All boys in England should be celebrating. For the first time ever, the super talented Mr. Giles Deacon has launched his very own collaboration with highstreet store New Look Men (he’s done several womenswear collections for them already) and it’s available now.

The 25-piece collection is made up of tees, jeans, jackets and shirts with his signature craziness of gold chains and neon. He also included covetable accessories like these Giles Geo plimsolls that should be everywhere this Spring.

The official statement via New Look’s menswear director: “New Look are delighted to be partners in this venture with Giles, which not only sees the launch of his first menswear collection with us, but also his first menswear collection full stop.”

The best par about it? It’s fun but cheap, prices start at £6, so all you London boys can run to your nearest New Look, while everyone else can buy online.

PS It’s all about the gold Bat T-shirt (left)!

—BR(IT) BOY

We put as much trust in the labels on our clothing as we do in the labels on our food. As in, we believe whatever it says. But apparently, this may not be so smart.

The Humane Society just filed a pretty hefty lawsuit against Dillard’s, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Andrew & Suzanne, over claims that independent tests proved that clothing sold in their stores labeled as “faux fur” contained actual fur, which would be a major legal (and ethical) no-no.

Over three years of buying clothes from all these stores, the Humane Society found twelve instances of mislabeled fur items, including a “faux fur” coat from Neiman Marcus that turned out to be made of rabbit skins.

So far, none of the stores have issued official comments, though time is running out - they have twenty days to come up with their official explanation of exactly how this happened.

No word yet on whether PETA’s planning on dousing the stores in ketchup and flour - and exactly how much people paid for these “faux” jackets made of real (read: much more expensive) fur. Not that we really like either choiceanyway.

The good people at Earnest Sewn know that times are tough. Their solution? Sell cheaper stuff and throw a few parties, of course!

On December 2nd, the Earnest Sewn store on Washington launches “Recession Proof,” a back-room installation filled with goods all for less than $50, including candles from Malin & Goetz, Dents gloves, Earnest Sewn scarves, Case & Sons knives, Moleskin notebooks, Barbour hats, 80%20 shoes, Shades of Griege shirts, Digby & Iona jewelry, Billy Kirk accessories, and pieces from the Quail.

Plus? They’re holding three shopping events (details after the jump) during which you can get 40% off Earnest Sewn goods (and 20% off everything else) while you enjoy the free refreshments being served. And (if you can believe there’s more), they’re holding a canned food drive in conjunction with the Food Bank for New York City and New York City Cares, so you get an extra 1% off third-party merchandise for every can you bring in (up to 20% off).

Now if only they could lower the regular price of their jeans, they could really pack the store, and not just for the free drinks and cute candles.

If you were wondering which designer would be next to take the plunge into menswear, wonder no more: It’s Carlos Miele.

Miele, best known for producing gowns of red carpet worthiness, will launch the line under his diffusion like, Miele, this January exclusively in Brazil. He promises to keep it casual and environmentally responsible, and it’s even going to include swimwear, which he vows will be followed up by bathing suits for women, too.

We’re kind of fascinated by everyone’s recent turn to menswear, and we just realized there’s a really bright side to all of this - If designers are turning to a new type of consumer to expand their customer base to help them out of this slow buying cycle, great. Because really, it’s a hell of a lot better than designers turning to It bags and shoes, which could turn their current customers off in a heartbeat. So, well played.

Everybody’s talking about how Graydon Carter’s announced that the party for the 2009 Oscars in February will be a little more subdued than in years past (due to, of course, the economy.)

But we can’t get over the date - February 22nd.

Because as you probably know, the CFDA’s had New York Fashion Week pushed down a little further on the calendar to accommodate London Fashion Week a little better, and the shows won’t start until February 20th.

Which means all those pop tarts and serious-to-semi-serious actresses who look to major front rows for exposure and fashion cred will probably have to skip the last couple days in order to be in LA for fittings/makeup trials/etc.

So, bad for the designers, or a blessing to everybody who hated dealing with their entourages anyway?

Last night, Luella Bartley took home Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards (kind of like the British CFDA awards) in London, which is fitting since each of her recent London Fashion Week collections have been standouts and favorites of just about everybody who’s seen them.

Best model? Jourdan Dunn.

Perhaps an upcoming campaign is in order?

We hope so. The full list of winners, after the jump.

We can’t get Madonna’s green shag Louis Vuitton outfit out of our mind. Not because it’s hideous, but because it’s a total look from the Spring 09 Louis Vuitton runway. So instead of reacting with, “What the hell is that?” like our boyfriend did, we said “Who the hell wears practically a whole look?”

We love the runway - the innovation, the style, the down-to-the-last-detail polish. And we love integrating the pieces we can into our wardrobe, even the inspired-by steals. But a head-to-look isn’t just the total yawn it is in editorials - in real life, it kind of feels like cheating, too.

And think about it - Madonna is Madonna, obviously, and even she’s washed out by the runway reference (not to mention said shag), so we can’t imagine how even a regular person wouldn’t feel like some Burberry impersonator if they wore a total Burberry look. Besides, isn’t it more fun to make designer pieces (or ideas) work with what you have to create your own version of something everybody’s already seen?

The outfits we admire are always those that seem to have the most genuine personality - take Kate Moss, or the Olsens, for instance, who have yet to be photographed in a head-to-toe look (other than when on the runway).

But what do you think? Are total looks totally acceptable? Or total cop-outs?

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Converse, if a shoe brand could be our best friend for the day, we’d pick you the day after Louboutin.

The sneaker line’s gone all out for the holidays. They’re determined to help with your Christmas shopping whether you’re a sneaky Santa or an obvious Santa.

If you’re sneaky, you can pick three gifts your friend/lover/sister/whatever might like and they’ll send an anonymous email to said person asking them to choose their fave. Then they’ll email you back with the answer and you just click and buy.

If you’re obvious, as in, you’re way more worried about the gifts you’ll be getting than those you’ll be giving, you can pick three things-Converse you’re dying for and they’ll email them off to whomever you think is buying you gifts.

Either way, for every Christmas email you ask Converse to send, you’ll be entered for the chance to win a $75 gift card, which, by the way, is just $10 less than our sequined sneaker obsession.

So you can’t really go wrong, unless you don’t like Converse, in which case you’re on your own.

The winner of the Supreme / V Magazine model was just named, and it’s 16-year old Addison Gill from Canada.

But before we discuss her inevitable rise to catwalk fame (just wait for February), can we discuss her uncanny resemblance to the would-be love child of Coco and Lily D?

No really - those eyes (Coco), that facial structure (Lily).

Click through for our highly scientific matrix.

It’s truly unbelievable.

Remember back when the letters “MTV” actually meant what they stood for, and music was the entertainment of choice, rather than broadcasting the crushing of people’s lives? Don’t you wish you could have it back?

Well, don’t hold your breath. MTV’s just announced yet another reality show, this time having to do with fashion, which apparently is unrelated to their modeling reality show, Model Makers, which we’re still hoping never makes it on air.

The new show doesn’t have a name yet, but it calls for “all artists, designers, tastemakers, trend spotters, and anyone who thinks they know the fashion industry like the back of their hand” but who “don’t yet have on-the-job experience in fashion, but an understanding of what the public wants and how to give it to them” to apply for the chance to “work directly with a world-renowned fashion designer, entertainment mogul and street icon” to eventually “participate in the creation of a fashion line.”

Which may as well read: “If you’re completely out of your mind, have a vague idea that you want to work in something called “fashion” and are downright enthusiastic about making an ass of yourself with other equally delusional people on national television only to cut your blurry dreams short by giving everyone an unshakable, reality TV reference of yourself which will always stand in place for what should be your actual reputation, please, sign up.”

Interested parties can e-mail MTVcasting4fash…@gmail.com, parties who just want a little laugh with their lunch can read the full release after the jump.

PS. Does anyone not think the mogul in question is Puff Daddy?

Greg Mills Ltd, a very cool PR company, needs some very cool interns, now, so listen up:

If you’re available 2 -3 days per week, can handle personally helping the press manager and also handling the usual stuff (sample trafficking, press clippings, mailings, running errands) with snap-happy aplomb, e-mail Nestor Dutan at Nestor[at]gregmillsltd.com.

Sorry, it’s not paid, though school credit is available.

But if you make it to Fashion Week, this would mean you get to help with all of Greg Mills’ shows, including Erin Fetherston!

See you backstage, hopefully.

Linda Dresner, the legendary Park Avenue boutique, will shutter next month.

While magazines go out with a bang, the city’s retail gems - this year’s seen the demise of Leontine and Dernier Cri along with others - quietly close their doors in the face of still-skyrocketing rents, invisible shoppers and major department store sales they’d never dream of competing with.

Dresner, who brought the greats - Yamamoto, Demeulemeester, Margiela, Jil Sander, Commes des Garcons - to the Upper East Side more than twenty years ago sums it up best, “There’s too much of everything right now. Would I open a store in New York today? No. Retailing has to be reconsidered. It’s become a commodity that’s less creative. There’s too many stores selling the same kind of merchandise and it’s not as beautifully chosen. It’s ruined the enthusiasm for fashion.”

Basically, the retail market, especially in New York, is totally oversaturated. You try on a pair of jeans in one store and they don’t have your size? Skip down the block, and if they don’t have them there, you might have to go three whole subway stops to yet another store carrying the same brand. It’s as easy to buy a pair of Sevens in this city as it is a grande latte.

