Madonna has been one of fashion’s most fickle friends; all too ready
to call Jean Paul Gaultier or Olivier Theyskens when she feels like donning couture, but more often than not trudging around in track suits and baseball caps.

But in her new-ish “Give it 2 me” video, fashion seems once more to be on her mind. Madge dances around and goes on and on and on in front of a chevron pattern suspiciously like the one that covers Goyard’s signature luggage. Ok, it’s upside down, but come on.

All the while, Pharrell is playing with his much blogged about purple crocodile man-Birkin.

But given his allegiance to Vuitton, we’re surprised they don’t writhe around in front of a monogram canvas.

Go figure.

—BRETT KANE

“Wow. Havin a nineties Versace meets Beastie Boyz flashion-back.” - commenter Landis Smithers on Omahyra’s outfit on The Sartorialist.

To: Tips@Fashionista.com.

From: Loves Shoes@PRGirl.com

Hey!

Do you all have any info on the Louboutin sale going on today?

I overheard co-workers talking about it and how flats were going for $100 and pumps for $200.

If you get any info on it PLEASE email me or post! I’ll be checking all day…

xo

Just got off the phone with the Gansevoort location - it’s the last day of their sale. Go!

Heidi Klum wore a pretty Foley and Corinna top in The New York Times around this time last year.

She’s now selling the same top under her Jordache line.

We didn’t even realize she was designing clothes for the denim brand, but according to this style watch page from People magazine, sent in by reader Amy, she’s launched a capsule collection in her spare time.

It includes jeans of course, a sweatshirt jacket, and a v-neck pleated top that nips in at the waist just like the Foley and Corinna one.

Heidi, we expect more from you.

And Foley and Corinna, so sorry everyone keeps ripping off your pretty clothes.

—KYLE HAYES

We thought Gwyneth Paltrow’s July Bazaar cover was just a very delayed reaction to Iron Man - turns out it’s part of a 40-page Estée Lauder campaign that continues within the magazine, just barely disguised as editorial.

The cosmetic giant placed the four faces of their new perfume, Sensuous, throughout the issue, even though the actual ads don’t debut until fall. The move means a priceless Gwyneth cover for Bazaar and an insane amount of advertising for Estée Lauder before their ads, (which also feature Elizabeth Hurley, Carolyn Murphy and Hilary Rhoda), even hit.

This weekend, The New York Times asked if the partnership meant Hearst, (which owns Bazaar) was selling out, before admitting that it’s actually a pretty smart move.

This morning, WWD reports an even cooler partnership between Marie Claire, (which is also owned by Hearst) and Ray-Ban. The two have commissioned five New York City artists to create billboards to promote Ray-Ban’s new colored Wayfarers. And the magazine will also run three times more Ray-Ban ads this year than ever before.

The symbiotic relationship between fashion magazines and fashion advertisements has been losing steam as circulation has slowed for print publications and more companies turn to online advertising. So while at first these ad campaigns, whether subliminal like Estée Lauder’s or in your face like Ray-Ban’s, seemed a bit desperate, we actually think they’re kind of cool - especially when real artists are getting into the mix and what used to be a boring ad gets taken to a new creative level.

We actually kind of love it, and we’re sure Andy Warhol’s probably giggling in his grave.

Tanya, Accountant

Got Her: At this weekend’s roller derby at Studio B in Brooklyn.

Stalked Her: Because we’d love her romper anywhere, but in a sea of shiny American Apparel disco wear, her retro alternative was subdued and still fun.

Shot Her: Because it might just be the best fitting romper we’ve ever seen.

She says: “I bought it on eBay. Thank goodness it fit! And it’s so comfortable for skating!”

We say: If only every day promised a well dressed, roller skating night…

Sorry, guys! Major server problems today, but it looks like we’re back. Thanks!

xo F

Finally, a logical fashion decision.

Byrdie Bell, the actress and socialite, has signed with Ford Models.

The New York native is of Norwegian descent and actually bears the name Evelyn Byrd Bell, though she’s been called Byrdie since childhood.

She has a movie coming out this Fall called Homecoming, with Mischa Barton and Matt Long, the cutie from Jack and Bobby, which never should have been canceled.

And she follows in the footsteps of fellow socialite beauties Vanessa Traina and Harley Viera-Newton, both of whom recently signed with Elite. Lydia Hearst, Amanda Hearst, Margherita Missoni, and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld are also Manhattan socialites with modeling agencies (most are on IMG’s women’s board).

It seems Ford has their work cut out for them - Byrdie’s already been in Vogue more times than Nicole Kidman.

Just after the weekend took off, Louis Vuitton and Comme des Garçons announced that they will open a joint store in Tokyo on September 4th, the day before New York Fashion Week kicks off, that will exist for just three months, similar to Comme’s past guerilla store openings, except… as a collaboration with a huge luxury company that seems like the antithesis to Rei’s designs.

The store, which will be in the Aoyama shopping district, will be “half luxury, half raw”, with a section designated for Rei’s Comme for H&M designs (which will be pie-shaped and red, H&M’s unofficial color) come November.

In celebration of the collaboration, Rei’s designed six one-off bags which she describes as “party bags”, incorporating the LV monogram pattern with serious handles, meant to evoke the style of LV’s bags three decades ago when they opened their first store in Tokyo.

So, just to keep this straight: First, Rei’s designing a bunch of LV-ish bags that’ll be sold in a store that LV will sponsor, from which LVMH will take half the profits. Then, Rei will sell her H&M designs in the space, from which LVMH will take half the profits.

Congratulations… LVMH?

It looks like the CW has some direct competition for Stylista this fall:

The Style Network is launching its own as-of-yet, unnamed reality show in which three interns will compete for a position with “a top fashion magazine in New York” by the end.

They’re just starting to cast the show, and the applicant letter advertises that “no experience is necessary” but that interested candidates must be “fiercely passionate about working in the fashion, beauty & lifestyle publication industry.”

There will be upcoming auditions in Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville and Philadelphia, so please bring your iPhone if you’re planning on trying out!

We’re not sure if reality shows for jobs is the new norm for fashion (is it telling that we didn’t even smirk when we opened the e-mail?), but most importantly, stay tuned for which magazine…

(Full release after the jump!)

Milla Jovovich, Penelope Cruz, and Mamie Gummer have all posed for the Spanish brand Mango - now it’s Alice Dellal’s turn.

The British best friend of Lizzie Jagger is frequently spotted at London fashion shows and parties, and now she’s finally making the leap over to massive commercials.

She’ll star in Mango’s denim campaigns for summer and fall, and they’ll run on billboards, in magazines, and also in MNG store windows.

Alice’s other big campaign for Agent Provocateur also drops this Fall, so stay tuned -

Maybe like Daisy, Mary Charteris, and Alexa Chung, she’ll be moving to NYC in the near future.

Hey Fashionista -

Did you guys catch Jeopardy last night?

There was a fun moment in a category named “Christian.” The first contestant buzzed in with her answer of lovely Mr. Lacroix, the second contestant claiming Mr. Dior was the owner of the shoes with “red lacquered bottoms” as described in the answer clue.

After the third contestant had no answer, our trusty Trebek was there to inform the audience and less fashion inclined that the true answer was our wonderfully talented Christian Louboutin.

So fun!

Stay cute.

xo
Angelo

Daphne Guinness, the McQueen darling and Irish Beer heiress, has put her creative talents to use on screen.

Her first short film, The Phenomenology of Body, debuts on The New York Times Style Magazine website today.

The film, set to LCD Soundsystem, features a chronological exhibit of fashion throughout time. The camera rotates around the models’ (Jessica Joffe’s even in there!) bodies, first wearing an apple, later a Victorian gown, then a veil, all set against a black wall.

We’re kind of obsessed with Daphne Guinness - and would probably love anything she touched - but this video is really beautiful and hopefully just the start of her foray into other creative fields.

“Is Roberto Cavalli the Doctor Doolittle of fashion?” - Alexa Chung.

If you haven’t checked out Michael Stipe’s installation at the Rogan store on Bowery - go now. It’s awesome.

And if you don’t live in NYC, we’re sorry. But there’s another cool collaboration coming your way.

Stephen Burks, the American industrial designer who works in furniture, packaging and fashion, (including Calvin Klein, Missoni and Estee Lauder), was chosen by Tod’s to build window displays for twenty of the luxury brand’s international flagships.

The displays will be built of transparent layers inviting the viewers to see, “not just the merchandise in the windows, but the entire shop floor”.

There were overly made up models dancing in the windows of Armani Exchange in Soho last night and they made us want to run the other way.

But a talented designer in the windows of a beloved Italian house? Sounds much more promising.

