyched.

Would you?

Dear Desperate Fashion Publicists (again),

Believe it or not, we're aware that the Sex and the City movie is now in theaters.

And even more shocking, we don't really care what the girls are wearing.

Okay, that's not quite true - we do care that Carrie rocks a lot of Vivienne Westwood and that Charlotte has a good run in some Oscar maternity dresses.

What we don't care about are the clothes you say "can help you get the SATC look!"

Because if the clothes aren't massively expensive, stamped with a Fendi or a Chanel logo, and / or equipped with a five inch stiletto heel, then no, they can't help you be "The Samantha" or "The Charlotte."

Who are, by the way, fictional characters from a biting satire. That maybe you don't want to look like. Or act like. Or think about, once you've seen the silly three-hour movie (which yes, we all did).

Also, quick note:

It's Patricia Field, not Patricia Fields. And she's really cool, but again, if she didn't design your clothes or pick out your clothes, then you can't say it's a look from her!

xoxo Fashionista.

We haven't entertained the notion of blue nails since Clueless, but a week of gallery hopping may be enough to change our minds:

In the past seven days, we've spotted blue nails paired with Alexander Wang's blue chiffon tank top, blue nails on some visitors at Mary Boone and Rivington Arms, and blue nails at the "hot" new club Santo's House, which we keep calling Santa's Village by mistake.

Above are blue nails as seen on an intern, and blue nails by Dana Veraldi, the photographer and graphic designer behind the Deer Dana creations (including the Agyness t-shirt).

You'll note it's not the same navy blue spread by Chanel and Dior this February, but instead something closer to Smurf.

Last season, Jill Stuart named her bags "The Freja" and "The Gemma" - understandable, sure, and very fun for fashion junkies.

This season, it's a little more confusing -

Her hallmark bag (at left) is called "The Calista."

This is really funny because...

1. It looks like a Stam bag, so maybe it should be called "The Jessica."

2. It retails for $395, which seems like what Ally McBeal would pay for an accessory.

3. It's a lemony color that we really can't picture with Calista Flockheart's skin tone.

4. It looks heavy. Perhaps too heavy for the frail actress to even lift.

But hey, it is pretty cute...

We have a feeling Gwyneth may have had something to do with this one...

We all know men's accessories can be kind of dull, especially when it comes to watches. So when there's something new rather than just a stainless steel or brown leather band, I take note.

The neon for men trend that began on the Spring 08 Burberry/Y-3/Moschino runways is now showing up in timepiece form.

Case in point: the bright blue Fred Flare, at left, and Burberry's new Antarctic collection with three retina-searing color options. Even Hermès (sort of) jumped on the bandwagon by using their bright orange on their Clipper Chrono Diver, which will set you back $3,975.

The thing about a good watch is that it works with every outfit, from a tuxedo to a linen blazer to bermudas. Trouble is, they can get pretty pricey, so girls should be very happy that they can get in on the neon look with just $10 nail polish.

--KYLE HAYES