Staying alive in this economy will be rough. Small boutiques will have to carry things the big stores don’t, whether that means different lines or just a different buy, because they just can’t mark things down the way Barneys can. Customers will need incentives - buy this, get that - they’ll need motivation and they’ll need, most of all, encouragement because even those who have the money to shop right now are terrified.

It won’t be easy, it will require patience and creativity and a passionate love of the game, but please, little stores, don’t close your doors!

The other day, my mother told me about this book called The Necklace, which follows the story of thirteen women who buy a diamond necklace to share - they couldn’t afford it individually - and find that their perception of value and luxury changes drastically.

The concept is provocative; enjoying the glamour and fun of a diamond necklace at a drastically lower price, and bonding in the process. Sign me up.

I think it would be amazing to go in with your best friends on something like Goyard Luggage, or a Rick Owens fur, or a Nina Ricci gown. In short, something super expensive that you wouldn’t use everyday, and thus wouldn’t miss.

But Natalie went straight to the practicality factor: What if one person loses it? Or breaks it? Or you all want to use it at the same time?

But realistically, just like a timeshare, if someone did lose the item then I suppose they would be responsible to pay everyone back, just like if you borrowed anything from your friend and broke it. Here at least, you have the innate trust that it belongs to you all.

Plus, there’s the fun factor, as Britt called it, a sort of “sisterhood of the traveling necklace”. But she also thinks it complicates what should be a very simple process - getting dressed - with issues like timing, calling, e-mailing, texting, etc, which adds too much time to something that may already take some people half the morning.

This all seems very green, and fun and exciting to me (not to mention a potentially genius solution to everyone’s dwindling shopping funds), but what about you guys?

Could you deal with part ownership of a bracelet the same way you could for a private jet?

—BRETT KANE

The art world’s refusing to let go of their auctions, regardless of how tough times might be.

We get it - as if the fashion industry would ever relinquish Fashion Week.

But wouldn’t it make sense to postpone things a bit, especially after Christie’s disastrous auction at the beginning of this month?

Yet, they’re forging ahead with an impressive auction of Jeanne Lanvin’s mostly Impressionist paintings, including works by Degas, Pissarro, Renoir, Vuillard and a lone Picasso as the cherry on top. They’ll go up for sale on December 1st and are expected to bring in at least $25 million despite today’s economic state. Christie’s will follow that, of course with the highly anticipated auction of Yves Saint Laurent’s art and valuables.

Is it the nature of these auctions - both collections developed by famous people and both connected to the fashion industry which could bring in an entirely different kind of buyer - that makes Christie’s think they’ll be more successful? Or do the auction houses believe that things will just get worse and therefore aren’t willing to hang on to the art for ten or so years while the economy rebuilds itself?

For those of you wondering when Proenza’s line of bags will be available to more people than their socialite friends, here’s your answer:

The line - dubbed PS 1 after the New York City public school system and not the boys’ initials, as previously thought - debuts at Harvey Nichols next month, and on Net-a-Porter (for the rest of us) in March.

Start saving now. Otherwise, you could always try DIY-ing the bag at left by covering a stiff clutch with a vintage safari jacket, no?

Update: Ah, yes, they’re on barneys.com.

“There is no Gucci I can buy / There is no Louis Vuitton to put on / There is no YSL that they could sell / To get my heart out of this hell / And my mind out of this jail…” - Kanye, semi-designer for Louis Vuitton, in his song, “Pinocchio Story.”

Today, WWD confirms the year-long rumor that Christophe Decarnin will extend his designs for Balmain to menswear, with a presentation at men’s Fashion Week this January in Paris, officially making him a part of the growing list of womenswear designers turning to the men.

While Christophe has certainly proven himself to be a designer customers love (it’s not everyone that can command a $1,400 price tag for a pair of jeans), we’re compelled to weigh both sides:

- Could a designer best known for slashed skirts, metallics, ass-grazing hemlines and a look Cathy Horyn so aptly summarized as “elegant trash” appropriate translate his general aesthetic to menswear? Because a work-appropriate suit could only really include zebra print if it was somehow worked into the lining, and where’s the fun in that?

- Are $20,000 suits (because you know that’s what they’ll cost) really a good idea right now anyway?

- Or will the line be the perfect complement to his womenswear, meant for the boy that parties between LA and Rome, who DJ’s and maybe paints to explain his living, making bejeweled tees and motorcycle jackets right at home in his Cavalli closet?

And most importantly, will it make it past a season? We all know Balmain men’s will get all the editorial support in the world, but what about the real world?

Guess he could surprise us all and make sharp, super-fitted, classic clothes - but then, why pay for that name tag?

Just like with the Cory Kennedy/Paris Hilton tee from earlier this year, Cobrasnake and Ksubi are teaming up once again, this time for an exhibition of Mark Hunter’s “social photography” (press release’s words, not ours), in Ksubi’s Australian stores.

The exhibit includes 200 signed photos lovingly curated from Mark’s hard drive, all of “young girls” (press release’s words, not ours) once featured on Cobrasnake, shot in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, LA and Sydney.

If you want to catch the exhibit, titled “Too Young” (press release’s words, not Girls Gone Wild’s), stop by the Bondi Beach Ksubi store in Sydney at 6pm, or at the Armadale store in Melbourne on the 28th (full details after the jump).

Mark himself will be on hand, signing limited-edition tees and prints available for purchase, which, unbelievably, people will actually buy (ok, our words).

Always one to ride a good wave, H&M’s already announced their next capsule collection designer for this Spring, and it’s Matthew Williamson (another one down from our list of who doesn’t have a diffusion line).

Expect neons, clashing prints, billowy silhouettes - basically, the perfect wardrobe if you plan to spend your summer in Ibiza (and if you like being about as loud as a mariachi band with your wardrobe).

The collection hits “select” stores April 23rd (with a second, larger delivery in mid-May hitting 1,700 doors), just in time for everyone’s moment of “I’ve had it!” with saving, cueing a massive splurge without the major credit card damage.

That is, of course, if enough girls come out for Matthew Williamson. We’re not so sure the H&M customer really meshes with his designs - bright, floral caftans meant for poolside sunbathing? This one might have actually done better at Target…

In case you haven’t heard, Liz Hurley’s the new face of Blackglama, the (in)famous line of furs.

The ad itself is kind of silly. She crouches, she pouts, she wears nothing but her mink, but it’s her presence in general that’s worth discussing.

In the past, women like Catherine Deneuve, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland and Elizabeth Taylor have posed for the fur house and Liz Hurley, as PETA and Animal Aid point out, isn’t quite of their caliber.

Who is?

Someone like Gwyneth maybe, but she’s spent the past week apologizing for getting caught under a fox stole in this season’s Tod’s ads, which means that aside from the obvious reasons, she’d probably say no to a Blackglama campaign. In fact, she’s the only really glamorous potential-face we can think of that might have posed for a house like Blackglama.

So what does this all mean? That PETA’s scary and sometimes dangerous tactics are working. That they’ve finally thrown enough pies and bags of flour and held up enough dead-baby-animal posters to make a serious impact on the way fashion, and the celebrities who wear it, feel about fur so that now even the most reputable fur house can’t get an equally reputable face attached.

We don’t expect J.Mendel to actually close, but at this rate, it’s just a matter of time before all the good stores, celebs and designers refuse to work with fur and PETA jumps for joy.

So, could it be that PETA’s (distasteful) means justify the (intended) end result? Or is this just ruling by fear?

Maybe two weeks past the Christmas on which I finally got my Samantha doll, my little sister placed her delicate fur hat atop a light bulb until a hole burned through the top which left the poor doll nothing but her muff to keep warm with.

Ever since then, I’ve wanted a muff of my own - seriously.

It was a no go in California, and I kind of forgot until this morning when I saw a girl wearing one on the subway which triggered a vague memory of Andre Leon Talley wearing his on the colder days of fashion. Brett thinks they’re swell though they need to be tempered with something less sweet, and Natalie thinks they’re brilliant for iPod usage.

However, there is the issue of practicality. You can’t just stuff a muff into your purse or pockets once you get inside, and you probably can’t wear a muff with jeans and sneakers. Well, you can of course, but it’d be sort of like wearing your sequined platforms with a sweatshirt, though less rock and roll.

So before I even wonder where one acquires an open roll of vintage fur, I have to ask if you’d wear one or if the idea’s totally ridiculous.

If I find one, I’ll probably buy it and wear it regardless of your answer, but I’m wondering, would you wear a muff?

“That’s like telling me we’re going to the D&G store on West Broadway after the Met Ball.” — Derek Blasberg upon hearing the crowd was moving to Denis Simachev’s boutique for drinks Russian Vogue’s tenth anniversary party.

We’ve talked about publicists getting carried away when Z-list stars wear their client’s product, but what about when the product itself is Z-list?

As in, even if a major celebrity who this time around is worthy of their celebrity, wears something by your in-need-of-press client, there are some occasions on which you might want to keep the exciting news to yourself.

Like if, for example, Rihanna were to wear an eye patch. And not just any eye patch, but a Swarovski crystal eye patch that matched the crystal chains hanging from her neck and the unidentified spikes on her shoulders. And if Rihanna were to wear said eye patch on stage despite the fact that she’s not in need of an eye patch and has two well-functioning pupils, you might not really want the press to cover it.

Because though we’re the first to jump on the fashion fantasy bandwagon be it McQueen’s capes or Gareths’ rubber bodysuits, we don’t really think the world’s in need of Swarovski crystal eye patches right now, and we don’t think you really want customers to identify you as the brand who made Rihanna’s sparkly eye patch.

Unless of course you do. In which case, rock on.