Hey Fashionista,

Here’s a pic of one of the upcoming Gossip Girl episodes.

Blair looks adorable in a floral dress and is carrying (as you predicted) a woven Kate Spade bag.

Just thought I’d let you know -

Can’t wait til the new episodes!!

xo

Madison

Update: GG’s filming in an H-formation on Lafayette, Crosby and Jersey. So far, we’ve spotted just Blake and Penn, but there are a lot of trailers, one of which is marked “Chuck”…

Remember when Miley Cyrus named Teen Vogue on her list of desert island necessities?

It was a pretty blatant “Pretty please put me on the cover of your magazine?!”

And we hear it worked.

You can catch her on the cover of Billboard right now, where she apparently dishes on the Vanity Fair scandal, but expect to see her on little Vogue’s cover very soon.

We bet they’ll even give her cute clothes to wear - or at least more than a sheet.

Maybe they’ll even let her keep the stylist. She could use some help in that department.

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

Just a friendly reminder - there are a bunch of new posts in Fashionista Community, so comments/advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

xo F

We love when images of Target’s GO International collections surface, and this time, NYLON’s got the first look - but only eight of them. You’ll have to pay up for their August issue to see the rest.

We’re especially crushing on the outfit at left, we’re already picturing the eight million different ways to wear that tank.

And can you believe that each outfit totals to around $90? Yeah, us neither.

Side note: doesn’t that white top with the orange ruffle at the neck kind of remind you of that Marc by Marc top?

But since the colors are reversed and the ruffle’s so much less, it’s actually a lot cuter and more likely to be worn -

We love Chai.

There’s something strange happening on the runway at the men’s Spring 2009 shows, and we’re kind of liking it:

First, Vivienne Westwood sent out a rather burly man to model little sandals and an enormous gold chain (he was actually an actor/bodyguard). Then, Dean and Dan Caten cast almost all black models for their line-up, which will supposedly be the case in next week’s Lanvin show as well.

And just yesterday, Yohji Yamamoto pulled his own model stunt, sending out ten (much) older models down the runway to balance out the baby softness of the usual model boys, one of whom was especially regular life-sized.

We don’t know where this is going to go with the other designers, but we’re extremely curious to see if any of this will be attempted during the women’s shows (we’re not counting Gaultier’s Spring 07) and how it’ll translate if it is.

But so far, we’re tickled. Especially after we read Yohji’s message about the models - “Let’s be happy.”

Today’s WWD has images of the new Burberry campaign, for which Christopher Bailey dropped Agyness for lesser known model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

It might be a sad day for Agyness - Burberry was kind of her calling card, and the new campaign looks a little dull anyway.

But something tells us she might be too busy laughing her way to the bank to care - Shiseido’s swapped one serious face for another, dropping Angelina Jolie (after two years) for Agyness!

We love when beauty companies use real models, but probably not as much as Agyness loves that beauty company-sized paycheck.

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

I’ve been seeing a lot of girls on the street wearing sheer tops without a bra.

Without anything.

Basically, I keep seeing a lot of boobs, and it’s kind of awkward.

A lot of the girls are modely - tall, skinny, probably a 32A - and I envy anyone who can leave the house without underwire support, but if you’re going to throw on something loose and cool and sheer and off Chris Benz’s Spring ‘08 runway, please put something under it.

We posted a while back about sheer etiquette - what, exactly, should one should wear underneath the transparent, lady-like fabric and lace we see everywhere, and we were flooded with suggestions: nude bodysuits, pretty bras, silk camisoles. We’d love for you guys to pass on your brilliant advice to the half naked girls running around our pretty city.

Seriously, even Naomi had the decency to wear panties under her sheer skirt - she’s finally being a role-model!

Caroline, 19

Got Her: Crosby and Prince

Stalked Her: Because her adorable sun dress made us momentarily forget how depressing the weather is today - plus it stood out from down the block set against those black opaque tights.

Shot Her: Because we love the romantic print and effortless flounce of her dress. While it’s weird to wear tights in late June, we think it totally works in this case. Plus, her boyfriend Johan is a super cute accessory (click through!)

She says: We live together in Sweden. He’s only here visiting for a week!

We say: Cute couple, cuter outfit. Adjö!

—HAYLEY PHELAN

“I need some new sti-le-ttos, Can’t walk, down the street in those. You are, who you wear, it’s true. A girl’s just as hot as the shoes she choose. FASHION, put it all on meh, don’t you wanna see these clothes on meh?” - Heidi Montag, in her new single, Fashion.

Fact: Bloggers have been endorsing Polyvore like celebs endorse presidential candidates. But it took us a little while to jump on the bandwagon (blogwagon?) with this one. But thanks to Polyvore, now you, too, can play Rachel Zoe from the comfort of your own laptop.

If you’re new to the game/just bored like us, you should give it a try. Then spend all day not working, and instead mixing and matching your Net-a-Porter pipe dreams or taking your own wardrobe and pretending you have Cher Horowitz’s closet (so ahead of its time). Even the offical Polyvore Blog is addictive.

And retailers, take note: Polyvore is also a pretty genius marketing tool. Hot stops like Nine West have been holding contests and giving away merch to the users who create the best looks using their products.

Now let’s commence plotting on how to get Net-a-Porter to jump on board and give us free stuff…

— JAZZI McGILBERT

A little fashion spy in LA tells us that Dior Homme is trying to get Hedi Slimane back into place.

According to them, Kris Van Assche is feeling the same corporate bullshit that Hedi felt and has had it with the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Dior itself is realizing that perhaps the reason Dior Homme was so lucrative under Hedi was because he was awesome, not because they tried hard to micromanage him.

So… is Hedi going back into negotiations with Dior Homme?

Or are there rocks in our head for suggesting it?

Gareth Pugh’s announced that he’ll show his Fall ‘09 collection in Paris this year, instead of his usual London stomping grounds.

Pugh’s been a staple member of the Brit cool kid pack for the past few seasons, but his recent ANDAM award grants him 150,000 euros, some serious backing (including Swarovski and LVMH), and a Paris show.

Way back when, as an intern in a designer’s London showroom, I had the gall to ask my supervisor why said designer showed in Paris while so firmly rooted in London, to which my boss responded, “Because Paris is the only place that matters. It’s where the real artists show expert collections and it’s where you show when you’ve really made it.”

While I think there are brilliant designers showing everywhere, there’s something about Paris that makes it a designer’s mecca. Pugh said, “I want longevity, of course, and I also want to be taken more seriously,” which implies that while London’s been nothing but good to the young, radical designer, showing in Paris is his ultimate validation.

Silvia Venturini Fendi dedicated the latest Fendi menswear collection to poverty, but that wasn’t the only strange thing about it.

Enter wedges for men.

We’re not really sure where they came from, or how they made it to the runway, but what we do know is that this is right up there with Mcqueen’s one-piece bathing suit on the weirdness spectrum.

We know we might take some heat for this, but we feel like this is just another example to add to the list of this season’s misappropriation of women’s wear, to go with cinched waists for guys.

We guess we could see them on certain attention-loving men - They would garner some looks on the street. And we know some guys may want a little extra height, too, but we’re not sure this is the way to go about it.

Who knows, maybe this could be the next big thing, but for now we’re predicting that this is a trend that stays right where it should be - on the runway.

—KYLE HAYES

Aww, we’re still holding out hope that DKNY used Vlada standing on our block…

We know more than a few of you have already noticed the models at the Dsquared² show this week.

In reverse of how shows usually go, the majority of the models were black, with just a couple majorities.

Now, there’s a delightful rumor on COACD, that next week’s Lanvin show will have an “all ethnic” line up.

We’re just going to skip over the part where we debate the definition of “ethnic” and admit we know exactly what he’s talking about, so here’s the better question -

Is this in response to the upcoming Vogue Italia? Or would designers have made an effort to cast entirely non-white model line ups in their shows without it?

(And better yet, will this trend carry over into the women’s shows?…)

We recently read that Nicole Fiscella, otherwise known as one of Blair’s friends on Gossip Girl, has been a model for years, but we wondered who she worked for because we couldn’t recall her in anything.

Then this morning, there she was, in a WWD article about streetwear, smiling in a purple fedora.

it’s good to know the show’s background characters have jobs other than to “yeah” Blair’s declarations. Did you know the girl that used to play Kati now goes to Columbia?

Good morning!

“Black leggings, black tank top and black leather jacket. It’s safe and cheap.” - Lindsay Lohan’s fall back outfit.

Fashionista alumna Sabrina and Natalie had a good little sighting at the Alexander Wang Sample Sale:

They saw Freja Beha Erikson, the model who opened Alex’s last runway show, stopping by to chat.

