We received a mysterious invitation in our Inbox today, proclaiming "Celebrate the New Old Navy."

We didn't know that khakis and blouson t-shirts could be reinvented so forcefully, which makes us wonder what's actually happening to Old Navy.

Our guesses?

1. Old Navy realizes everyone in America is now (somewhat) obsessed with fashion - or at least, with "fashion" - and they're turning themselves into a Forever 21, with influxes of on-trend clothes flooding into stores, and flooding out just as quickly.

2. Old Navy is releasing a quirky TV commercial with their new head designer, Todd Oldham, that's going to be like House of Style on a sugar high.

3. Old Navy is finally buying Fred Flare and turning into a complete lifestyle store.

That's the rumor, anyway.

Although practicality tells us to get flat boots for the winter, who can resist an adorable pair of cone heel booties?

Japanese footwear designer Miho Masui, went that extra step, winning our vote for Best Heel of the Year with these quirkily striped conical heels - The soft leather uppers and surprise gold lining don’t hurt either.

Stripes have been everywhere lately (see Giles and Gareth), so apparently heels were just the last possible space to take on the look.

Our only suggestion is to avoid wearing them with anything else striped or red, lest you should look like a deranged candy striper.

--ALISON COOL

Part of the attraction of ribbons and bows is that they remind us of our favorite hobby – getting presents.

Jewelry designer Jill Alberts clearly understands the psychological resonances of the sticky bows that sit atop the cutest presents, designing a ring loosely based on their shape.

The “ribbon ring” has little bits of turquoise nestled inside the folds of a gold bow. The result is a really unique (and timely) take on this season’s large cocktail ring.

Best of all, you don’t have to do that weird trick with the scissors to get the satisfaction of a curly ribbon – all the work’s been done for you.

--ALISON COOL

On our way to work today, we saw a woman who made us turn.

She was wearing an all-black pantsuit with a black scarf and gloves - probably a lawyer, we thought. We wouldn't have noticed her at all if it wasn't for one thing: her otherwise funereal ensemble concluded with a pair of mens' wingtips.

She'd managed to turn a boring, single-note work uniform into an outfit - kind of like adding a fun dot to straight line, she turned herself into a walking exclamation point.

It was the first time we'd ever seen menswear on a regular person (i.e. not a 6' tall model or a theatre actress out for a cigarette break,) that actually looked like clothing, and that the wearer rocked completely as her own. We don't know if we could take it much further than maybe a vest (and we'd die if we could actually get away with suspenders,) but we certainly stop and admire those who can pull it off so well.

Do you ever wear styles truly inspired by menswear?

The Writer's Strike has hit The Daily Show, Gossip Girl, and 30 Rock - now it threatens to take away red carpets.

Because of the complications of writing the Oscars and Golden Globes, both events are threatening to be smaller, shorter, and maybe devoid of the fashion parade that opens each night.

But though some designers will panic at the prospect (like Allen Schwartz at A.B.S., whose entire business depends on knocking off celebrity gowns), an awards season without red carpets could open the celebrity floodgates somewhere else:

New York Fashion Week.

It's a known fact that some starlets need red carpet publicity as much as movies (or maybe more) to fund their lifestyles. Scarlett Johansson is a great actress, but she's made more ads than films at this point - ads built on her fashion reputation, not her IMDB roster. Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Joy Bryant, Emmy Rossum, Rihanna, and even Camilla Belle are dependent on fashion coverage to maintain their careers, while Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway have branded themselves as smart and cool because of their outfits and magazine covers.

If red carpets disappear in February, maybe front rows will afford these stars - who usually don't come to Fashion Week - their big opportunity to score face time in InStyle.

Of course, an influx of in-demand celebrities will make fashion shows start later, and turn seating situations into minor soap operas, but that's what caffeine and expense accounts are for...

Kim Cattrall is the newest celebrity to take part in PETA's Fur Coat Donation program, having just agreed to donate all the furs she'll wear in the upcoming Sex and the City movie.

According to PETA representative Michael McGraw, "the only people who can be excused for wearing fur are the homeless - to keep warm during the winter," and that's exactly where Kim's furs will go in a few weeks.

The donations sound noble, except for one piece of information: The New York Post reports that the "donated skins will be marked with a red X on the back".

It's good to know that PETA's charity only goes so far - it's okay for the less fortunate to keep warm in winter, as long as they're stigmatized with PETA's self-righteous version of the Scarlet Letter, right?

"Of course that only proves that Pantone is on the curve, and not ahead of it, and I recognize the pure publicity value of 'naming' a color from the 21st century palette. As if." - Cathy Horyn, on the announcement of Blue Iris No. 18-3943 as the color of 2008, imitating Cher Horowitz.

Mega-model Gisele Bundchen is taking a memo from Kate Moss, designing her own capsule collection for Dolce & Gabbana.

According to Vogue UK, the former Victoria's Secret Angel has been hounded by designers to create her own line, but stuck to strutting until her close friends, Stefano and Domenico, asked her to guest design for them. The news comes almost a year after rumors swirled that Gisele would have her own range of lingerie and bikinis at H&M.

No details on what the range will look like, but we're pretty confident it'll be a mix of slinky, sequined tops and miniskirts with hardware.

Of course, the irony is that Gisele is most famous when her clothes are off, but that doesn't mean she can't endorse (and vaguely "design") a great slinky halter dress.

When designers send their entire collections for free, perhaps asking for clothes is too much.

That's the only way we can reason the recent and very funny news from London, that Victoria Beckham received a book - yes, really - from her husband David for Christmas.

The new face of Marc Jacobs got the Valentino retrospective, Valentino Garavani: First Name in Fashion from Vanity Fair byliner Matt Tyrnauer, which costs about $1500 - it's signed by the designer and limited edition.

Although Ms. Beckham confessed in 2005 that she'd never read a whole book before, she'll probably sail through this one just fine -

There are lots of pretty pictures... although none are of her, so she could get bored.

We're not sure we believe this tip, but we certainly like it:

We hear Rumer Willis will be attending some select shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in February.

The Rumer rumor certainly makes sense, as Ms. Willis will take the stage as Ms. Golden Globe in January - a position often undertaken by Hollywood aristoquettes looking to break into movies.

Having photos snapped at Rag & Bone or Temperley would definitely help a public profile get raised, without any scandal, seduction, or shocking pregnancy (ahem).

If Rumer does attend New York Fashion Week in February, we hope two things:

1. That she takes tips from her mom, Demi Moore, on front-row posing, since last season, Demi was a total pro.

2. That she gets rid of her hair extensions and goes back to the bob. It was so, so chic.