Obviously, the recession is on everybody’s minds, and obviously, most talk here at the Fashionista offices usually turn to shoes. So here’s a thought we had this afternoon:

If one good thing comes out of this economic crisis, it could be the deafening pop of the what we’re calling the Shoe Price Bubble. Picture it:

Constant sales lead to constantly lowering prices. Constantly lowering prices could lead to stores beginning with more reasonable prices rather than suffering through crawling profits and an embarrassing stream of sales. Price adjustments could lead to stores pricing strategically, in order to get the most customers, which could ultimately lead to the general price of what we all know are stratospherically over-priced goods plummeting back down to a normal range of say, $400 for designer shoes, rather than $1,000+.

Because as it is right now, we’re living in a world where hundreds of extra dollars can be slapped onto something as some kind of name-association fee. But if brands want to survive, it’s getting to a point where everybody has to throw their hands up and just admit they’re marking things (and by “things,” we’re specifically pointing towards shoes, bags and denim) up because they can, and because nothing’s stopped then.

Until now. Do you think prices could start much lower for this Spring’s wares? Or could store’s conservative ordering keep the supply - and prices - as high as they’ve been?

Last year, Vivienne Westwood enlisted the help of a handful of second graders to decorate her Fall 08 collection.

It inspired not just us to whip out a few paintbrushes, but also Marni, who took the same tactic to their Holiday Project, “In a World of My Own.”

They’ve asked a bunch of kids to paint themselves into their fantasy worlds, directly on to 240 canvas bags which will be sold in Marni stores. Then they picked five of their favorites and had them screen printed onto cotton t-shirts and tanks which you can buy in stores or online.

The proceeds will benefit educational and development projects in Brasil, Colombia, Guatemala, Tibet and India - mainly schools and hospitals.

So technically, you could make your own, but it wouldn’t be as cute, there’d be no story to tell and your money wouldn’t be going toward a great cause.

In other words, get thee to a Marni.

Maguire Steele’s looking for interns and we think it’d be the perfect place to start.

The relatively new PR firm reps both the big, Rag & Bone, to the small, Billy Reid, to the very cool, Odin, Den, Pas de Deux.

They need interns who can work three days a week from 10am to 7pm. They’ll give you school credit if you need it, though you won’t get paid. In return, you’ll deal with the usual sample trafficking, press clipping, mailing, running errands and most importantly, for you at least, helping with all things Spring Fashion Week.

You should be excited to learn, very organized, detail-oriented and excellent at communicating. Your main interest should probably be PR though you’ll obviously need to love all things fashion, too.

So if you’ve been slacking on your intern apps, we think you should apply, take it and give us a heads up on who’ll be sitting front row at Rag & Bone this year, or maybe throw a dress or two our way.

Email your resume and cover letter to megan@maguiresteele.com.

While most people will either sleep in or try to get a good deal on a family supply of scarves this Friday, here’s something fun you could do instead:

Stop by the Sunglass Hut (between 1pm and 5pm) in Soho to watch artist Chris Mendoza hand-paint 100 pair of Wayfarers with graffiti-ish illustrations for customers to either buy on the spot, or to be sold on SunglassHut.com starting December 3rd.

The specs will go for $250 a pop, with 25% of the proceeds going to Gift of Sight.

That is, of course, if you haven’t tired completely of seeing them on the face of every person under 30 (Or, you know, that part about “$250.”)

Today’s WWD put a little scare in our breakfast: Fern Mallis said she’s fielded some questions from some “major designers” about showing at Bryant Park this coming Fashion Week, which, believe it or not, is less than three months away.

The catch? These “major designers” don’t usually show at the tents, usually opting for more luxurious off-site locations like the Altman Building or The New Museum’s Sky Room. It seems that - surprise, surprise - designers are finding themselves with less cash in recent days, so super expensive locations around the city might take a seat behind just showing at the tents, a much cheaper, and more practical option.

And all those parties and store openings and bottles of mini-champagne under the seats? Who knows - they’re certainly not necessities, which means they won’t necessarily be accounted for this February.

So could we be looking at a completely different Fashion Week? Imagine Alexander Wang at The Promenade instead of the Eyebeam, or Marc Jacobs under a tent rather than at the Lexington Avenue Armory. Imagine the younger designers clumping their shows together to split costs, or just not showing at all.

The lone, bright spot in all this? The more designers that show at the Tents, the less running around and cab hunting on the part of show attendees and models, which could lead to shows actually being on time consistently through the week.

So, less shows, smaller shows, less fun, and everything on time? Alas Fashion Week, we knew you well.

Sometime after Halloween, Craig McDean shot Raquel Zimmermann in a studio space in Yonkers, NY for Oscar de la Renta’s Spring 09 campaign, replacing Anja Rubik and Magdalena Frackowiak.

The campaign marks the third for Raquel for next season, who’s already shot a De Beers campaign, and Marc. So far, the only other model with more major campaigns for Spring 09 is Toni Garrn, who you’ll see in Emporio Armani, Fendi, Hugo Boss Black and Shiseido.

Toni may have taken Raquel’s spot at Fendi for next season, but if either Lanvin or Roberto Cavalli decide to keep Raquel on the payroll for Spring, then she unofficially wins for most campaigns of any model for next season. But, if Jill Stuart keeps Toni on for another season, then she’s back in the game against Raquel.

If only they had a Rock ‘em Sock ‘em for this.

Everyone always coos over everything Carine struts in on the Tuileries each season, and these amazing lattice/gladiator/bootie/sandals by none other than Alaia were no exception. It’s the perfect combination of boot and sandal, and the suede makes them totally wearable in winter (with tights of course).

Unfortunately, these ideal shoes are out of the price range for most - think around $1,500 - so when we spotted them on Baker’s on sale for $50, we were kind of excited. But then we realized:

1) They aren’t even real suede, so the shoddy quality won’t give them lasting power.

2) They lack the signature tan Alaia sole- more subtle than the notorious Louboutin red sole, but still a crucial element.

3) They won’t come in the amazing industrial-strength Alaia box that almost serves as a shoe shrine instead of simple casing.

4) You can pretend, but you won’t be able to have an actual Clueless Alaia moment.

We kind of wish we didn’t know the Baker’s version was a knock-off because they amazingly maintain the sexy vibe of the original, but really, it’s all thanks to like a totally important designer, so no.

—ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION

From last night’s Mango Party in Soho.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

Poor Scoop.

The New York-based boutique’s having a rough time of it and it sounds like things are just getting worse.

Diane Von Furstenberg was the top selling brand at their Meatpacking District location until Diane decided to open up shop across the street in March of 2007. Agreements were made to guarantee different merchandise in each store, but customers were confused and ultimately chose to skip across the street and buy DVF clothes in DVF’s digs.

So then Tory Burch was the top selling brand. The Scoop customer loves a pair of logoe-d flats and double T’d cardigans and we, (ok, I know all this because I used to work there), couldn’t keep them in stock. But now Tory’s heading west and opening up shop across the other street on Washington and Little West 12th.

But Scoop will always dominate the designer t-shirt and jeans world, or would, if Vince wasn’t opening up their own store on the same corner, and Paige Jeans smack dab in the middle of the four Meatpacking Scoops.

So what happens to Scoop when all the brands they sell open their own doors within a one block radius? And what about if/when Barneys finally opens and they sell everything that’s already on Scoop’s shelves and then some?

Will they go so far as to shutter their Washington Street doors? Or will they attempt to revamp the specific locations with brand new lines and a very different vibe from their other stores? Either way, we hope they’re on it.

Time’s running out.

A new designer wasn’t enough for Rochas, they needed a new nose, too.

They’ve plucked Jean-Michel Duriez from P&G’s Jean Patou, to work on the development of new fragrances under the Rochas label. Even though P&G shut down the fashion side of Rochas in 2006 after no one actually bought Theysken’s dresses, they held on to the name until this October when they licensed everything out to Gibo who appointed Marco Zanini, formerly of Versace and a failed Halston tenure, to head up the new ready-to-wear division. But P&G hired Duriez on their own, not under the Gibo umbrella, despite the fact that they obviously want almost nothing to do with the fashion side of the label.

Anyway, because we still think of Theyskens when we think of Rochas, there’s really no aesthetic indication of what’s to come on the perfume front - we’ll have a better idea once we see Marco Zanini’s first collection come February.

Which, by the way, we expect to be major. After all, if P&G’s refocusing all this money and energy into the very company they shuttered, they must have come up with some great ideas over these past two years, right?

Yesterday, when I heard that Scoop was having a 25% off sale on shoes and handbags through Tuesday, I literally scoffed. I thought, “25%? Lame.” And that’s when I knew my sale perspective has changed.

I used to think 25% was decent. You get to cut the price in half, then in half again to know how much you save. But with all the mega sales these days, 25% kind of sounds like kids’ play. Even though just a few months ago, I might have canceled plans to make it to a 40%-off sale, these days, I’m pretty much unmoved unless the magic “75%” is dropped.

Britt says she’s unmoved by sales now, too, unless they’re offering 95% off (translation: she’s not even shopping the sales right now) - though, she does say if it’s Vivienne, McQueen or Stella on the block, 35% off is the minimum she needs to hear to ensure attendance. Hayley says she needs to hear at least 80% off now, and Alex says she always only shopped deeply discounted sales anyway, and I’m sure you all know Linda Evangelista’s definitely a no-show unless she can somehow make ten grand off the cameo.

Do you find your sales perspective has changed? Or are you just showing up to anything and everything?