Freja and Alex hung out among the shoppers for a good 20 minutes, and the former face of Chanel even rooted through cashmere sweaters, silk dresses, and “f*** me” jeans (Alex’s term, not ours!).

Seriously, between Julia RR, Charlotte Ronson, Freja, and the hordes of fashion editors flocking to this sale today, it’s feeling a lot less like a shopping experience and more like the beginning of a night at Upstairs!

Do us a favor.

Glance at the bag at left. Then glance away. Thoughts?

Yeah, we thought it was Louis Vuitton, too.

The flowery shapes, the squares, the colors, the quilting, the chain handle, the silver clasp. If you squint, we swear you can see the LVs.

We’ve clicked through the Chloé sale section on Net-A-Porter about one million times at this point, and this $1,002 “richly embroidered” Katie bag must be a new, and semi-awkward, addition.

Wonder why no one’s buying it?

Sometimes, we wish we were in the army. Okay, maybe not. But we wouldn’t mind wearing the uniform. Case in point: this cute little military inspired number by Jovovich-Hawk on sale at Shopbop.

Military was all over the runway for Fall 08 and this dress fits the bill perfectly, kind of reminding us of the Temperley show, over which we obsessed. It’s simple enough that the military influence isn’t overwhelming and the brocade fabric makes it evening appropriate while it’s gold buttons and classic cut kind of make you feel you just scored a gem at some obscure vintage store.

We could totally picture it with little black flats in the summer but if we paired it with black tights and boots we’d rock it all through winter. The best part? A $500 dress at 70% off - click quick!

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Karolina Kurkova is:

1. Pretty.

2. Tall.

3. Blonde.

4. A Victoria’s Secret Angel.

5. …Fat?

Everybody’s in a tizzy after a reporter noted the crowd’s face at the Cia Maritima show in Sao Paulo this week after Karolina walked the runway, in only a bikini, looking…”chubby”?

Did we already finish sympathizing with models for the extreme pressure they’re under to maintain unhealthy (and usually unflattering) weights?

We can’t imagine living in a world that calls a woman fat because she may have had a few dots of cellulite on her behind while wearing approximately 1/2 yard of fabric - but oh wait, we do.

MAC is teaming up with Ungaro’s Esteban Cortazar for fall.

It’s the second “from the runway” collaboration for the make-up giant, after partnering with Alexander McQueen last year. (They don’t count Heatherette because their make-up wasn’t based on anything runway related.)

The Ungaro colors, set to debut this fall, will feature a “softer palette of delicate shades of pinks, blues and lilacs” said MAC make-up artist Sharon Dowsett, “It’s a colorful collection but very transparent so you don’t have to worry about overdoing it.”

Sounds pretty, but we still don’t understand limited edition designer make-up. Unless Pat McGrath’s in your bathroom every morning, armed and ready with liquid eyeliner, you’re not going to look like you walked off a Parisian runway, no matter whose designs inspired the color on your lids.

Still, if we had our pick, we’d love to see someone partner with Luella - can you imagine the pink lipsticks and glitter eyeshadows?! Maybe Stila can give her a call once their Marchesa shades sell out?

We have never read Psychology Today, though perhaps this Fall we will start.

That’s when the magazine will have a story exploring the psychological separations of fashion and style, at least according to one well-dressed teen who was stopped on the street by a photographer last week who claimed to work for the magazine.

We imagine there are many ways to describe trends in psychological terms - pack mentalities, aspirations, alpha men and women, whatever.

But we can’t help thinking this is just an excuse for Psychology Today to feature cute teenagers in its otherwise un-pored pages.

We’ll post the full article when we find it, and who knows - maybe it’ll make us feel intellectually superior to all the women with studded pyramid heels in the Tents this September.

Okay, sadly not…

“PS. The jacket that Anne Hathaway wears in Get Smart - it’s Tory Burch. When I was watching I couldn’t take my eyes off that damn T logo.” - Former Intern Brett, on the movie’s most memorable moment.

Refinery 29 has done several TV shorts in the past starring Alexander Wang and Chris Benz.

Now they’re in search of a permanent TV hostess to “star” in their series of mini Internet shows.

The site is scouring for an “It Girl” between the ages of 18 and 23 with great style (and presumably a great face) to star in their new venture.

The project will take the entire summer and pay enough money to “make somebody a really happy summer.”

Alas, Cory Kennedy is already taken.

This just in from Milan:

According to a hospitalized eye-witness at the Tom Ford party in Italy, one of the spotlights came crashing down at the bash, landing square on the head of a former male model.

He was shipped to l’ospedale, informed he needed stitches, and given some really good painkillers.

Meanwhile, according to the boy with the split skull, Tom’s “people” phoned him the next morning to ask how he was doing, saying Tom wanted to know.

If it were us, we would have responded, “Well, we’d be feeling a lot better if we could star in your next ad campaign,” but you know, that could just be our massive headache talking.

We send a big Get Well Soon to the wounded party, and also to the PR team in charge of the fête.

On the blackboard for today: Chloé, left. Forever 21, right.

Lesson 1: Where there is an innovative, appealing design, there’s a Forever 21 copy in the making.

Lesson 2: White patent leather has a tendancy to look cheap, especially when it actually is.

Lesson 3: Colors are important. See the muted, darker F21 pink with significantly less zest than the Chloé original for illustration.

Lesson 4: Releasing a knock-off when the original is on sale for 40% off on Net-a-Porter is none too wise.

— HAYLEY PHELAN

Premda, 27

Got Her: Outside Fashionista favorite, The NoHo Star.

Stalked Her: Because her black-patent sandals are a refreshing alternative amidst a sea of gladiators (not that we don’t love them, too) and because the thick black zipper running the length of her spine caught our eye but didn’t scream asylum.

Shot Her: Because the more we looked at her shoes, the more their shape reminded us of Carrie Bradshaw’s now infamous Diors - but a million times more wearable.

She Says: “Can I see the picture? Wait, I’m not going to be one of those ‘Don’ts’ with the black bar across my eyes - am I?”

We Say: Definitely not!

—CHLOÉ ARTHURS

The first thing we do when we get a crisp, new magazine is flip straight to the spreads.

We’re always curious to see how the season’s most-wanted accessories were styled with the advertisers’ best picks, and which models look best in otherwise impossible designs.

So we’re always a little disappointed when we flip 200+ pages in just to find a gray or white backdrop and a model doing Frankenstein-esque poses wearing looks that are head-to-toe from a single designer.

We can’t imagine it’s an issue of not being able to hire a stylist - plenty of young kids would kill to do it for free and, in fact, we see this most often in the biggest magazines that have the biggest budgets to go with the biggest rolodexes.

We think we get the stark background - there are no distractions leaving you only to really examine the clothes. But shooting looks that were shown almost exactly as-is during Fashion Week? Which we’ve all already seen? And which anyone who missed the shows could see for themselves, along with detail shots, on Style.com for free?

We don’t think stylists should pass up the chance to tell a cool story with an even cooler background when they have the best clothes in the business just a couple e-mails away. So is there something we’re not getting here? Or is it likely that these shoots are done last-minute and on the fly?

Explain!

Bad news for Parisians, via our Inbox: Colette is closing from July 7th to August 25th for a major renovation. They swear it’ll be worth it - the new design is being spearheaded by Japanese architect Masamichi Katayama and there will be a Colette Superette parked in front of 213 rue Saint-Honoré the entire time, so no major shopping will be missed.

But, there’s actually some great news for New Yorkers: a mini Colette is opening right next door the the Gap flagship on 54th St near 5th Ave, from September 6th to October 5th! The pop-up store is sure to be a frequent stop for a lot of us, and Colette’s promising exclusive collaborative items just for the occasion.

Bonus: Even after Colette closes up and returns to Paris for good, Colette’s site will be totally revamped by that time, too, with a complete eShop section that they say will be more like shopping at the actual store.

So much good news, we don’t know what to do.

It’s official. The Brits are completely obsessed with Agyness Deyn.

The model of the moment turned singer turned actor will be appearing in a Doctor Who Christmas Special on the BBC. We’re not exactly sure what this special entails, but according to The Mirror, Doctor Who remains “the Beeb’s [that’s BBC] jewel in the crown,” so apparently it’s kind of a big deal, winning ratings since it was revived in 2005.

We’re happy for Aggy, but seriously, how far is too far? In an industry constantly looking for the next big thing, abandoning what’s passe, oversaturation can be career ending.

The move is particularly risky considering Christopher Bailey reportedly dropped the model from the upcoming Burberry campaign due to “overexposure.” But we feel like she has to have heard the message loud and clear too many times to not know what a Christmas TV special could do to her. Could she be planning a total career crossover?

