This morning, WWD reported that the Alexander McQueen studio in London was hit - the latest in a string of fashion burglaries happening in Britain's capital. But that's only part of the story - we rang the London police, and learned those bandits have struck yet again.

On December 30th, two men riding mopeds smashed in the windows of the Marc Jacobs store on Mount Street in what was probably an attempt at stealing whatever luxe stuff was on display. The move was called a "smash and grab" by the Westminster Police, and we think that could be a fun slang word for an impulse purchase...

Anyway...

According to those same Westminster Police, whom we called about the story, the thieves were stopped by a security guard, and then they sped away empty-handed, only to succeed at another unnamed store on South Moulton Street, making off with just one (again, unnamed) item.

The police couldn't release any more information about the crimes, as there are court proceedings in place (several suspects have been arrested, and one has even surrendered himself). Plus, most of those involved are just teenagers, meaning their names are confidential according to British law.

But now we know the case is still open - and can anyone take an educated guess with that store on South Moulton?

Last year, Teen Vogue noticed that Mary Kate's favorite vintage tunic had been spun into one of her designs from Elizabeth & James.

Now that same design has landed on Carrie Underwood, prompting the Fug Girls to cry "there are times when the mighty sequin backfires."

But although we think Mary Kate looks more fashion-focused in her own design than Ms. Underwood, there's something to be said for a wholesome, whole-faced Oklahoman strutting around in the same outfit as a favored fashion waif. And she seems to really adore the dress, which is always fun to see in a smile.

So who wore it better?

The American Idol winner, or the girl whose most famous words are "You Got It, Dude" ?

In one of the stranger collaborations of this year, Converse announces that their One Star brand will design sneakers exclusively for Target this Spring.

The sneaker company follows Hollywould and Loeffler Randall in the Target diffusion department for shoes, and it's interesting because really, Converse kickers are pretty cheap - it's a little bit like "Gap for Target" or "TopShop for Target" or something.

For the range, Converse has taken their most beloved silhouettes - the high top, the low top, etc - and made them slightly sleeker, younger, and mostly candy colored.

The shoes sell for about $30, and our favorite is the silver skimmer pictured at left, which should look amazing with the Jovovich-Hawk for Target collection... once the whole line finally (finally!) unveils itself in February.

"I struggle to put together outfits. My vintage leopard print blouse looks less jokey Cavalli and a bit Barry Manilow. My trusted Ferragamo patents aren't retro-quirky any more: they make me look like my mum. My jewellery, which used to be witty, now looks tacky. They may not have been perfect clothes in the first place but the protective enclave of the Vogue office had given me confidence to leave home wearing them." - former Vogue UK Features Editor Jo Craven, on getting dressed for a life outside of fashion.

We received a look book today unlike most of the look books we normally see. What was so different about it? We'd actually wear the clothes.

Even more notable is the fact that the designer, Kira Plastinina, is all of fifteen years old.

We have to admit it: before checking out her designs, we were ready to laugh our faces off - her image as the Russian Nicky Hilton is well documented, and nobody really goes in with a soft heart for rich teenagers given access to all their daddy's money.

But we have to say, the clothes speak for themselves. Her line isn't available in the US just yet (but if you happen to live in Russia, you can shop at any of her 34 stores), but there are plans in the works.

Isn't it interesting that a 15-year-old Russian can be in the fashion industry without being a model?

We remember when Paris Hilton was the height of dazzle-me glamour, and she toted little Tinkerbell around town in a Louis Vuitton carrier.

It was then that dogs became more than just friends, sheep herders, or things that inconveniently pee. They transcended into accessories, turning up on red carpets, at restaurant tables, and on the Gaultier runway. And they spurned a ton of fashion-related products: "Chewey Vuitton" toys, Goyard collars and leashes, an entire wardrobe line from Burberry and Juicy Couture.

But now Paris has tarnished, dogs have (mostly) returned to the man's-best-friend role, and there's a new space for accessory spawn:

The super-deluxe cell phone.

LV and Chloe have made iPhone cases, Henry Holland and Giles Deacon have designed Blackberry wallpapers meant for download, and Diane Von Furstenberg has splashed her signature lip print on Sidekicks (rumor has it Heatherette is next).