Puma turns 60 this year, and they’re making sure nobody forgets.

In addition to releasing a celebratory line of shoes, they’re hosting a string of events nationwide (parties, shopping events, etc), including concerts with Chester French, Lady Gaga, The Bravery and more (full concert schedule after the jump.)

Best part? All the concerts are free and open to the public, just make sure to pick up tickets at Puma stores in participating cities starting… today!

So, uh, get your sneakers on and run for it!

MAC’s teaming up with Hello Kitty for a winter collection of make-up and random accessories including key chains, bracelets and tote bags.

There will be two separate cosmetic collections, Hello Kitty Colour Collection and for the brand’s more mature customer, Hello Kitty Kouture because they need to reel in the kids who have an extra twenty bucks to spend on lipgloss as well as the moms who’ll spend $90 on something called Sheer Mystery Powder that comes in a white Swarovksi crystal Hello Kitty compact with a pink bow, (assuming they exist).

Though fashion’s had an awkward relationship with Hello Kitty for some time, see Japanese Vogue May 2007, it always seemed more like a silly joke than an actual marketing ploy, like Star Von Bunny but recognizable to those outside the industry.

Will women above the age of thirteen really spend a lot of money, (because the price points for this partnership are significantly higher than MAC’s usual), for “glitter eyeliners because she loves anything that twinkles?” She, of course, is Hello Kitty, whom you probably think is a cat but is actually “the face of a girl without a mouth, [who] speaks from the heart.”

And if you think that’s strange, Nick Knight shot the counter visuals featuring blonde models with black vinyl Hello Kitties for an overall “dominatrix” look which we suppose is meant to reel in an entirely different customer.

MAC’s 2007 Barbie collection sold out in minutes, almost, so our sarcasm is probably unwarranted and the collaboration will surely fly off shelves despite the tanking economy and despite WWD’s weak outlook on beauty sales and despite the Swarovski crystal overload.

Though we’ll never understand how or why.

“It’s like, your life is a pair of amazing, limited-edition Louboutins. You can either wear them, or just look at them.” - Faran, in a discussion on life (and fashion), last night.

Last month, some geniuses came up with an online directory of PR/stylist contact information, which has already proven itself to be useful in our office.

This month, a whole different set of amazing people launch TheFashionList.com, an online directory of every upcoming fashion/beauty event/show/presentation/party, complete with location, and contact information for the people in charge. You can even check the list against your own party planning to make sure there aren’t any conflicts.

Seriously, this is incredible. We’re loving this trend of people making the lives of assistants and editors everywhere that much easier. But will this override Ruth Finley’s Fashion Week calendar? Because, in a weird way, that would be kind of sad.

Some facts:

1. At this moment, Macy’s has an 11-year streak investment-grade credit rating. Translation: It’s been considered a safe, solid company for investors to invest it.

2. Macy’s debt - which, at $9.8 billion is double than that of any of its direct competitors, like Nordstrom and Kohl’s - combined with the bleak upcoming holiday season, is making it trade like a junk bond. Translation: This could make their investment-grade credit rating, which is decided by ratings agencies like S&P and Moody’s, go down (in fact, both agencies have already announced they have a “negative” outlook on Macy’s rating, which is already at the lowest rung of the investment-grade credit ratings). Further translation: This makes them an unattractive company in which to invest, meaning they’ll have to promise a higher return to investors in order to keep them, meaning it’s going to cost Macy’s a whole lot more money just to keep their investors’ money in their veins. It also means that companies that simply aren’t allowed to invest in companies without investment-grade ratings - some funds simply will not invest in companies that are considered “speculative” - will pull their money out of Macy’s entirely, making it extremely hard for Macy’s to pay off its debt at all.

3. Ratings agencies give these credit grades based on how a company is doing, how much debt it has, etc. Macy’s is about to enter what was typically its most profitable time of year - four-fifths of their profits last year were made just during the holiday selling season - which we all know is expected to be the bleakest holiday selling season seen in some time.

The big picture? Right now, the future of Macy’s seems to be at the mercy of two factors - The credit rating they get, which determines the interest they’ll have to pay investors in order to fund operations, and the upcoming holiday selling season, which will play a huge part in ratings agencies’ decision of whether or not to downgrade Macy’s (they usually wait until after the holiday season to change grades for retail companies) from their current investment-grade rating to a lower rating of non-investment grade speculative.

So? Since the holiday selling season already looks awful (check out Macys.com for some already amazing deals pre-Thanksgiving), and since the main ratings agencies have already said they have a “negative” outlook on Macy’s credit rating, which can only cross the line into non-investment-grade speculative since it’s already at the lowest point of the good end, Macy’s, right at this moment, seems screwed.

But we promise we’ll be more upbeat from here. Ho ho ho.

The ongoing, public death of the Bill Blass brand’s hit a new chapter today:

NextCen, Bill Blass’ financially troubled parent company, hasn’t been able to sell the line formerly designed by Peter Som to anybody yet (unsurprisingly, nobody wants to buy a troubled fashion house right now), and they’re liquidating part of their business.

Translation? As of right now, unless some other company comes along and inexplicably buys Bill Blass, the company might be on the fast track to completely shutting down, and you can expect some kind of blow-out sale so NextCen can rid themselves of the leftover inventory shortly. Apparently, NextCen has a $30 million loan on their hands from buying Great American Cookie, a baking chain they bought from Mrs. Field’s this past February, so it makes sense to them to liquidate their weakest-performing company - Bill Blass New York, whose Spring orders were seriously lacking - in order to get the cash they need.

This sounds like it’s pretty much out of everybody’s hands, even Anna’s.

This just in:

DNR, Conde Nast’s trade publication for the men’s end of fashion, was just folded into WWD.

We can only assume this is part of Conde Nast’s company-wide 5% budget cut.

No word yet on what happens to their staff, and to that half floor on Third Avenue, but stay tuned..

On a related note, does this mean the WWD site will become even harder to navigate?

Update: DNR’s last issue publishes November 24th, and WWD will publish a “comprehensive” men’s section every Thursday from there on out. Conde Nast will also publish a twice-yearly menswear magazine, WWD Men’s Collections in addition to creating a WWD Men’s channel on WWD.com in December.

Don’t ask why, but I recently had to create an avatar - a character/person (for those not in the virtual gaming world) - in Second Life. Then, after some minor Googling, I entered this vast world of virtual fashion - think people creating full clothing lines, garnering major “celebrity” (in the meta way) attention, and actually making money (in the real, cold hard cash way) off of it.

If you’ve never heard of dresses from Simone!, lingerie from Insolence, or stilettos from Shiny Things, it’s ok, neither had we. Not only are these virtual designers getting a virtual (but still real) audience, but some big name, real designers are too - Armani has his own virtual boutique, and Jean-Paul Gaultier used the virtual world as a platform for launching his “Fleur du Mâle” fragrance through a VIP event that gave invitees access to a new Second Life area.

We even found Second Style Fashionista (we’re so happy to get a mention in the virtual world), where a woman has been wandering “all over the grid” - Second Life speak for looking all over the place - in search of a wedding dress!

If all this seems too fake to be real, you might remember that story about a real-life couple divorcing over Second Life. So just remember - if you’re actually into this, and you think there aren’t any real-life consequences to donning a puce, sequined tube dress in your Second Life, think again.

—ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION

The Post devotes some serious space to Barneys’ possible Beijing expansion today.

Basically, according to sources, the store might be looking to grow in China, as well as Dubai and Macau, even though their previous stateside expansions (Boston, Dallas, Vegas) have been less than well-received - not to mention they can’t hang on to that Meatpacking District location.

And despite the fact that China’s rife with competition, including the almost perfect Lane Crawford, and that Barneys is totally unfamiliar with the Chinese luxury market and still lacks a CEO, they’re going ahead and talking to architects and looking at sites on the ground in Beijing.

Nothing like spitting in the face of a recession. If they’re determined to press on with the opening of new stores, they’re going to have to reduce their Goyard, Valentino, Lanvin stock to one piece per location.

Can you see it now?

Julie Gilhart fights for the Rodarte dress while IM Pei demands, “No, we need to put a window here,” and Simon Doonan sqeals, “We must have both!” and all the while there’s no CEO to mediate.

It doesn’t take an MBA to realize now’s not the best time to say, “Ni hao.”

In light of diamond prices taking a significant dip, Harry Winston’s made a big change. They’ve quietly launched an e-commerce site called the Harry Winston Online Salon.

It consists of only diamond jewelry, much of which is winter-themed (like at left), ranging anywhere from $6,000 for a pendant to $135,000 for a necklace.

Our first thought: Who the hell drops a mortgage payment online?

Our second thought: Well, it’s Harry Winston, so even though you lose all the magic of the glittering jewels in their boutiques, you definitely know what you’re getting, so the quality wouldn’t be any different than from jewelry bought there in person.

And yet, we still can’t help but feel like:

1. This comes dangerously close to diluting their brand image (Marilyn Monroe singing, the storied old house, etc) by placing their goods in the realm of shame shopping, which usually consists of bags and shoes.

2. Even though Harry Winston has famous standards, we still don’t see ourselves casually charging $20,000 to our Amex, even though it’s technically the same as doing it in the store (assuming you know what ten carats of bling look like on your ears.)

So many questions: Would you buy major jewels online? Or is that left for minor accessories - and should all major jewelry purchases be made in person? (Because, as much as we hate to admit it, we can’t imagine how we’d feel if we were on the receiving end of a major gift, and learned that the necklace/earrings/ring was purchased while watching television…)

So you probably know Norma Kamali did a line for Walmart. Everything in the collection is exactly what you’d expect - cocoon sweaters, cropped jersey jogging pants, tank dresses, etc. But she also ventured into shoes and accessories which aren’t exactly typical.