— HAYLEY PHELAN

We love nautical for summer.

Britt will buy anything with stripes or navy blue and Hayley rocks this romper sailor suit (which Britt plans to steal) from Beckerman.

But if you’re not so vocal, or visual, about your love of sailors and the sea, this bracelet from designer TrystByKerry is for you, and frankly for us, too.

The anchor is small, the chain looks a little bit antique, the pendant reminds us of Portuguese tiles and it’s long enough to be worn as a necklace or multi-stranded bracelet.

Now if we could just find a sailboat on the East River, we’d be set.

When we first saw the Pretty Nylon Tate Tote from Marc by Marc, at right, it never occurred to us that it could be copied.

It’s pretty plain, basically a basket of dark gray, quilted nylon with knotted handles - kind of like those black nylon Prada bags we used to see around that were so ugly and yet sold like crazy, so people could say they owned a bit of Prada.

So we were a little surprised when reader Lisbeth turned our attention to this Nylon Quilt Tote from Forever 21, at left. The shape’s wider, but the boxy-gray-nylon-with-tied-handles-and-side-pockets-look is still intact.

The only thing more surprising than someone bothering to copy this bag? The fact that the original retailed for $188…

Who: Alexander Wang, maker of the most popular cut-off denim shorts ever

What: Sample sale, so you can be a cute person who actually has cash in her wallet this summer

Where: 386 Broadway, 3rd floor (between Walker and White). 212-532-3103, in case “Walker and White” means nothing to you.

When: Tomorrow, June 25th through Saturday, 28th. Hours: Wednesday: 3 - 7, Thursday - Saturday: 10 - 7

Why: For some seriously discounted items. Dresses that usually go for almost $700 are going for more like $220 (like a black pleated suspender dress, polka dot bustier dress and oversized tank dresses). Also, blazers that were $495 - 795 are now $180-275 (like the quilted, shrunken blazer), silk tops that were $465 are now $140 (like the silk coconut textured top, snap front tank and cape blouse), and those cut-off denim shorts that were sold out in every store were $285 but are now are $160.

Go!

Since the debut of Sex and the City: The Movie, Pat Field’s been busy with a whole lot of projects:

The limited-edition line for Marks & Spencer, her five-day long SATC-inspired line she’ll sell on the Home Shopping Network in September - and now, soda.

Pat’s designed a limited-edition quartet of Diet Coke bottles to be sold exclusively in London at Selfridges (and on her site). But don’t confuse those bottles with certain HBO lady-characters. They represent career (gold), passion (red), love (pink), and fashion (turquoise).

There’s only 25 sets for sale, and they go for $100 each, right next to the Carrie nameplate necklace and the Carrie studded belt from, well, you know.

“And if you’d like to learn something, consider this: If you feel like teasing this hockey player about an obsession of his that you might think is a little unusual, go right ahead. Just know that you may get your ass kicked by a very expensive pair of shoes — and that they’ll probably match both my belt and my shirt.” - Sean Avery, on his haters, as this week’s guest editor for Men’s Vogue.com.

Taylor Momsen of Gossip Girl fame just got signed to IMG models.

This make her one of the youngest girls on the roster, since Taylor is fourteen - a year younger than Gemma Ward when she scored her first Prada campaign and leaped from IMG’s development board onto their women’s one.

There’s no denying that Taylor has model looks and model height, but it’s interesting to note IMG’s scooping her up so quickly, since she has yet to score any big campaigns or magazine covers.

Expect a big Teen Vogue spread soon, and also probably some sort of Neutrogena / Clinique / Lip Smackers partnership, unless she sails straight past the Dooney and Bourke market and scores some Gap ads.

Also: IMG signed Mischa when she was about sixteen and turned her from a child actress into a sex bomb. It would be silly to think that isn’t also their strategy here.

Stay tuned!

—KYLE HAYES

We’ve ignored the discussion of political outfits up until now, because, well, we don’t think the outfits matter.

In fact, the candidates should wear uniforms so that the press talks about what the candidates are talking about instead of how much their ties cost.

Anyway, that’s not going to happen. Especially not now that Donatella Versace’s dedicated her SS’09 show to Barack Obama, whom she declared, “the man of the moment”.

The collection, which doesn’t include a single tie, is supposed to represent, “a relaxed man who doesn’t need to flex muscles to show he has power”, which is a neat summary of what people are hoping for with Obama. But we can’t really picture the senator wearing the outfit at left.

The idea of a muse has taken quite a turn. First BryanBoy for Marc, us for AP, and Obama for Versace. Next up, McCain trousers for The Row?

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!

“Her sex appeal… is certainly not come-hither… if anything, it’s on the pervy side.” - The London Times, on the sensuality of Lily Cole.

Naomi Campbell was expected in Brazil this weekend for Sao Paulo Fashion Week, but the model never made it down to South America.

The reason?

Naomi’s handlers told press it was because of her airline incident and subsequent assault conviction, which was preventing her from boarding a plane.

The curious thing?

Naomi was spotted by Style.com a few days ago on Dolce & Gabbana’s runway for their most recent Milan show.

Guess she could have taken the Chunnel?

Guess we’ll all be wearing men’s bathrobes instead of cropped jackets this Fall?

Every Monday morning, we do the same thing:

Toast an English Muffin, pour some coffee and check Post Secret, a blog of people’s mailed-in secrets scrawled on post cards that updates every Sunday. We’ve only been doing this for a couple months, just since a reader sent in the cutest secret we’d ever read.

So imagine our delight when there was another fashion (at least, we think) related post card this week, but this time of a much less cute feel.

Guess those Parsons kids better watch their backs…

Faran is such a theater geek that she screamed when she heard this news:

On July 7, the new cast of Hair will perform at Theory’s boutique in the Meatpacking District, but not just for one or two songs - the cast will sing out from the racks for a whopping 45 minutes.

We’re so stoked about this, but of course, it’s also funny:

Hair is a show about individualism, free love, sacrifice, art, rebellion, society’s unraveling, and the power (and sometimes the weakness) of youth in America.

Meanwhile, Theory is a store built on $300 slacks and a stable black-white-gray color palette.

We don’t have to spell out the odd contrast, but hey - if Agyness and Gareth can stand against the psychedelic LSD rock n’ roll madness without laughing, then cool, maybe Andrew Rosen and the rest of his staff can manage it, too.

Peace! Love! Pantsuits!

While most Americans look forward to the Fall TV schedule, we at Fashionista have another anticipation:

The Fall Buying schedule, as in, what new lines will debut at which big boutiques.

Though we’ve heard rumblings of certain British brands sneaking into certain Fifth Avenue staples, here’s one buy-and-sell we can confirm:

Net-A-Porter will take on Elizabeth and James, also known as the Olsen twins’ secondary line, for Fall.

Considering how good the girls are about their clothing line press, could we expect to see a special MK + A blog in the future? Or maybe a behind-the-scenes slide show?

Fingers crossed, especially if it means Mary Kate will actually speak, but in the meantime, ponder this:

They’re picking up E&J, but not The Row…

“Babe Paley was the original rare bird, the swan. She used fashion to create and inhabit a picture-perfect world, as if decadence, not ignorance, were bliss.” - Lauren Santo Domingo, in a Vogue article on shopping during a recession. Seriously.

It’s been more than a month since the Met Ball (you know, the super-hero bash with the widely ignored dress code), which was months after we’d already been seeing superhero and comic book themed collections popping up everywhere from Luella to Iceberg.

But, honestly, who’s wearing this stuff?

We’ve yet to see anyone walking down Prince with Wonder Woman-sized cuffs or Catwoman-like glasses from Linda Farrow, and since the wannabe trend is getting rather stale, we doubt we will anytime soon.

The fashion planet toted superheroes and comic books as the season’s biggest inspiration, from high up on the runway down to Topshop, which even created a special collection of starred rain boots and Superman logo pajamas and undies. And they’re still trying to push it further - witness the Comic Relief roundup in the new July ELLE.

We actually find comic book prints and Spidey-webs fun and they bring us back a few years. We wouldn’t mind a cute Batman watch or even a tank with BAM! written across it. But we wouldn’t take it much further - you know, like into Jeremy Scott’s territory.

So what do you think, would you wear Spiderman’s web or maybe Wonder Woman’s crown? Or is this one of those trends that fell straight off the runway?

—KYLE HAYES

We know stylists work hard - it can’t be easy to dress divas, guarantee red carpet success and compete in a very small, very competitive industry - but we often wonder how hard it can really be when all the big names knock down your door with the prettiest clothes and accessories .