There's even a new line of purses designed especially for Blackberries, and spinning out of London's Violet May boutique.

They're absolutely gorgeous, especially for cocktail parties where you want a dainty clutch but can't bear to be without your phone.

And yet, we have to ask:

Does everything need an accessory?

To: Faran@fashionista.com

From: Insider@BigDesigner.com

So I got a call from Jade, the crazy Top Model contestant who was just a terror. It was actually her agent asking if I was interested in booking her for fashion week in February... She called her the "million dollar face."

I'm not doing the booking anyway, and c'mon, it's JADE! [Redacted: too mean for print]. But she insisted on emailing me these pictures and I had to share them with you.

We were thinking about having a go see just for fun if we weren't busy as hell. We're not as mean as she was on the show!

There's nothing remotely fashionable about any of this, but its pretty hilarious. Apparently Matthew Ralston shot them. Enjoy.

Now that it's officially arctic outside, we're finally breaking down and buying a hat.

But we know from years' experience that most hats either slip off or get blown off, which means we'll have to go for something substantial.

Enter the Minsk Hat, available at Oak NYC, from FIT grad Victor Osbourne.

It'll stay on, cover our ears, and, most importantly, match with everything since it doesn't really match with anything (and isn't that the best way to accessorize?)

It's also a cute, pared down alternative to the all-out trapper hat, so you don't need to gather all your courage before stepping out into the cold.

If you still haven’t gotten your fill on canvas tote bags (was 2007 the year of tote bags?), there’s something kind of amazing about this “Fake Bag.”

A set of 100 of these guys were made for a Korean art exhibit called “Wake Up Andy Warhol,” and you can definitely see the pop art influence.

It comes with a bunch of ribbon prizes that you can affix to the accessory, and it can be worn in several ways:

One side has a graphic of the fake bag, and the other side has a graphic of a real Louis Vuitton bag and the text on the bottom reads “perfect.”

We’re not completely sure what to make of this bag, but we’re intrigued.

Would Richard Prince approve of the spoofing?

--ALISON COOL

The 2008 Pirelli Calendar is officially out, and it's packed with the new mega models of the year.

If you can actually get your hands on one (they can't be bought and are received only as a gift,) feast your eyes on: Catherine McNeil (costumed as a geisha,) Doutzen, Gemma, Du Juan, Lily Donaldson, Agyness, Coco, Sasha, Caroline Trentini, Mo Wan Dan and actress Maggie Cheung.

The girls can be seen gallivanting around the streets of Shanghai, through the lens of Patrick Demarchelier (this is his second Pirelli.)

Previous Pirelli fixations include such heavyweights as Kate, Cindy, Naomi, Laetitia Casta and Sofia Loren,

Nevermind how a rubber company came to be the producer of such a prestigious annual collection - does this mean that the photographed girls are officially more than just blips on the radar?

VogueTV was granted access into the private home of Coco Chanel - and we're in love.

Check out the video, hosted by Vogue UK's jewelry editor, Carol Woolton if you want to know:

1. That Chanel kept lion statues in her house

2. That the 2.55 quilted bag was inspired by her sofa

3. What it's like to listen to a video simultaneously played in French and English

Enjoy!

"Hello Faran the Fashioinsta.com Staff, I just recieved a internship with Harper Bazaar, I would like to know do you guys know anything juicy like crazy editors or assistants that I might need to be aware of? Thanks." --Yesterday's favorite, and misspelled, comment from the boards... and no darling, everyone we know at HB is pretty cool.

Today's WWD discusses the art of magazine covers, what sells and what doesn't.

Like, big flowing hair blows Allure off the newstands, while smiling girls weighed down by accessories sells Seventeen.

Apparently everyone has their own way of determing what's a good cover - Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Kate White says that she knows a cover is good if she wants to "lick it," further noting, "The Beyoncé [December 2007] cover I licked several times...before the sun came up."

For us, it's more about who is on the cover - whenever we see an Olsen (no matter which one), we have to stop and check out the interview - and we once learned during an internship that whenever Sandra Bullock is on a magazine cover, it far outsells more interesting (but less "regular") cover girls, like Sienna Miller.

Does what (or who) you see on a magazine cover compel you enough to actually pay the cover price? Or do you stick to your subscriptions (or the internet!) only?