The only Norma Kamali accessories we remember are her signature turbans and the occasional sunglasses. Now she can add the patent wristlet clutch to her repertoire - or can she? The clutch seems a little too reminiscent of that signature Marc Jacobs key ring pouch that your little sister, best friend, and even mom might have.

We really love that Norma Kamali joined everyone else in doing a cheaper line for a large retail chain, but that doesn’t mean you have to change up other designers’ ideas. Just saying.

—ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION

If ASOS stands for As Seen On Stars, Carine Roitfeld’s the newest it-girl.

The British chain’s famous for ripping off the “style” of starlets, aka ripping off the designer clothes and accessories they wear.

We’re used to clicking through cheap versions of Kirsten Dunst’s Marc by Marc favorites or Lindsay Lohan’s Stella tops, but ripping off Carine Roitfeld’s Balmain dress, and doing it so so terribly, is borderline despicable.

They’ve shortened the hem, changed the leopard spots to zebra stripes, and lost the deep red color by using £38.00 fabric.

If you’re of the opinion that rip-offs are ok because one should be able to be stylish without spending obscene amounts of money, we’re going to steer you toward this dress. It looks ten times nicer and has a Balmain vibe without stealing straight from from Christophe Decarnin.

Otherwise, we’re thrilled that even ASOS recognizes Carine’s superstar power.

“It is the haberdashery equivalent of a Maserati.” —Cintra Wilson in The New York Times on Oscar de La Renta.

Think models can’t be athletic?

Think you can’t potentially kick the ass of that bike messenger who’s always locking up your work elevator, and never even coming close to saying sorry for it?

Think again. Style.com pit Nicole Trunfio, armed with her skateboard, against an NYC bike messenger in the first of a new series that throws models and “real professionals” into weird races with each other to figure out… well, nothing, but it’s fun to see the models work so hard.

You’ll never guess who wins.

Some would say you’ve made it in New York when Patrick McMullan takes your picture.

But really it depends on how exactly you want to make it.

If the fashion and socialite party scene is your dream, then yes, Patrick, or lately his son Liam, is an important part of one’s initiation into the world of parties and its fervent online documentation.

So we’re guessing there’s supposed to be something very aspirational about the Patrick McMullan Studio 54 shower curtain for sale on Urban Outfitters, (or here). Every time you get out of the shower to slip into your party dress you get a black and white glimpse of the New York party scene at its height and inspiration for the night ahead.

Now we’re just waiting for word of people commissioning their own shower curtains and bringing the party into the bathroom, which we think is kind of creepy. But, if you love the scene so much that you want all of your friends in the shower with you, this is probably meant for you.

So, um, enjoy!

For more amazing deals, check out our new sales list.

It’s no secret Kanye West really takes this fashion business very seriously.

Not only was he very sweet about getting rejected from Balenciaga’s Fall 08 show, but he’s also designing a line of shoes for Louis Vuitton.

So if you work in a design house and are looking for an intern, listen up: Kanye wants a starter position at “a house,” so he can put his millionaire hands to work fetching lattes and eavesdropping intern-style a la Sean Avery.

We know we normally provide contact information for this sort of thing, but it’s Kanye, so we can’t. We suggest interested parties try him via his fan club message board. We honestly think he would be a really good intern.

One of the things you’ll often hear a designer complain about is the number of seasons for which they have to design - Spring and Fall are the standards, but then there’s Pre-Spring, Pre-Fall, Resort, Holiday, sometimes even Summer, and then those random capsule collections they might do that are probably driving each of them slowly insane, something Jane Mayle once touched upon when announcing the end of Mayle.

But Stefano Pilati isn’t fazed - he’s just announced a new, annual collection he’ll produce, Edition Soir, a 26-look evening wear collection topped off with matching accessories and shoes to be sold worldwide alongside the normal YSL Fall 08 range.

He’s even borrowed from Isaac Mizrahi, who once launched a made-to-alter collection a few years back, and designed each look to have interchangeable color/fabric/embroidery choices from which his customers can choose.

It sounds like semi-couture, except it’ll never see the runway and sounds entirely based on what the customer wants as opposed to the designer’s potentially irrelevant vision. So, a boring line that might end up on pageant stages nationwide? Or a democratic line for the people, (kind of) by the people?

Either way, we’re sure Pilati’s design assistants are working major overtime these days.

Fans of Rogan’s Target collection have another reason to get excited:

His Loomstate line, based entirely on organic cotton, is set to hit Target stores (and their site) from April 19 to May 22nd, with the tote-friendly price range of $14.99 - $44.99.

Guess all the work Target put into making themselves green enough for Gregory really paid off - this is the first designer to formally go on a second date with the mega retail chain, even if they’ll never admit that it’s basically a Go International encore for one of their most popular editions yet.

Stay tuned for images.

There’s usually some sort of promotional on-line shipping discount at this time of year, and 2008 is no different, if not better.

If you spend over whatever amount, you get free ground shipping to wherever, within the continental United States of course. But if free shipping is what it takes to get you spending online dollars, stores are willing to shell out the whole extra $20 to get you your goods.

And we don’t just mean Gap - we’re talking Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys etc.

Need to ship internationally? We’d suggest Shopbop. If you spend more than $250 they’ll ship your order anywhere in the world without the slightest extra charge.

So go, stimulate the economy.

“Um, I think it’s British Vogue.” - Piper Perabo’s answer to “What’s your favorite Vogue moment?” at a very American Vogue, very Anna party.

Fashionologie’s reporting a rumor that’s getting backed up everywhere we turn:

Katie Holmes may be the Spring 09 face of Miu Miu, upsetting previous rumors of an all-model cast for the always-anticipated campaign.

The rumor purports that Katie will be surrounded by other models, who will undoubtedly be paid about a quarter of Mrs. Cruise’s salary, maybe even combined.

But honestly, this is so bazaar (when we think of Katie we still think of American Eagle) it might be ones of those things we don’t believe until we see. Stay tuned.

Remember when Lutz & Patmos decided they wanted their favorite train conductor to design a sweater?

Well, here it finally is.

It looks cozy, though terribly unflattering, which makes sense if you drive a train. You probably want to be comfortable and don’t really care about your outfit since people generally only see your face.

Train conductor Chris looks like a really nice guy and has a pretty good eye for someone without an ounce of design training or experience, but even though we don’t know him personally, he doesn’t seem like the type, and ok, we definitely aren’t the type, to advocate spending $495 on a 70% cashmere sweater.

However, if you think it’s worth it, you can buy it on Barneys or on Lutz & Patmos’ new shopping site.

Everyone wore suits to the CFDAs Monday night, but what about the suit’s slouchy sister?

We’re accustomed to Julian Schnabel’s penchant for his wife’s silk pajamas, in fact we don’t know if we’ve ever seen him in anything but.

However, we’re not thrilled with Rachel Roy taking sartorial influence from the artist. The designer wore the grey silk suit at left to a screening of Australia last week and though we understand the need to be comfortable at the movies, we think wearing head to toe silk PJs is kind of inappropriate for an evening function despite their runway presence - especially when said PJs are wrinkled.

We might actually throw a men’s pajama top over a sequin mini and tights, or under a leather jacket for a pop of color, but wearing a silk PJ top and pants together and in public is like wearing any one of the sheer runway dresses from this season, the way the models wore them.

As in, improper unless you’re a man of Julian’s stature lounging under your mandelier smoking a cigar with a glass of scotch.

Are we way off, or would you wear pajamas?

Photography by Matthew Kristall - from an upcoming NYLON

When earlier this week, we got about twelve IM’s all lamenting the cancellation of Lipstick Jungle, we thought, “Who watches Lipstick Jungle?”

Lots of you, it turns out. So grieve not: The Times reports today that rumors of the show’s end were entirely premature, and that so many viewers tuned in last Friday via their TiVo’s (which was not counted the first time around) that the network executives have decided to definitely finish out the series based on Candace Bushnell’s novel, and may even order up another season for next year.

Lessons to be learned here: Many viewers do not watch television on real time anymore (a lesson we thought everyone learned from Gossip Girl), and people actually do have control over what’s offered to them as entertainment.

So the next time we complain about reality TV invading the fashion world, we’ll know to just shut it, because we’re really the ones egging it on anyway by tuning in.

WWD just reminded everyone that Raf Simons is the newest collaborator with Dr. Martens, with his version on the angry kid classic hitting stores this January as part of Spring 09 shipments.

But we’ve been hearing something else, too, something about a waiting list for high-heeled Docs, somewhere in London -

But that’s all we’ve able to discern yet.

So if you see Cory Kennedy in some high-heeled Docs on Greene St, you know our e-mail.

Model Newsflash:

Coco Rocha was just spotted out and about. With red hair. Which was definitely not a wig.

The possibilities:

1. Does she have a movie role / commercial for which she had to emulate Mary Jane Watson (or Stam circa 2004, depending on your references)?

2. Did she have to do it for her Spring 09 DeBeers campaign?

3. Is she just having fun?

As always, if you have any idea, you know who to call… (OK, e-mail.)

Update, 2:19 - This just from our Inbox:

Regarding Coco’s new hair color, you don’t have to look too hard to figure it out. Have a look at her hair at the CFDA awards, notice the fake brown hair coming out of her head wrap? Wonder why she had to wear a head wrap specifically at a Vogue party and a certain editor-in-chief’s wanting to keep the hair color under “wraps” so to speak….