So we’re kind of thrilled that Rihanna’s stylist is working a little overtime to promote smaller, particularly British, labels.

The singer lit the Empire State building last night for Cartier Love Day wearing the colorful PPQ dress to the left. Then, she wore a colorful ruffly Poltock & Walsh skirt on the Today Show this morning, (Topshop - PLEASE pay attention), and she’s been out and about in plenty of outfits we don’t recognize, which is very refreshing.

Sure, people like Mischa Barton and the Olsens wear underground brands all the time, but Rihanna’s far more mainstream which means she has potential to bring indie brands into a bigger spotlight with the kind of break that only comes with devoted celebrity fans.

To Rihanna’s stylist, keep it coming.

We were watching ESPN this morning (don’t ask), when a familiar voice rang through our living room. It said:

“Work is so crazy - Fashion Week’s coming up and I have to meet with all these LA designers to learn…”

Oh yes. It was Lauren Conrad, pushing AT&T while wearing blue nail polish. (And yes, this is off Natalie’s television via her digital camera, so sorry for any shakiness.)

We’re not sure what this was doing on ESPN, but whatever, we’re just glad she says she’s going to learn something…

Josh, is that you?

We just came across BRadelyBB, a seller on Etsy, and we knew we had to share. Her online store is packed with adorable accessories, mostly stud earrings, and at incredibly low prices.

The ice pop earrings, at left ($4!), are what first drew us in. We’re picturing them with braids and a romper.

And then we saw these steel anchor studs ($5), these neon yellow rose studs ($6), these bright watermelon slices ($3) - we could go on and on.

Extra best part? The seller is located in upstate New York, so if you’re in town, dying to buy something cute and have less than $10 to spend, believe it or not, you’re in luck.

“I thought Sex And The City was supposed to be about cutting-edge fashion and there was nothing remotely memorable or interesting about what I saw. I went to the premiere and left after ten minutes.” - Vivienne Westwood, to WENN, via IMDB.

To: Tips@Fashionista.com

From: NaughtyMagIntern@TellAll.com

Despite the recent Rachel Zoe/Anna Wintour fashion feud, Harper’s Bazaar has had no qualms in taking in the stray fashionista. I guess editor-in-chief, Glenda Bailey, wants to cause a little ruckus in the fashion world. I overheard Ms. Bailey and another editor discussing a shoot styled by, da duh da duh, Ms. Zoe herself.

Will her first editorial styling gig put her up top with the likes of Brana Wolf or confirm that she should stick to dressing Hollywood starlets? My guess is…the latter. The issue should be out this fall.

xo

Something about this e-mail really makes us wish Gossip Girl was still on…

Faran was doing some research on Commes de Garcons for H&M, when she found something crazy:

Piles of Look Book images for H&M starring Canadian bombshell Heather Marks.

It’s no secret that Heather’s been getting really mass - her Victoria’s Secret runway turns and Revlon commercials are getting her a ton of exposure, and even though she’s no longer on the short list for Vogue shoots, her bank account and Fashion Week roster have certainly not suffered.

But what’s Heather doing in a look book?

And could it be it’s just a warm-up to a full-out campaign?

We’ll miss Daria, but seeing Heather’s face painted on the side of Houston Street could definitely be cool.

Brie, 19, student

Got Her: at Bowery and E. Houston headed to meet some friends for lunch.

Stalked Her: Because the bright blue flower in her hair stuck out from a block away. Plus the fun texture of her silver bag looked much cooler amid the stream of shiny patent totes walking by.

Shot Her: Because she added some reasonably loud accessories to a simple white dress from Urban to let them do the talking. Plus, the lace-up sandals are a refreshing alternative to gladiators and the flower was a good way to include some color.

She Says: “I’ve had these shoes for I don’t even know how long and the flower was just for fun, I loved it. I just moved to the city a couple months ago and am starting school in the Fall. I can’t wait.”

We Say: Good luck!

—KYLE HAYES

The Daily just broke the news that Lisa Salzer, of the line Lulu Frost, is doing her own jewelry for Urban Outfitters. Lisa follows Steven Alan, Anna Sheffield (Bing Bang), and Charlotte Ronson in that plight.

Meanwhile, Comme des Garcons is doing H&M’s line this Fall, Richard Chai is next up at Target (followed by Jonathan Saunders), and Topshop just scored Nicholas Kirkwood as a New Gen designer for Fall.

The whole thing led to a sort of game: Who doesn’t have a diffusion line? We scrolled down Style.com’s designer list, and came up with a list of the designers most likely to pair with a big brand next:

Adam Lippes - His price points are a little low to be making clothes, but we feel like he’s the next big thing for Payless, following in Alice + Olivia and Abaete’s footsteps.

Chris Benz - Please, the boy is screaming Target commercial (and muses Eva Amurri and Kim Stolz can star).

Derek Lam - Target!

D Sqaured - H&M, but their collection might be so colorful that it could turn into a Cavalli redux. Some girls really shouldn’t wear hot pink mini dresses, you know?

D & G - H & M. Bathing suits. Can’t you see it?

Galliano - Why H&M hasn’t stolen him yet is beyond us. Does Dior have a contract clause about that?

Giles Deacon - Topshop. Still hasn’t happened. Why?

Marchesa - Can definitely see them with Target, especially because of their CFDA ties.

Matthew Williamson - Target! Chiffon! Yes!

McQueen - If H&M can get Lagerfeld, they can get him.

Peter Som - Target.

Rag + Bone - Target, but Topshop would be silly if they didn’t at least consider snagging them for their first American designer diffusion line.

And we’d love to see Ruffian on this list, but they told Faran that they’d never do a mass-market line because it contradicts the handmade ethos of their clothes. It would be cool if they reconsidered, though.

ASOS has just put up an “in the style of Daisy Lowe” dress, also known as the Miu Miu mini that’s been everywhere recently. The “not-too-dissimilar version” (that’s a round about way of saying knock-off) is available for 38 pounds and comes in black and white.

Besides the fact that this dress is far less cute than the original, we’re wondering why ASOS would try to imitate a dress that was featured in the brand’s spring ad campaign, not to mention in several notable editorials and even some magazine covers already - aren’t they just a little late?

And besides, the silhouette and length don’t work when you take all the costume out and try to make it “wearable”. It’s just not that kind of dress. So why bother?

— HAYLEY PHELAN

What do you get when people from MTV, Sears and High School Musical join forces?

They say, “summer blockbuster”. We say, longest commercial ever.

The American Mall, the network’s new musical, centers around a Utah mall that’s “a home away from home for teens everywhere”. High school kids work in the mall, shop at Sears, wear clothes from Sears, carry bags from Sears and just really love Sears. And, just in case you don’t get it, there will be co-branded commercials during the TV movie that tell you to shop at Sears.

The actors, playing the kids who love Sears, will also appear in Sears’ online ‘lookbooks’ and at screenings across the country to promote Sears.

Sears hopes to set the tone for back to school shopping by making kids all over the country ask their moms to take them to Sears.

It actually kind of sounds like what Sex and the City did for brands like Manolo and Dolce minus the teensiest bit of subtlety.

“It’s yellow, it’s ugly, it doesn’t go with anything, but it could save your life.” - Karl Lagerfeld, in his road safety PSA for France, courtesy WWD.

If you didn’t get your hands on those cute Chris Benz glasses last week, don’t worry.

Try Modo.

They’ve just opened an eponymous store in Manhattan, as well as an online shopping site, selling frames from Phillip Lim to Fabien Baron. So whether you want to look like a sexy librarian, or a good old-fashioned sex pot, you should be set.

They also have their own line of half hipster, half retro shades, including the Valentina, left.

Also, for every pair you buy, whether in the store or online, they’ll plant a tree. And that’s probably the best free gift we’ve ever heard of.

Leave it to Cathy to get the first peek -

Some version of July’s much anticipated Vogue Italia is circulating somewhere in the world, and here are a few of the images, courtesy Cathy Horyn.

The stats:

The cover star is actually four different girls (for a four-page fold out) - Jourdan, Liya, Sessilee Lopez and Naomi, with Liya landing the cover that has the actual cover lines on it.

Other models in the issue include Iman, Alek Wek, Pat Cleveland, Chanel Iman, Veronica Webb, Tyra Banks, and Karen Alexander.

Check out Cathy’s interview with some of the people who made the issue happen, and click through to see the rest of the images.

We’re glad to know we weren’t the only ones that didn’t recognize Tyra!

The good people over at W just sent us Part III of Fashion Field Trip, the videos made during Bruce Weber’s recent shoot in Miami with Kate, Sasha, Daria and Lara (which we trust you’ve all seen).