The last time we went to a Mayle sale, to shop their Pre-Fall 08, we spent way too much money, but kind of had a little glow for about a week.

So if you’re looking for a pick-me-up today, may we suggest their Fall 08 sale with a little Cafe Habana Mexican corn afterwards?

The sale’s today only, from noon to 7pm, with the goods at 40% off.

For more details, check out their announcement in our new sales section.

And be sure to let us know what you got - we love to hear your shopping stories.

To: tips@fashionista.com
From: billythekid@popfan.com

Dear Fashionistas,

I don’t mean to be a traitor to my generation, but I don’t understand how pop stars get dressed.

I was having my morning Sanka and scrolling through dlisted when I saw this promo pic for Britney’s new album.

It was like, “Woah deja vu!”

Where had I seen that skirt before? Then it hit me like a ton of unread Vogues that the skirt is very similar to Balenciaga F/W 06, (the same collection that gave birth to the Olsens’ favorite platforms). The skirt isn’t an exact replica, but methinks it’s a modest retail version of its crotch-grazing runway cousin.

First Rodarte, now Balenciaga? Am I going insane or have my fashion eyes deceived me? And why are her stylists bringing her old but not vintage pieces when there’s so much new stuff out there to be worn? Dolce & Gabbana’s S/S 09 collection would fit the album’s theme perfectly. I have no other recourse than to bring my questions to the lovely panel at Fashionista. HELP!!

XOXO,

Billy the Kid

When we heard Jessica Biel was planning on designing a line of handbags for William Rast, not only were we annoyed, but we were confused.

It turns out our feelings of unease were founded -

According to People, rumors of Jessica designing were just that: rumors.

So rest easy. That is, until the next announcement from Hilary Duff / Miley Cyrus / whoever.

Well, Leighton Meester finally landed an ad campaign.

It’s not Marc, it’s not Miu Miu, in fact it’s nothing we really care about which is painful since we really care about Leighton.

She’s the new face of Reebok.

And not the way Agyness was the new face of Reebok, not just a passerby at a party who happens to be wearing Reeboks, there’s proof this time.

She shot the ads in New York on Saturday morning, with short brown hair and an outfit that would make Blair Waldorf cringe and Jenny Humphrey jump for joy.

The funny thing is, no one on Gossip Girl actually wears sneakers.

If you’re looking for a dose of fashion this evening, you have two choices:

1. Go the educational route, and get yourself over to Parsons for their panel on “slow” fashion.

2. Go the fun route, and check out Rihanna lighting the UNICEF snowflake uptown at Grand Army Plaza.

There don’t seem to be any plans for Rihanna to perform, in case you that informs your decision. But just in case you can’t make it to either, you can at least check out the video at left, to watch the filming of Gucci and UNICEF’s first ever international campaign featuring the pop tart herself.

Scene 1: Kiosk, a fun galleryish store on Spring Street gets their neon arrow sign stolen in the middle of the night. The owner blogs about it the next morning and posts the security video.

Scene 2: The sign, or a sign that looks a lot like the sign, appears outside a new Urban Outfitters in LA, and the Kiosk store owner goes ape on his blog.

Kiosk wants their sign back, and Urban Outfitters, to our knowledge, hasn’t said a word.

Though we do kind of like the idea of a fun fashion crime, does anyone else think the signs actually look a bit different? Kiosk’s arrow seems fatter, and Urban Outfitters’ frame seems thicker…

No matter which side of the proverbial aisle somebody’s on, if they’re truly into fashion, they seem to be incredibly interested in what the next First Lady wears, some even going so far as to dub her “Lady O,” an obvious reference to our last First Lady style icon, Jacqueline Kennedy. But here’s what’s interesting - her husband might be overshadowing her.

Not only has Puff Daddy (we refuse to call him anything else), proclaimed that Barack Obama’s elegance will be used as a point of reference in marketing his new Estee Lauder fragrance I am King, and not only did a Bosnian suit maker famously name one of his styles “the Obama,” but now Hart Schaffner Marx, the Chicago-based menswear company favored by the President-Elect, is marketing itself as the place to get a suit if you’re trying to dress “Presidential”, and even has an upcoming West Wing collection, according to WWD.

Michelle’s clothes may be racking up hits for J. Crew’s site, but has anyone named a dress after her, or claimed that a collection was inspired by her style?

Also, we can hardly think of any mainstream male style icons (does David Beckham count?), let alone those who were Presidents. Could this be the first time an American President becomes as known for his sartorial choices as for his political ones?

Guess we’ll have to wait and see. But in the meantime, we wonder if anybody’s submitting sketches for his inaugural suit…

Will you be in / around LA tomorrow? How about nearby EM & Co, the boutique on 3rd St?

Are you a fan of Vivienne Westwood’s Spring 09 Anglomania collection? Or that wedding dress? (Translation: Are you super rich?)

If you can answer yes to all of the above, you’re in luck. EM & Co’s hosting a one-day only trunk show of Dame Viv’s most recent creations, and taking guest measurements if they’re so inclined as to purchase replicas of the wedding gown made famous by Carrie’s flower bashing scene.

The bad news? Only a limited number of the gowns will be produced, so we’re guessing that means you’ll have to bid to get your way. The other bad news? The event if invite only, so unless you can get down there and charm the sales people, you’re out of luck. But, if all you want to do is appreciate the dress in person just once anyway, the gown’s hanging in the store, right now, and will be there through Friday. And hopefully that’ll be enough for you.

C’est la vie.

Yesterday, we got wind that the Miu Miu store on 57th that’s been under construction for what feels like forever, is finally set to open to the public today.

Now, the details are filling in: If you stop by the store, expect coffee, cocktails, blown-up and sometimes distorted versions of past ad campaigns (we’re thinking Kirsten’s might make for an Alice in Wonderland comes to life effect), and a capsule collection of 130 limited-edition pieces including silk dresses, shifts with Pompeii-inspired prints and polka-dot pumps.

But even though things in the shopping world seem bleak right now, and even though there’s already another Miu Miu boutique on Madison nearby, Patrizio Bertelli, Prada’s CEO, maintains the store should still do very well, adding that the US will get three more Miu Miu boutiques across the country in the coming year and a half.

So if you find yourself uptown today, we suggest stopping by. Even if you don’t buy anything, it kind of sounds like an art gallery opening - free and fun (or just funny, depending on your take on Miu Miu’s harlequin pieces), with cocktails.

“Fifth Avenue’s becoming more and more like any mall in America. It’s not as unique as it used to be.” - Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at the NPD Group, on the sale-frenzy on Fifth Avenue, to the Times.

In an interesting twist in the ongoing game of product diversification, Steve Madden’s just announced that they’ve signed a licensing agreement with Revman, the same company that does the sheets/throw pillows/towels for the likes of Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger.

Fans of Steve Madden can look out for the bed and bath products at department stores starting during Spring 09, at which point Calvin Klein Home can probably expect to see their sheets and bath mats sold for half the price at wherever Steve Madden’s home line is sold.

But since half-price homewares are exactly what most of us need, we’re hoping these go the route of Steve’s mary janes - decent takes on classics. But only time will tell.

Looks like the 5% cut at Conde Nast has finally hit magazines other than those most closely associated with Vogue:

Portfolio’s blog (which, you probably know, is owned by Conde Nast) reports that Lucky let three mid-level editors go today, though Conde Nast is still mum on any more details.

It’s no wonder the title might be facing some trouble - it bills itself as the magazine “about shopping,” an activity that’s seen better days given the current state of everybody’s checking accounts.

No word yet on exactly which editors were let go, or whether there will be more cuts at more Conde titles. But stay tuned.

Can you handle more Fashionista changes?

Look to the right.

We’re making your life, ok and ours, easier with a constant list of upcoming sales, both sample and otherwise on the side of the site.

We’ll still make note of the notable on the main page, ie Stella, Proenza, Margiela, (hey, we can dream about it), but we’ll put every bit of sale information we hear to the right so you know when, where and how to get your hands on last year’s throw away samples.

Just click on the ones you care about for all the details and scroll down for a more thorough list.

And of course, if your name’s Marc and you want us to tell the world about a heavenly sample sale you’re having in a different universe - email tips@fashionista.com.

Walking on Houston the other day, I noticed a change on the perennial Calvin Klein billboard: men. Good bye naked Eva Mendes, hello guys and girls in jeans.

Then last night on Bleecker, I spied a sparkly jacket and jeans in the window of Cynthia Rowley, for men.

Not to mention both Nicolas and Roland Mouret (re-)adding menswear to their repertoire.

And, Scott Schuman’s recent editorial in Fantastic Man features Chanel menswear.

All of this, coupled with the fact that my best friend (a girl) keep stealing my clothes, the preponderance of boyfriend jeans, and Band of Outsiders, Michael Bastian, and Thom Browne showing up in Vogue on women and men have me thinking that we’re having a manly moment.

Am I nuts, or does it seem like menswear is the new womenswear?

—BRETT KANE

Cacharel’s removed Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto from their designer posts.

The duo’s been designing the line for just one year and though they haven’t made much commercial headway, they’ve gotten solid critical reviews and appeared to be on the right track toward revitalizing the French brand, which celebrated it’s 50th anniversary in Paris this past Fashion Week.

But they weren’t doing it fast enough for Jean Bousquet, the brand’s founder, who’s still in control of the line and let them go over “a conflict over creative vision”.