Check it out to see Sasha + Kate and friends fooling around in what looks to be a random vintage shop, and doing such regular things like riding the bus, just like the good old days of school outings.

Except, ours never involved wrapping tutus around our heads or Kate Moss sticking her tongue out at us.

This just in from our Inbox:

Arlenis hamming it up alongside Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn in July’s Vogue!

We knew she was being shot for the mag, but we didn’t put together how amazing that would be for her until we actually saw it.

Picture it - this girl was just heading to class just a few weeks from her nineteenth birthday not even three months ago, and now she’s smiling in the pages of one of the glossiest publications in the world, walking runways all over, and who knows what next.

So, July issue of US Vogue - check. July issue of Vogue Italia? Hm…

It’s no secret that we heart Kate Moss. Usually she can do no wrong, but when she recently stepped out wearing a dress that literally showed off all her assets, we were surprisingly put off. And it’s not just Kate - lately we’ve noticed quite a few chicks on the street baring all in lingerie.

We understand lingerie inspired looks. We love a pretty slip dress or camisole for night. But that’s not what’s going on. The look we’ve been seeing is to actually wear what could pass for pajamas - in public. Even Shopbop’s encouraging us to go through the day in hot pants and a tank top!

We understand they’re comfy. But so are sweatpants, baggy t-shirts and yoga pants, and we aren’t wearing those to work anytime soon. Plus the whole thing is a little bit of a fashion TMI. We’re not sure we want the whole block knowing what we look like in our underwear.

We’re not saying the look doesn’t have potential to be cute - See Jil Sander and Marc Spring ‘08 for inventive and sophisticated applications of sheer. But for the regular girl, with a regular life off the runway, is it really acceptable?

How can there be at once a stigma against leaving the house in a sweat suit, but not against stepping outside in a see-through slip? Is it that outrageously comfortable clothes are acceptable if they maintain a degree of sexiness? Or is this the Juicy Couture sweat suit of 2008?

— HAYLEY PHELAN

“The Ass Crack is the go-to fashion ad allurement these days.” —The Copyranter, on Joe’s Jeans and American Apparel’s latest NYC billboards.

When I walked into Kate Spade’s showroom this morning, pre-coffee, I thought, I hoped, I’d actually walked on to the set of Mad Men.

I skipped past the bags my mom would probably like to the racks of nipped waists, faux fur collars, and Michael Kors-like florals generously trimmed with bows, feathers and glitter.

Matching clutches and heels abounded. There were elbow length gloves, brightly colored satin heels and fluffy headbands Blair Waldorf would kill for.

If I could have walked away with one thing, it’d have been the envelope clutch from Kate’s new Par L’avion collection, (after the jump). And if I could have asked Joe Zee one thing in the elevator on the way down, it would have been, “Why’d you change the name from Fashionista to Stylista?”

But he just wanted to talk about whether or not he’s allowed to wear shorts to work, and I wasn’t going to interrupt that discussion.

We knew Stylista would be a dramatic, over-the-top, hysterically unrealistic reality show, but seriously, we didn’t think it would be like this.

Check out the clips if you can’t believe that:

1. Contestants (because that’s what they are) have to set up Maggie Rizer’s hotel suite for her before she flies into town (Bonus info: does that mean Maggie’s in an upcoming ELLE shoot? And going to be on the show?)

2. Contestants are asked to plan Anne Slowey’s niece’s birthday party, to which the niece instructs “don’t embarrass me,” sounding like a cross between that 13-year girl from the bat mitzvah episode on SATC and Monty Burns.

3. A faux clueless contestant says, “I certainly don’t want to be carrying anyone’s coffee” with just enough of a smirk on her face saying even she knows she’ll never live this down.

4. A horrifying contestant says, “If you want to work in this industry, you have to change your body for it.”

Yikes.

Today’s WWD reports that Hearst is suing a new Vegas hotel chain over their name:

Cosmopolitan.

The magazine giant thinks Vegas women will confuse the hotel with its magazine, and think that a tacky oasis of bikini waxes, nameplate necklaces, and one night stands will compromise the integrity of their pages, which are filled with bikini waxes, nameplate necklaces, and one night stands.

You can see where we’re going with this, so we’ll stop.

But just like Jordache getting touchy over Gossip Girl’s “XOXO” tagline, this new crackdown on the Cosmo brand might have bigger implications:

For instance, what happens to the drink?

Can Hearst sue HBO for name-dropping Carrie Bradshaw’s favorite cocktail? Will New York bartenders simply rename it “The Bradshaw” or “The Big” or the “You Must Be a Tourist Because You’re Drinking This”?

And furthermore, when do we get to sue The Soap Network for their awful Fashionista Diaries?!

Which editor demanded a peanut butter and cucumber wrap for lunch from her brand new intern? The catch? The peanut butter was absolutely, positively forbidden from touching the cucumbers.

FYI: The intern in question did NOT tell us this. It was overheard by someone else, just in case, you know…

Who: Botkier, maker of beautiful bags we wish we could afford.

What: Spring/Summer sample sale at 50% - 70% off retail - so we can afford the beautiful bags.

Where: 172 Mercer between Prince and Houston (646.747.4149)

When: Tomorrow through Sunday; Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday and Saturday 10am -6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm.

Why: If you’re looking for a sturdy, long-lasting bag that’s actually cute enough to take out at night, Botkier’s sample sale is not to be missed! Also, this is the first time Monica’s shoes and wallets will be on discounted sale, too.

Click through to check out some specific prices…

What we saw last night, in between looking at the art, dancing under the disco ball and stalking Moby:

- Doutzen Kroes, frustrated, spelling her name to a PR girl who couldn’t figure out why she was there and if she should let her in. Also, she’s the most stunning, perfect human being we have ever seen in our lives. We are not exagerrating.

- Sean Lennon dancing with an Irina look-alike, who definitely wasn’t Irina.

- Barbara Bush dancing with Derek Blasberg, who we thought was Jack McCullough of Proenza, but wasn’t.

- Model kickball. OK, not really but Coco, Behati, Hana, Doutzen, and Elettra, (all in skintight, envy inducing Herve but Coco), huddled in a circle while their dates/friends huddled in a protective outter circle while Rachel Zoe tried to eye her way in.

- The girl in back of us in the bathroom line, asking Lou Doillon, who was in back of her, where she was from, why she was in New York and how she finagled her way into the party. Weird, because Lou is so beautiful it’s kind of obvious she belongs in all the cool places.

- Vogue’s Stephanie LaCava rocking these Dior shoes (left) like they were her favorite Repetto ballet flats.

- Rachel Bilson, waiting in line for champagne, just like us, checking out Natalie. Yes, Rachel, she actually is smaller than you.

The lucky British few whose Fall collections will be financially supported are out:

Louise Goldin, Danielle Scutt, Meadham Kirchhoff, House of Holland and Peter Pilotto, with Nasir Mazhar, maker of major headgear, winning events sponsorship.

The recognition (and £5,000 - £10,000 for about three seasons straight) is a pretty big deal - previous winners who were previously unknown include Matthew Williamson, Christopher Kane, Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon, Sophia Kokosalaki, and Marios Schwab.

And those receiving exhibition sponsorship at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington this September include David David, Felder Felder, Hannah Marshall, Nicolas Kirkwood - and Poltock and Walsh.

We’re especially happy to see Poltock and Walsh on there again, and since Topshop sponsors the NewGen initiative, we’re just going to keep on hoping that their Topshop rumor is just a few months from totally reality…

This summer has introduced an interesting fashion predicament:

Half the day we’re sweltering, the other half we’re dodging sudden downpour. Still if we can’t find a good store to duck in to, or we just have somewhere to be, we wind up sloshing down the street anyway and our new ballet flats are the worse for it. Leather sandals are just as perilous and any flip flop has that annoying habit of splashing NYC puddle water on to the back of our calves. But it’s definitely too hot for rain boots, so what’s a girl to wear?

Enter the Melissa ‘sweet lips’ flat, the answer to this sticky situation. The shoe is made from rubber so you don’t have to worry about them getting ruined when you’re splashing down the street. And when the sun does actually come out, the flat is equally appropriate for warm weather. The bonus? All of Melissa’s shoes are made with 100% recyclable material.

— HAYLEY PHELAN

Yes, Meisel shot Toccara for the July Vogue Italia - in fur and lingerie. Faran reported this in Page Six Magazine a few weeks ago.

Anjali, 21 Intern at brand marketing firm

Got her: at Lafayette and Great Jones

Stalked her:Because polka dots really do something for us (and apparently guys really dig them too). Plus a jumper is really one of the more practical options this summer.

Shot her: Because she keeps the rest of her outfit relatively simple by wearing plain black flats and a brown bag, while her aviators and substantial anklet add a bit of personal swagger.