The thought of designing for someone else’s brand when that iconic figure’s still alive could make even the most hardened designer feel sick. It might not be Laurent and Pilati, but tension inevitably arises when trying to express something so personal while trying to create something fresh and new.

This Spring’s Cacharel collection was fun to see on a runway, and ten times more wearable than most, but it wasn’t so much classic Cacharel as it was grown up Eley Kishimoto, and we’re not surprised they weren’t the right fit for the French brand.

Though we don’t think Bousquet has too many chances left. Maybe he should focus on a total vintage revival - because that’d sell in a heartbeat.

Stylecaster, a new website slated to launch this January, has gone live with four videos and a soft-launch blog to introduce readers to their concept.

The site bills itself as an Influence Network site, like social networking but instead of getting friends you get inspiration. They’re using something called Sociocast which monitors individual users’ taste and preferences to give each reader a totally unique experience.

We’re guessing this means the site will remember which editor’s style you like, who your favorite designer is, where you like to shop, etc. and from there the “experts” behind the site will shower you with specifically tailored style advice.

It sounds like it will take over most-distracting-procrastinator title from Net-a-Porter.

For now, we’re just kind of obsessed with the Jessica Joffe video. She has multiple cute outfits layered over each other and strips down on her way to Café Gitane.

We might have to try that tomorrow.

Marilyn Models Agency is looking for a few good interns that are “CRAZY ABOUT FASHION”, so:

If you want to work for a small team that still handles biggies like Caroline and Irina, help with computer work (knowledge of Photoshop/InDesign/Illustrator is a plus), scout new young girls on the street but still come into an office where you’re expected to scan tear sheets, e-mail justin[at]marilyn-ny.com.

Oh, and big plus if you happen to speak Russian or Portuguese or any other languages.

And bonus points if you pass along new girls’ comp cards - hah, kidding! (Not really.)

May the force be with you.

The finishing touches are being added, as I type, to Naomi Campbell’s new fragrance commercial, recently shot by legendary photographer Mario Sorrenti in a London Studio.

The ad is said to be a new look for the supermodel who already has an impressive seven fragrances under her belt, all mostly released in Europe.

The name is still unknown, but I can promise you a little floaty dress, lots of pink, gladiator sandals, and a bow and arrow…

Until next time -

—BR(IT) BOY

In keeping with November 08’s most popular trend, Yigal Azrouel’s having what sounds like a blow-out sale this week. Would you like the details? Of course:

Where: 225 West 39th Street, 7th Floor, 212.302.1194.

Exactly When: Tomorrow and Thursday, 9am - 7pm. Friday, 9am - 4pm.

But Why: Past-season and current, in-store men’s and women’s merchandise at 60 - 80% off. (Specifics after the jump.)

No, you don’t need your eyes checked, but maybe a credit check - go!

Banana Republic’s sponsoring NADA’s (NADA is the New Art Dealers Alliance) Art Fair 2008 Preview Benefit for the New Museum this year at Art Basel Miami. So, Banana Republic’s contribution (other than funding the whole thing)? Totes, of course!

BR and the New Museum chose six artists out of eighty-five to have their work splashed on the front of cotton totes to be sold at Art Basel Miami and at the New Museum store (though only three will make it to the New Museum gift shop), with 100% of the proceeds benefiting NADA and the New Museum.

The six artists whose work and signatures will be featured on the future grocery bags are Chris Caccamise from Eleven Rivington in New York, Kon Trubkovich from Museum 52 in London/New York, Slawek Pawszak from Czarna Gallery in Poland, Olivier Babin from Frank Elbaz Gallery in Paris, Shinro Ohtake from Take Ninagawa in Tokyo and William O’Brien from Shane Campbell Gallery in Chicago.

But the best part? They’ve made a special tote produced with the “Hell Yes!” catchphrase on the front of the New Museum, by artist Ugo Rondinone. We’re sure that one will have a special place in the heart of anyone who’s ever looked down to Bowery from the west, and giggled.

(Check out Caccamise’s and Babin’s tote designs, after the jump!)

A memo to our readers:

Back in the summer, we hired on Jeremy Kost to be our party photographer, as the first of many fun changes to hit the site over the coming months. And today, we have another Fashionista member to introduce to you:

Br(it) Boy!

That’s right, we’ve brought on a London correspondent to keep us all abreast of the news/fun/gossip/street style of London, so look out for his five-hours-ahead wisdom and command of information about once a week from now on.

And for an added dose of fun, he’ll be working for us anonymously. But no, no prizes if you figure out who he is, sadly.

Look out for his first installment of information today!

xoxo fashionista

Chace Crawford may have no idea who he is, but at least everyone else does -

Alexander Wang took home the CFDA’s biggest prize last night, flanked by runners-up Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava, and Albertus Q. Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus.

Wang now joins the ranks of past winners Proenza, Trovata, Doo Ri and Rogan to go with his two years of mentorship, not to mention the $200,000 to grow his business. So between his CFDA award and his Shu deal, Alex should be rolling in it like Scrooge McDuck.

Money jackets a la Jeremy Scott for Fall 09?

That’s right, Peter Som’s PR team needs interns, so if you want to:

Help with Fashion Week

Deal with samples and closet maintenance

Make press kits, update press books

Maintain credit sheet, maintain general office sanity via coffee/photocopying

And of course, if you can start “asap”, e-mail Emma Tully directly at emma[at]petersom.com.

Much luck.

As fashions do, the green movement is increasingly out of the spotlight, while its newer, younger cousin, the slow movement (less consumption, more thoughtful purchases, handcraft, etc) seems to be the on the verge of ubiquity. Jump on the trend early at a Parsons panel this Wednesday at 6pm, and watch:

1. Mary Ping, adorable designer of Slow and Steady Wins the Race (aptly named)

2. Hazel Clark, author of Slow + Fashion: An Oxymoron or a Promise for the Future?

3. Leslie Hoffman, Executive Director of Earth Pledge

4. Shona Quinn, Sustainability Leader for Eileen Fisher (what?)

At Wollman Hall, 65 West 11th Street, Fifth Floor (Enter from 66 West 12th Street)

Go. Learn. (Did we mention its free?) But do it slowly.

—BRETT KANE

Think pink and hearts. Now picture Ksubi jeans with a Jeremy Scott twist.

Whoa, right?

It’s Scott’s fifth collaboration for the Olsen-beloved Australian label, and there are enough skinny jeans and bustiers to dress the length of Bedford Avenue.

In fact, it looks suspiciously like Chloe Sevigny’s first Opening Ceremony collection but Scott has sunglasses, sunglasses we really want - especially the baby pink ones with tiny black hearts peppered across the frames.

The collection debuted with his runway show in September, but we’re sure you want close-ups. Scott clarifies, “The collection is inspired by the French Revolution and is parallel to today’s social, economic and political climate, hence I titled the show ‘Let Them Eat Gas!’”

Um, ok, sure. That’s totally the vibe we got, too.

Are you on flickr?

It’s pretty much the easiest way to put pictures online, as in, even my grandparents use it.

Well now there’s Flickrista, (good name) which is full of the best fashion photography culled from the greater flickr.

It even has an editor, Andreas Climent. If you’re an aspiring photographer you can’t ask him to feature your images on the site, but you can add your favorites to the Flickrista Flickr Group in the hopes he’ll pay them attention.

As for us, we’re thinking of making our interns scan every magazine in the office to start an online editorial archive.

But we’re way too nice.

In case you didn’t get enough of Diane Von Furstenberg in her Amex commercial, CNN has you covered.

Tomorrow night, on Revealed, DVF will spill her soul about how she will be forever associated with the wrap dress, the Wonder Woman project and, if we’re lucky, secrets about secret CFDA projects.

The super fun part though is CNN’s call for testimonials about buying a 70’s era wrap dress and how much it means to you. So if you love your jersey frocks and want to express your love to Diane (the best ones will go on the air) leave a message on CNN’s Facebook, or email them at revealed@cnn.com.

And more importantly, tune in online to watch Revealed, or find out when you can watch it on TV.

Best Part? The copy refers to her as a German Socialite - wonder what she’d say about that.

—BRETT KANE

Over the weekend, we heard Tanya D might be going to Marilyn.

Marilyn’s response? “She is represented by Marilyn Agency in Paris…..but not in NYC - We are hopeful though that she will choose to be represented by us at some point in the future though……”

Take from that what you will.

But in other Marilyn news, Adriana Lima’s signed to the house we like to think of as Cintia’s home, and their girl Caroline Ribeiro just scored a short spread in ID.

Enjoy a mini sneak peek, after the jump.

Ok, this is the first and probably only time we’ll say this, but this clip of Chace Crawford is so much better than our Ed and Leighton news of the day.

He suffers through a fashion quiz with Grazia Magazine and doesn’t know shit about fashion. Though he does have explosively large biceps and a really manly not-at-all Nate Archibald laugh, (sorry Perez).

The best part features him speculating on just who this mysterious Alexander Wang person might be, though he couldn’t really get it more wrong.

“I didn’t want to do it in the first place, I wanted to read books, but I knew I was good at it.” - Vivienne Westwood on designing clothes. Thank god.

This just in from WWD: Jean Paul Gaultier is following in the steps of Peter Som, and launching a line of children’s clothing.

He’s just signed a licensing agreement with Zannier, and the first of the line should come out in time for Fall 09.

Best part? He may be calling this “children’s”, but the clothes will be for kids up to the age of 14, so fashionable eighth graders everywhere can get their correctly-fitting Gaultier to show off before phys-ed.

That is, of course, if 14-year olds can shell out cash in the high hundreds for clothes.

Every once in awhile websites have super random ads that make us giggle and wonder how that company chose that target audience.

We don’t know how we missed this on Style.com, so thanks to reader Claudia for sending it in.

Nikon’s having a Gossip Girl contest - just enter your info and a picture of your “most stylish party moment” and you might win a trip to New York, dinner at a “trendy” restaurant and obviously a Nikon Coolpix camera to record the whole thing.

But the best part’s scrawled across the top in bright yellow writing, “Win a Photo Op with Leighton or Ed.” If you scroll to the bottom it says in very teeny tiny font, “Meet either Leighton Meester or Ed Westwick pending their availability.”

If they can’t even confirm one of the stars, and they know enough about their fiercely loyal audience to advertise this contest on Style.com, they should know they can sub a meet and greet with a Lorick dress and Bendel’s make-over for twice the amount of contest entries.

Or for us, at least.

Friday night, I was on a JetBlue flight to Fort Lauderdale, headed to Key West for a friend’s wedding.

About half way into my Munch Mix and Coke, one of the flight attendants handed me a tube of Maybelline’s Great Lash. I said, “What’s this?” He said, “A gift” and continued to hand out mascara to all the female passengers.

I’m not Great Lash’s greatest fan, but it was free, so thank you. But here’s what’s weird:

The flight attendants never came around with any gifts for the males, and I kept wondering to myself, “But what about the cross-dressers? The guys who wear mascara anyway? The 13-year old girls who probably wear Great Lash but don’t get the free tubes from the flight attendants who think they’re too young? And, the fact that this is really kind of sexist?”

Such was my Friday night. And I still haven’t opened the mascara.

Those of you still feeling a little angry about the canceled Mike & Chris sale, take heart:

Rarechic has a few Mike & Chris jacket styles on sale (along with a very cute pair of shorts you could stash away for Spring and layer with leggings for Fall), and we suggest snapping them up unless you’re willing to wait the four to six weeks for the sample sale to return.

And bonus: If you remember to type in “Rare20” at checkout, you’ll get an extra 20% off (and not just on Mike & Chris or sale items, on everything).

Consider it the shopping universe making amends.

So Happy Monday.

Over the weekend, Reebok opened a pop-up store, called Flash, at 169 Bowery.

The store exists for just one month, and they’ll rotate limited-edition kicks and clothes each week, which will surely make it a frequent stop on the way to L’asso.

All the merchandise is supposed to be “never before seen”, but we think they’ll still squeeze in the Monopoly sneakers they created a couple months ago - which we’ve yet to see in person - between the dozens of limited-edition designs the company consistently cranks out.

We suggest checking out the store before December 15 - that’s the day it closes and the Bowery address returns to its, well, Boweryness.

Store hours, after the jump.

We think Arlenis deserves some kind of award. Maybe something like a Most Successful Model in the Least Amount of Time award?

Not even seven months have gone by since we first spotted her at the Banana Republic Fall 08 show approximately one week into her career, and she’s already been in Vogue and WWD, starred in the legendary Black Issue of Vogue Italia, landed a major beauty campaign, and now? Well, now, she’s an angel, having walked in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show extravaganza this past weekend.

Too bad there aren’t modeling Oscars, but at least she’s got the money.

If you’re in need of a retail-pick-me-up this weekend, may we suggest:

Falls: 30-90% off / 54 East 11th St, 8th Floor / 11.17 to 11.18 from 11am to 8pm

Prps: 50-70% off / 250 West 39th St / 11.17 to 11.21 from 11am to 7pm

Or, if you’re of the west coast persuasion, check out the Cancer Awareness Club Boutique Sale. It’s being held at the Frank Picture Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave, in Santa Monica from 10am to 4pm today.

They have both new and vintage clothes including a handful of Chloé, as well as donated Hollywood pieces. Basically, it’ll be a gold mine and you’ll be shopping for a great cause.

We’re sticking to cupcake pick-me-ups this weekend, but have fun!

Even though each day brings more and more clothes at deeper discounts these days, even though the highest of the high-end are lowering their prices in the US, and even though their sales for the third quarter decreased 46% (and even though holiday sales account for nearly half their total sales), Abercrombie says it won’t jump on the sales bandwagon.

They say that in order to “protect their brand image”, they’ll just take the hit that the fourth quarter may be. So if you were hoping for $40 Abercrombie jeans come Christmas, you might want to redirect those hopes to, well, every other store.

We’re hearing rumblings of blow-away sales come Black Friday - the rare term “80% off” has been thrown around, and from major brands. Deck the malls!

Ladies and Gentleman, Rick Owens is having a sale.

Paris Fashion Week left indelible images on my mind of the chicest women I’ve ever seen swathed in Rick Owens’ impossibly soft leather, towering in his platform boots.

But no matter what I do, unless it’s illegal, I’ll never be able to afford a $15,000 coat.

So thank you Racked, for letting me know that starting today and going through Sunday, I can get 40% off Rick’s clothes if I can get myself to 250 Hudson St. at Dominick between noon and 7pm.

Not that I can afford a $9,000 coat, but I’ll be on the lookout for mini-skirts, leather pants, etc.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

Rumors are floating around that NYLON is folding, so we did a little investigative research with an, um, inside source, and the official statement is:

NYLON is not folding, in fact, their numbers are up.

Furthermore, their PR team is right now working on a statement saying such, which we should all be getting it in our Inboxes very soon. But if you can’t wait, their online team’s already on it.

And there you have it, the story in full. And if you want to hear it straight from our super exclusive source (ok, it’s Faran), click through the jump!

Glad to hear they’re doing well, unlike some others.

We know that just about every celebrity under the sun has started ‘designing’ their own fashion line, but this one really threw us for a loop - Jessica Biel is set to design a collection of handbags for Justin Timberlake’s line, William Rast.

Sure, Jess always looks pretty, but we were under the impression that her knowledge of fashion didn’t go past her True Religion jeans and Juicy Couture sweaters. She doesn’t turn up at the requisite star-studded fashion shows, nor is she particularly known for her style - we always thought that her casual look was decidedly un-fashion.

So why the foray into one of fashion’s most coveted accessories?

Apparently, if you’re a celebrity these days, anything is possible. Oh, and it probably doesn’t hurt that her boyfriend owns the line either.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Reader Stella’s kind of bummed that Jeffrey Campbell ripped off the Bess moccasins she’s been lusting after.

You know which ones we’re talking about - black suede with a solid rectangle of gold pyramid studs on the foot. They’re barely a bootie, with a layer of fringe around the ankle. You’ve seen them on MK and you can buy them at Oak for $222, (or you can when they re-stock).

Jeffrey Campbell didn’t want to come up with his own hipster moccasin design, so he took Bess’s and added an extra layer of fringe. But he’s still selling it for $124, and Shopbop’s still selling his over the Bess original.

No offense Stella, we think they’re both kind of ugly, (we have a hard time with a mix of fringe, suede and studs) but we totally get why you’re upset.

If it was us, we’d write a letter.

Pretty much everyone loved Gap’s holiday commercials from yesterday, and more than a few of you inquired about Selma’s boots in “Baby it’s Cold Outside”, which were oddly missing from Gap’s site.

Because we love you (and because we were wondering the same), we made some calls, and it turns out the boots are not Gap, but Selma’s own.

Aw.

But look on the bright side - now if you run into her at Starbucks, you have an ice breaker - voila!

Olya, Mom & Art Publisher

Got Her: At the Guggenheim’s Hugo Boss Prize 2008 party.

Stalked Her: Actually it was more like shimmied up beside her while dancing.

Shot Her: Because she was rocking out in a Giambittista Valli dress, fishnets, and perfect patent pumps with a drink in hand on the sloping Guggenheim floors as if it were the easiest thing in the world

She Says: “I’m here for the art! I wore the Valli because it’s very structural and that seemed appropriate for a party in these walls.”

We Say: You should wear that dress everywhere, Guggenheim or not.

UPDATE: You guys are good. The prize goes to reader Cait - thanks for playing!

The DNA’s men’s division is so warm-and-fuzzy happy over the Fashionista-reading interns they got from their post, that the women’s division wants in on the awesome intern action

And so they, too, would like to let any of you NYC-based students out there know that they’re looking for your organizational / passionate / knowledgeable / energetic / never-mess-anything-up help.

So, if you have a fashion background (read: at least a previous internship), are computer literate, and have three free days per week to contribute in their studio, e-mail Shawn directly at Shawn.men@dnamodels.com.

Good luck! And make sure to say where you read this.

Barbie’s getting a make-over for her 50th birthday, and with it comes a real live runway show during Fall 09 Fashion Week.

Mattel wants to up the doll’s fashion cred which means life-size outfits designed by fifty life-size designers including Alexander Wang. Will Ken still love Barbie when she trades in her sequin gowns for ripped denim and smoky eyeliner?

Post-Fashion Week celebrations include separate collaborations with Vera Wang and Jeremy Scott. Mattel’s also signed on as a co-sponsor for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and worked itself into a three year partnership with the CFDA. Whether the partnership means money or something more creative remains to be seen.

But back to the show, we can’t wait to see how fifty different designers interpret their Barbie influence - and the fifty very curvy models they’ll need for the runway.

Modelinia, the new site about models that hasn’t even launched yet, just hired on Bianca Posterli, one of the Daily’s reporters.

This is now the second person to leave the Daily for another website, recently.

But at least there are two good pieces of news in there:

1. If you’re looking for a job, you can guess who’s hiring.

2. Not all job switches are lay-offs these days.