She says: The jumper is actually from Delia’s. It was only $30 bucks!

We say: Jump - Jump on it.

— HAYLEY PHELAN

Tibi always reminded us of the dark side of Lily Pulitzer, so it’s sort of great that they’ve signed on to open Miami Fashion Week next month.

The line designed by Amy Smilovic has a Skipper vibe to Tory Burch’s Barbie, and manages to get some playful prints and shapes into the universe without looking too cutesy or too cool. Actually, they could get a little more cool if they wanted, but anyway.

Tibi will hit the Raleigh Hotel on Friday, July 18th at 8 pm.

Expect a lot of pretty girls in bikinis, some fun summer prints, and of course, cocktails, because unlike Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City, you can actually drink while watching swim wear in Florida.

Not that we’d ever tell Fern Mallis we’ve done that, but yeah.

Can you tell we’re counting down the days to Topshop’s opening on Broadway? The current word is that it’ll finally happen sometime between October 16th - 18th, and we can barely wait, especially now that we’ve seen the Fall 08 clothes.

We’re all obsessed with the Bandstand Coat at left, and we each have our own obsessions (click through to check them out.) We don’t love everything on there, but definitely enough so that we’ll stand in whatever line to get to it on the first day.

And the best part? Topshop’s planning on just converting the prices from pounds to dollars, which means this £100 coat will be $200 for us. Normally, we’d think the currency conversion was annoying/unfair/off putting, but in this case, we love it. There aren’t too many places where you can find a decent quality, cute coat for $200, and it looks like Topshop will be one of them.

But still, here’s to hoping the dollar gets stronger…

Olivia Palermo may deny she’s a Hills guest star, but now there’s more intrigue about whom they’re filming:

We hear that Daisy Lowe has been selected to be the “Lauren Conrad” of The Hills: London.

The project has been in the works for a while now, with UK tabloids reporting that MTV execs have been in hot pursuit of a group of connected, gorgeous, cool kids to follow around with cameras.

Weirdly, Daisy’s already been pursued for Class of 2008, a quasi-documentary about London babes that basically run around partying for twelve episodes straight.

We’re not gonna lie - we’d watch this religiously. Anything to never pay attention to Heidi and Spencer again.

Yesterday, Faran popped over to the London Hotel for a quick chat with Lauren Conrad about her latest project: An accessories line for mark, the brand that belongs to Avon Cosmetics and refuses to be capitalized.

A chunk of the conversation went something like this:

FARAN: Do you know everyone’s obsessed with your nails?

LAUREN CONRAD: Really?

FARAN: Obsessed.

LAUREN CONRAD: Well, that’s weird… yeah, I stopped doing black, and now I’m getting really playful. I just got this electric blue color, and also these metallic foils from Sephora that are kind of crazy. You push them down onto your nails and they stay there, like instead of polish. Oh, and I like going to party supply stores because they sell glitter nail polish that’s really intense. When you paint it on your nails, they look like disco balls.

FARAN: Yeah, we do that.

LAUREN CONRAD: I think nails are the place where you can be really weird and experiment… like I love orange, too.

Attached is a photo of Lauren, wearing red nail polish that was not so experimental. Thus far, her accessories line doesn’t include nail polish colors, but it does include a necklace for $22 that donates 100% of profits to charities that help young women combat domestic violence. You can go to meetmark.com for info.

By the way, if you care, Faran is wearing purple nail polish today.

“Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s publicist wanted me to speak with each of them and asked that I not refer to them as “twins” or “sisters” in my story…about their new jewelry line under the Elizabeth & James label.” —Caroline Tell, on WWD’s new blog.

Generra, maker of our favorite sweater dress ever, is having a sample sale for all their Spring 08 clothes.

The sale’s from tomorrow through Friday, and then picks up again for every day next week, Monday through Friday. Hours are always 9:30am to 7pm, so no need to fake a dentist appointment.

The details: 50% - 60% off retail.

Location: Asmar Group Showroom, 275 West 39th Street, 5th Floor (between 7th and 8th Ave.) 212.768.2868, in case you need it.

See you there!

The screen geeks who work at Nintendo must have fashion on the brain -

Not only are they releasing POP CUTIE!, a game that’s all about trendspotting, but now they’ve also released My Fashion Studio, a game about fashion design.

Players must work their way up from apprentice to a famous fashion designer to the owner of the house by cutting fabric, folding and ironing clothes, and sewing buttons, sometimes against the clock.

The game sounds kind of repetitive and boring (oh, and, only for 10-year olds, we’re guessing), but here’s a fun fact:

The name of the fashion designer whose approval you must earn? Zoe.

We’re assuming a metallic, drapey, one-shouldered gown is in the lineup.

J Brand, the jeans often worn by Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford, is launching a new denim line for those of us who don’t make a living from being super thin and super tall.

The line, J Brand Blue Label will consist of three styles - The Scarlett (low-rise with a cigarette or boot), The Catherine (mid-rise with a cigarette or boot), and The Monroe (mid-rise that fits looser in the hips and thighs).

The jeans will have a more generous cut in the leg and contoured waistbands to fit curvier girls. Each pair is between $158 and $178, and will roll out completely by August after an exclusive launch at Bloomingdale’s this July.

So that makes: J Brand Blue Label, for girls who aren’t stick thing, Paige Denim Petite for MK+A-sized girls, James Jeans for those looking to draw attention to their ass - is everyone that much closer to being able to find the perfect jeans?

Did hell just freeze over?

A source just spilled that Agyness is leaving DNA - home to Natalia, Snejana, Raquel and Doutzen, among others - and headed over to Women - home to Carmen Kass, Jourdan Dunn, Heather Marks and Isabeli Fontana, among more.

And that’s not all. The reason why she’s leaving? DNA’s head booker is (allegedly) moving over to Women, and so Agyness may be following him out.

As of right now, she’s still listed on DNA’s board - but we’ll let you know the minute she bumps Alison Nix from the top of Women’s.

We don’t know if this could really have an effect on Agyness’ career, but we do know this: DNA and Women are just a couple blocks apart. Lunchtime street tension?

Walking down Fifth this weekend I saw not one, not two, but three different girls dressed in a variety of outfits accompanied by sneaker wedges.

Yes, sneaker wedges.

Each time I saw a pair walk by, I stopped and watched them stomp past me and thought to myself, “Why?”

Sure, they’re a combination of the most comfortable shoe out there with one of the cutest, but let’s face it, it’s a high-heeled sneaker, which is a little like slapping a heel onto an Ugg and calling it evening wear.

They could be cute underneath a pair of wide-leg jeans, but only because you wouldn’t see the entire shoe. This is literally the only instance we can think of.

We just plain don’t get this one - Are they meant for Posh Spice-wannabes in Phys Ed? Or are rubber triangles under otherwise normal sneakers the new Croc? As in, something hideous that we better get used to seeing around anyway?

Someone please explain, quickly.

—KYLE HAYES

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

Well, it was bound to happen.

Today, Nintendo announced it would sell a video game called POP CUTIE! that’s all about street style. Technically, they’re calling it a “Street Fashion Simulation,” and players will buzz through virtual streets in Tokyo, New York, and Paris picking out their favorite “trends.”

The game will be available for Nintendo DS, which has started aggressively marketing itself to women in the past few months (did you notice those commercials with Mandy Moore and Liv Tyler?).

Faran isn’t sure anything can beat Brain Age 2, and Natalie insists Super Mario Brothers is the only thing to play on DS, but this could get interesting:

Will girl gamers in the middle of nowhere suddenly be inspired to become trend spotters?

Preparations for New York Fashion Week are already starting, but before we get to Bryant Park, we’ve got to hit Brazil.

Their Fashion Week at Sao Paulo is imminent, and to kick it off, they’re importing some big deals:

According to sources, both Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bundchen are heading down to stomp out the week on the runways.

Exciting, right?

Brazil houses some very cool labels, including Alexandre Herchcovitch, Maria Bonita, and Rosa Cha. Calvin Klein’s creative director, Francisco Costa, is from Brazil, as is Abaete designer Laura Poretzsky.

And let’s not forget the models: Gisele, Caroline Trentini, Raquel Zimmerman, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Adriana Lima, and Alessandra Ambrosio are all Brazilian -

As is Fashionista mascot, Cintia Dicker!

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?

Victoria’s Secret Pink label is partnering with the Collegiate Licensing Company.

So if you’ve always dreamed of hot pink sweatpants with your alma mater plastered on the back or a teeny tiny neon thong with your university’s mascot, you’re in luck!

Pink, a “fully articulated collegiate lifestyle brand,” will sell sweats, tees, underwear and bags associated with thirty-three “top” schools starting on July 1.

They picked the lucky colleges based on regional appeal and alumni populations. Which means they think you’ll want to buy this stuff even if you graduated ten years ago.

We can’t wait to see Behati on a billboard with “HARVARD” stamped on her ass.

Quite a change from Chanel’s runways, no?

Yasmin, 27, Prop Stylist

Got Her: Painting the windows at Fashionista favorite, L’asso Pizza

Stalked Her: Stealthily from our little table in the corner.

Shot Her: Because her neon and floral mix was bold enough to distract us from our margherita pizza slice [Note: the ensemble was way brighter than our pictures suggest]. And we came to the conclusion that her paint spattered hands were a great fashion statement.

She says: “This is all from Beacon’s Closet. It’s all I had to wear today - I’m just here helping out my boyfriend!”

We Say: Spring florals + Highlighter hues = Summer. Scientific Fact?

— JAZZI McGILBERT

“But in an industry that thrives on newness, what will next season’s trend be? A backlash in favour of all things artificial and plastic - a nu-syntheticism? Call us cynical, but right now fashion is at risk of being greenwashed: subject to a superficial treatment that will bleed out in the next cycle of fashion seasons before it has a chance to become fixed. The result will be considerable consumer confusion - and ennui.” - Fiona Harkin, on the eco-fashion trend, in the Financial Times.

Exactly one month and one day after Yves Saint Laurent’s death (July 2), Christie’s will auction off seven pieces of his designs, mostly jewelry, along with some pieces from Christian Lacroix, Thierry Mugler, Cristóbal Balenciaga and Gianni Versace.

You can already place bids for the YSL items on the Christie’s site, with the glass mosaic clip-on earrings at left expected to start between $800 and $1,200. Each piece is meant to represent a decade of YSL’s work, including a dress he designed in 1958 for Dior and a Rive Gauche sweater jacket from the 70’s that looks a lot like one that Jacqueline Onassis wore a lot.

We expect this to be the first of many auctions of YSL designs in the coming year - Pierre Berge’s already announced that most of Yves’ things will be auctioned off before the end of the year.

Hermione, um, Emma Watson, is the new face of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle.

The 18-year old, who’s signed with Storm modeling agency, has worn Chanel in public for as long as we can remember but this is the first official partnership between the two. And aside from the copious amounts of dresses and shoes she’ll surely continue to earn, she’ll be paid a sweet $6 million.

The contract will reportedly be announced next month, right before Keira Knightley’s contract runs out, which will make Emma, the youngest girl to grace the cover of Teen Vogue, the youngest face of Chanel.

So Karl, please dress the girl in more than just a bowler hat.

Update: Oh no! Chanel says that Emma for Coco Mademoiselle is “100% not true.” So sad, we thought she’d be cute.

TopShop isn’t the only new development in Soho this year:

Kid Robot will also be launching their latest range of handbags from their Spring Street store.

We’ve got a sneak peek at the collection, and here’s what it looks like:

More colors than Willy Wonka’s candy factory, with familiar Kid Robot cartoons and toys emblazoned on all the carriers.

For the most part (okay, the entire part) these guys look more like bags you’d want to haul to the gym than to work or a party, but because of their crazy prints, they’d also be ideal for airplanes, when spotting your checked luggage can shave airport travel time.

Also:

They remind us a lot of the Tokidoki for LeSportsac line of ‘05, but that’s to be expected, right?

More images below.

OMG, is it Fashion Week already?

Mercifully, no, but preparations are definitely underway.

The latest runway anticipation is Lizzie Fortunato Jewelry, who sort of came from nowhere (okay, from a dorm room at Duke University) and quickly got the attention of the fashion pack with their bold and crafty necklaces.

After meeting with several CFDA-nodded designers, we hear the pair decided to team with VPL by Victoria Bartlett for their Spring ‘09 show in September.

Meanwhile, Marc Jacobs’ jeweled partner-in-crime, Anna Sheffield of Bing Bang, just revealed her own fine jewelry line, which charges $3000+ for the opportunity to look like Winona Ryder.

Love it.

Pay attention mass market brands. This is how it’s done.

Moscot, the almost one hundred year old eyeglass shop on the corner of Orchard and Delancey on Manhattan’s lower east side, is inspired by the darling Chris Benz, his retro designs and soft fall colors. But instead of just copying his creativity, they’ve channeled their admiration into these limited edition glasses.

The vintage-y shades come in peacock, cerulean, orchid and golden olive. And they’ve only made 200 of each color - so buy them now.

Wear them with a little summer dress. You’ll look pretty.

Getty Images just announced the completion of its newest project - the addition of 100+ image archive of fashion and beauty images from Vogue Paris to its site.

The collection of images, from 1926 to the present, are mostly never before seen shots all by Vogue Paris photographers like Hans Feurer, Jean-Daniel Lorieux, Thierry Le Goues, and Henry Clarke (the images that have been seen before are famous VP covers that they just couldn’t resist including).

It took Getty employees two weeks to scan, edit and caption every image for the archive that launches on June 17, which will be updated with new additions regularly.

Here’s a sneak peek at just a few of what they’ll have in store, sent just for us - but only because you’re our favorites, of course.

*Photo by Henry Clarke/Collection Vogue Paris/Getty Images

First the actresses thought they should have runway shows, then came the singers, and finally - thank you, Lauren Conrad - the reality stars.

Now it seems some athletes want in, too.

Next week, Maria Sharapova hosts her own fashion show in London, where she’ll show off her latest “lifestyle” wares:

New Sony Ericsson phones.

How a runway show can serve a cell is one thing, but whether a tennis star can bring fashion to the tech world - well, that’s quite another.

But at least the models on her runway won’t be sickly skinny - Maria herself has a slamming, muscular body and we hear she’s demanding the same of her other catwalk girls.

I live within walking distance of McCarren Park Pool, a gigantic, hollowed out, left over WPA project covered in pretty graffiti that plays host to awesome concerts, slip’n’slide parties and late night movies.

It’s one of the best things about living in Brooklyn, and now it’s playing host to Topshop, too.

In anticipation of its October opening, the UK chain will sponsor the pool’s schedule, dress the staff, take street style pics and hopefully, fingers crossed, bring the Helmut Newton modeling machine to the concrete shores of Williamsburg.

We’re pretty sure that the fans of MGMT, MIA, Wilco etc. (some of this summer’s line-up) are the last people Topshop needs to reach out to - they’re the ones who’ve already penciled the alleged October opening date into their calendars, or iphones, or whatevers.

But we’re thrilled. And we can’t wait to see a pool full of exceptionally creative people hoping to get caught by Topshop’s powerful cameras.

If you happen to work in an office loft, then you might be familiar with our dilemma:

Lots of co-workers, one big space, one air conditioner.

And if you’re anything like us, you might happen to sit right next to the air conditioner, where it emits its blasts of cold, whip-like wind, and the sleeveless outfit you picked out for the 85+ degree weather outside isn’t helping your situation.

So we were on the hunt for a cute, blanket-sized scarf that we could leave at work for the next three months, when we saw this tiger striped-like cashmere and silk option on Oak.

At $165, it would be the most expensive scarf we have ever considered purchasing, but we see many uses for it once the summer’s over - a cover on the beach, a legit scarf when it goes from summer to fall, a bedspread when we’re not quite ready to blast heat into our bedroom, a turban for late-night silly sessions, etc.

Until then, we’ll just wrap ourselves up in it everyday and maybe growl a little if anyone tries to up the A/C.

A few weeks ago, Jonathan Saunders was announced as the new creative director of Pollini.

You may ask, “What’s Pollini?” and we say, “Well, it’s this Italian label that was really popular in the ’70s, it’s in some vintage stores, and now Aeffe deals with it…”

Currently, the line is cute and streamlined, with lots of navy and neutrals, but we imagine Mr. Saunders will transform it substantially and render it more in his own style:

Graphic, floaty, and a little bit insane.

But even more pressing than “What’s he going to do for Pollini?” is this:

“How does he have time to design four collections?!”

That’s right, four: His namesake label, TopShop, Target, and now, Pollini.

We predict a never-ending Starbucks run for his many assistants.

“Bible, phone, Teen Vogue.” - Miley Cyrus’ deserted island picks, as seen by TV blogger, in Cyrus’ tour book.

We’ve never understood vibrating toothbrushes. We’ve always wondered who these people are that won’t do the up-and-down brush motion with their hands, and need an appliance to actually do the brushing movement for them.

So when we read in WWD this morning that Estée Lauder is coming out with TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara, a battery-operated, vibrating mascara, the same questions popped into our heads: