Mark your calendars, please.

Ashley Granata, formerly of Style.com, and Alison Lewis (do we still have to introduce her as half of the former Mooka Kinney?) have teamed up to show off their collections in a joint show at New York Fashion Week!

Alison will be showing her Fall 09 Lewis collection alongside Ashley’s accessories line, Ashley Jeanne, on February 12th. Picture a collection inspired by vintage circus images and tents and the “silent film and slapstick comedy of the 1920’s” from Lewis, alongside Ashley’s line which was inspired by royal porcelain and antique book bindings (most people know Ashley as the girl that put together all those parties for Style.com, but here’s a fun fact: She’s also a textile designer formally trained at Chelsea College of Art in London - think Marchesa).

The event marks the second full collection for Alison, and the debut of Ashley’s.

And since Ashley definitely knows how to throw a good party, we suggest making sure you get an invite - they don’t go out until Monday!

Mc2 Model Management’s NYC branch is looking for “highly motivated and energetic” interns to assist their agents part-time or full-time.

If you’re thinking to yourself, who?, it’s the agency founded by Jean Luc Brunel, the guy who first signed Christy Turlington when she was just fourteen.

Responsibilities include scanning pictures, answering phones, assisting with updating models’ portfolios, and working in Photoshop, Word and Excel (so you have to already know what you’re doing in those).

You Must: Be interested in the fashion, modeling and photography industries, outgoing, well spoken, and able to keep cool while five different people demand Starbucks / copies / phone calls / etc.

This is a great opportunity to get hands on experience at a smaller agency, plus they can offer a stipend and a Metrocard as well as school credit if needed. Send your resume to intern@mc2mm.com

Good luck!

—JULIA HERMANNS

Just because women have stopped buying shoes doesn’t mean they’re unwilling to drop a couple hundred bucks for tickets to a runway show.

American Express told the Wall Street Journal yesterday that they sold 97% of their $150 - $250 Fashion Week packages within five days.

Most of those tickets are to Diane von Furstenburg’s show - not the Fall 09 show editors and buyers are attending but a totally separate event with a runway full of Spring 09 looks. As in, the looks you can already pre-order on DVF’s website.

Which means the highlight of the show isn’t the collection itself but rather the life discussion Diane’s going to have with Andre Leon Talley prior to the show during which we really hope she addresses exactly which life lessons she’s gained from being on The City.

Anyway, we digress. In other American Express loves Fashion Week news, they’ve recruited polar opposites Tory Burch and Philip Crangi to hold trunk shows in their VIP tent at Bryant Park. Between Diane’s walking catalog and Tory selling flats on location, AmEx is working their hardest to turn what is essentially a fancy industry trade show into a store.

And so far, it’s working.

Back when Jane Mayle announced she would be closing up shop next month, everyone shared pretty much the same reaction: Sadness and disappointment with an undertone of “I’ve got to hit their next sale.”

So you’d think that today’s news of Mayle holding off her closing until April - and tucking a “highly limited-edition collection” into the crunched time space, too - would have brought only one response from everyone, but maybe not so.

One half of the Fashionista office was all, “Yay! Another shot at cute Mayle clothes before summer! Hope there are little dresses.”

The other half: “Whoa, really? That seems a little sneaky - Getting sales off all the hype from closing? And while everyone’s been clamoring to get a piece from her last, or what was her last, collection? It’s a little off-putting, though I’m sure it’ll all be great stuff.”

So is this kind of like a backhanded piece of good news?

We’ll think about this afternoon - But of course, see you at the store, right?

Who knew the industry would turn to men’s fashion in the face of financial catastrophe?

The past few months have seen shifts toward menswear from everyone from Christophe Decarnin at Balmain to Alexander Wang to Gareth Pugh, all of whom should be very refreshing after this season’s rather dull showing.

But thanks to London Fashion Week, we won’t have to wait quite as long. The British Fashion Council’s added thirteen new menswear designers to their Fall 09 schedule next month. The week - or in this shortened case, five days - usually ends with the TopMan show on the last morning and any other menswear can be found in the exhibition tent or tossed on the runway within a women’s show, but this time around they’ll be singled out and hopefully, paid attention to.

Names haven’t been released yet, but we promise to cover them with as much dedication, if not enthusiasm, as we do Luella.

The 90’s television revivals aren’t stopping at 90210 and Absolutely Fabulous. No, House of Style’s jumping on the trend, too.

The Post reports that the MTV show that made Cindy Crawford America’s sweetheart is back for a second try, and the producers already have their sights set on Chanel Iman and Bar Rafaeli (who already has some experience with camera crews) as hosts.

Assuming the show will be the same format of fashion and design information brought to Americans via cute girls, we’re betting it’ll be a hit, especially with those that want to further understand the decade they were born in, which is pretty much MTV’s target audience these days anyway.

In the meantime, please enjoy Cindy and Niki, at left.

Just because Target refuses to build a central Manhattan location, doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten about us.

In fact, they love us so much they’re erecting a McQ Market at St. John’s Center (330 West Street at West Houston Street) from noon until 10pm on February 14th and 15th so that those of us stranded on this Target-less island can pick up our McQ for Target almost a month before the rest of the world.

And it won’t be any old mini-mega store, they’re transforming the space into their own version of Camden Market complete with chain link fences, distressed plywood and graffiti-covered grates to “evoke some rock ‘n roll nostalgia” - we’re not sure how successful that element will be but we’re willing to give it a go, especially if it means a surprise appearance by Leila Moss.

They’ll be selling the entire collection and local artists will be around to customize whatever you want.

Your best bet is hopping over in that two hour slot between Wang and ThreeAsFour on the Saturday, unless you’d rather wait until after Miss Sixty on Sunday, in which case fingers crossed there’s anything left.

I’ll admit it, I’m obsessed with nail polish. I know all the Essie shade names, I salivate whenever Ji Baek launches a new Rescue Beauty Lounge collection, and I could rhapsodize for hours on what Deborah Lippmann can do with metallics.

So it’s no surprise that Chanel’s limited edition Moscow Collection of polishes has me in an absolute tizzy. The trio of polishes was created for the models in Le Lagerfeld’s czarina themed pre-Fall 09 collection and were the perfect complement to the clothes’ buttoned-up opulence.

The base of each shade is a deep obsidian to which different shades of sparkle — red, blue and gold — were added to create an optical fireworks effect when they catch the light. Seriously, I applied one coat and then spent the next 15 minutes twisting my hands and watching it sparkle. Sad but true.

Granted, at $30 a pop, I’m not exactly beating down the door to get these right this second, but seeing as how the Feu de Russie shade has already sold out online, I may be alone in this conviction. So if you don’t mind dropping the cash for the lacquer, you better do it fast because these babies are soon to be just a distant, shimmery memory.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

In honor of Fall Fashion Week, television stations tend to broadcast fashion-related movies during the month of February, and this year’s no exception.

Lagerfeld Confidential, the documentary about you know who, airs on the Sundance Channel on February 9th at 7pm EST.

Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton, which followed Marc in the making of the Spring 08 LV collections, airs on Sundance on Valentine’s Day at 7pm EST.

Yves St. Laurent: 5 Aveneu Marceau 75116 Paris airs the next day at 7pm EST, also.

Some might argue it’s even better than front row…

Chadwick Tyler, the New York-based photographer who’s shot for NYLON, Tank, V and so many others, has landed his first photography exhibit.

Tiberius, which runs at the Honey Space Gallery from February 10th to March 12th, features Tyler’s work with 52 models, all in black and white portraits, and all sure to be hauntingly beautiful (read: Some will love it; Some will think it’s too creepy to appear outside of a Korean horror film.)

The models, all females with the exception of Tyler Riggs, range from the super known to the totally unknown, including Iekeliene, Maggie Rizer, Imogen Morris Clarke and Karlie Kloss (full model list, and a couple images, after the jump.)

Since the exhibit features so many runways girls and opens two nights before the first Fall 09 shows, we’re considering the opening night like the movie trailer for Fashion Week, so make it out if you’re in town!

Late yesterday, WWD reported a major shake-up at Interview:

Editorial director Fabien Baron and creative director Karl Templer (considered one of the best stylists in fashion, especially because of his work at Calvin Klein with Fabien and designer Francisco Costa) have left the magazine simultaneously.

The departure comes as a major shock after all the hoopla of Fabien restoring the Andy Warhol-founded magazine to its former glory via better interviews, a fresh art direction, and more fashion than ever before. We all remember the major Kate Moss September issue of last year post re-launch, which landed Interview on Time’s list of best magazine covers of 2008.

The official reason? Fabien says he now wants to concentrate on his other business, creative agency Baron & Baron, and Karl also cited “other projects” as his reason for quitting the publication after such a short amount of time.

The good news? The departure couldn’t have been too big of a surprise, since WWD’s already reporting that creative direction will be picked up by M/M Paris, the French creative duo responsible for art direction at Jil Sander, Yohji Yamamoto, Purple, and a music video for Bjork, among many other things.

But what would make two of the biggest names at a magazine everybody really wanted to be as good as they imagined it could be walk away about a year into the job? Stay tuned…

This just in:

Page Six Magazine, the glossy little sister of the New York Post which has featured the likes of Ashanti, Tinsley Mortimer and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the cover, has just folded.

Like, minutes ago.

Staffers have been notified and you can only expect two more issues, but no word on where we’ll get cute interviews with Chanel Iman from now on.

Carry on.

Update: Gawker’s reporting that it’s just going quarterly, so perhaps not all secret Sunday reading is gone…

Alexander McQueen’s Target muse, Leila Moss, is scheduled to play at Williamsburg Music Hall smack dab in the middle of Fashion Week.

You know what this means, right?

She’ll be making some very strategic fashion show appearances decked out in McQ for Target - think front row at Alexander Wang - and make Taylor Momsen green with rock n’ roll envy. We can’t help but hope she also has a guest performance scheduled at one of the few parties left during the week, too.

The Duke Spirit show is scheduled for February 16 at 7:30 - you can buy tickets here.

And in the meantime, we’re hoping that if we’re super duper nice to her, maybe she’ll let us sit with her at the McQueen show in Paris.

If there are any casting directors out there wondering why they didn’t get a call back about the McQ for Target ad campaign, we hope you didn’t take it personally.

The clothes in the ad, which hit Target stores next month, are modeled by a blonde we all know very well - the Blythe doll, one with blonde hair, blue eyes and bangs.

No, it’s not a Barbie of Gwyneth’s mom, but a certain type of doll that was sold in the US only for the year of 1972, famous for her eyes that changed color whenever you pulled the string that came out of her back.

No word on whether this was a cost-cutting measure or a way to tickle the cost-cutting masses, but we bet it’ll be a hit on blogs everywhere right away. We hope no blonde models’ feelings get hurt in the releasing of this campaign…

“My resolution for 2009 is to project a healthy lifestyle for myself, of course, and for the people in my industry. I feel like it’s our responsibility to take care of the kids we are working with and let them know that if this isn’t the industry for them and they can’t be in it and still be healthy, then move on.” - Michelle Lee, KCD’s casting director, in an interview on Supreme’s blog.

The Lara Stone Vogue Paris is in and it is, as promised, all Lara.

In the first few pages, the issue declares Lara the “rare bird” of the new model generation, likening her to a combination between Kate Moss, Lauren Hutton, and pretty much any famous supermodel you can think of.

Olivier Zahm, in his interview with her, proclaims Lara “a model of a different kind, one you don’t see very often” with the body of a “1970s Playboy model” and the face of a child. He also asks why she never called him back and that he would very much like to have a glass of wine with her later to which she politely giggles.

The Lara-only editorials are shot by a handful of the best fashion photographers out there including Terry Richardson, Peter Lindbergh, Hedi Slimane and an amazing fashion spread from Nan Goldin. And between each editorial are artistic interpretations of Miss Stone by Peter Beard, Rupert Shrive, Franceso Vezzoli, and others, all ringing with a distinctly iconic tone.

Okay, we get it. Lara is smoking. But she hasn’t exactly reached icon status yet. So is it just us or does this all seem a bit premature?

We think you should decide for yourself, so we’ve included here both interviews from the issue with Lara - a quick Q&A and her longer interrogation by Olivier - because we think her words might add a new dimension to the debate (Ok, not really, we just think models talking is always fun). As always, let us know what you think.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Donna Karan’s DKNY is coming up on its 20th birthday, and to celebrate Dazed Digital recently produced a short film styled by their fashion editor Katie Shillingford and shot by photographer Pierre Debusschere.

The film is shot in black light, making details in the model’s DKNY outfit glow, as well as her fluorescent makeup. Dazed claims the film (as well as the accompanying photo shoot for the new Dazed & Confused) is “out-of-this-world, 80s inspired” and that “the model takes on an ethereal, almost alien presence”.

This makes for pretty good visuals, but more importantly it sounds very close to the 80’s cult classic film Liquid Sky, where the main plot line revolves around a fashion model possessed by aliens, including a very memorable scene of the model applying glow-in-the-dark makeup in black light.

I consider Liquid Sky required viewing for anyone who likes their fashion a bit quirky and their films a bit obscure, so if this applies to you and you haven’t seen it, try to get your hands on it ASAP.

In the meantime, you can catch a glimpse of it here (black light face paint clip starts at about 1:20). We’re betting it’s a favorite in the Dazed offices, too.

—JULIA HERMANNS

Warning: NSFW!!!

Somewhere in fantasy world, Blair Waldorf is gasping for air.

Eric Daman, Gossip Girl’s stylist extraordinare, has taken on a side project. He’s the new consulting creative director for San Diego-based mall staple Charlotte Russe.

The retailer’s having some financial difficulties (surprise!), but instead of panicking they’re throwing all of their weight into tightening their brand strategy and targeting a slightly wider market, sixteen to twenty-nine year olds.

Daman was brought in by their new president, who happens to be a Barneys vet, to help transform the stores into something more Bendel’s than Forever 21. If anyone can do that with Charlotte Russe product, it’s probably Daman who must have a teenage girl’s brain tucked into his own.

“The idea is to make girls feel better about shopping at the mall,” he says. Does this mean we’ll finally have to go to the Manhattan Mall?

After having taken the entire summer off (she told IMG, her agency, that she was even turning off her cell phone), Daria Werbowy is in full force for 2009.

First she popped up in the Roberto Cavalli campaign (sometimes alongside Kate), then Isabel Marant (at left), then the February cover of Australian Vogue - and now she’s been named the face of Matthew Williamson’s H&M line - not her first foray with the Swedish megabrand - a campaign that will include television commercials alongside the designer himself (modeling the menswear), marking his own debut as a model.

Not too shabby considering all he has to do is keep it together next to the Canadian wonder model - but we’re wondering whether this means lines for Daria on TV, of course.

“When Valentino Garavani released a statement categorically denying that he had anything to do with the design of his former accessory designers’ first collection for the label, perhaps it was because he knew what was going to come down the runway today.” - Fashionologie, on Chiuri and Piccioli’s first couture try at Valentino.

Scoring vintage Betsey Johnson is only half the battle of thrift store shopping - trying to find what you love in your (actual) size is usually the part that turns a good shopping trip into just a bad trip.

So good news: Betsey feels your pain, and Opening Ceremony knows an incredible deal when they see one, so they’ve paired up to introduce a new-ish range from Betsey, the Betsey Johnson Archive.

Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: Re-makes of 35 of Betsey’s best vintage designs to launch at Opening Ceremony in NYC and LA (and some Betsey Johnson stores) this Fall.

In the meantime, you can try to hold yourself over with the vintage page on Betsey’s site. But we’re just going to send the Opening Ceremony people telepathic messages all afternoon - “Please host an 80’s dance party for the launch!”

After Vogue Italia’s Black Issue last summer, a lot of people wondered if the well-publicized move would actually do anything about the lack of black models in the fashion industry.

We think there were definitely some more black girls and guys on the runways last season (though obviously still not in the numbers some hoped to see), but here’s at least one concrete piece of evidence of the magazine’s pull:

Ubah Hassan, the regal Somalian model who made her big-time debut in that historic issue, is now in her second season as the face of Ralph Lauren, joining Russian Valentina Zelyaeva, one of the highest paid models on earth who’s been in too many Ralph ads to count.

Here’s to hoping we see more of Ubah next month.

We used to love comparing all the Fashion Week invitations that come in right before the big Month, but that’s gotten a lot harder this season because of one tiny detail - A lot of designers aren’t sending out invitations in the mail anymore.

So far, Behnaz Sarafpour, Costello Tagliapietra and (our usual invite favorite - at left is their Spring 09) Band of Outsiders have all opted for e-mail only invitations this season, surely a sign of the economic times but also what the upcoming Fashion Week is looking like (fewer parties and cardstock invitations - probably less drink.)

On the bright side, this could be taken as an exercise in green - we’re just waiting for a clever e-vite, and then we’ll believe that’s the case.

Fact: Tommy Hilfiger’s brother, Andy, used to be in a band with former Ramones drummer, Marky Ramone.

Fact: Hence, Tommy and Marky have known each other for 23 years.

New Fact? Marky and Tommy are launching a clothing line together, Rock Scene, which will consist of pants, leather jackets, and tees with images from the old CBGB club on them.

Not only does this explain Marky’s seemingly inexplicable gig as DJ at a Tommy party a year ago, but it kind of makes all that moaning and groaning over John Varvatos taking up the old CBGB space - where the Ramones played their first shows at the beginning of their legendary career - with his store seem a little overdone (or warranted? Depends on who you’re talking to…)

After Alexa Chung popped up on Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label show during Spring 09 London Fashion Week, we expected her to land a semi-major campaign.

It was the perfect moment to move from noted British TV personality to model of something other than Tampax or Urban Outfitters.

And then there was word she’d be designing a line for New Look which was cool because the girl wears some amazing vintage and if it’s like Kate’s line for Topshop we’d basically get to shop Alexa’s closet when we’re in London next month.

But, it turns out she’s just the new face of New Look. Which means there’s no “designing” and no major campaign which is kind of a bummer because if ever there was a British It-Girl we’d champion it’s her, and she doesn’t even get to hawk Agent Provocateur.

This morning, ex-Lucky Beauty writer Dawn Spinner came out as a DABA in the New York Times’ profile of Dating A Banker Anonymous, a blog for women having a rough time with their men due to the tanking economy.

Well now we hear Dawn and her fellow DABA’s, Laney Crowell, a beauty editor at StyleCaster and lawyer Megan Petrus are getting a book deal.

What will the book be about? How to stay beautiful without your boyfriend’s black Amex? Where to shop when you have to spend your own money?

The saddest part is, if you’re smart enough to land a job at one of the country’s top magazines, you probably could’ve penned a book on your own merit, not your boyfriend’s financial downfall.

While you wait for The September Issue to finally hit A&E, there’s another fashion documentary making the rounds: Eleven Minutes.

The documentary follows Project Runway Season 1 winner, Jay McCarroll, for a full year while he tries to ready his first independent collection for New York Fashion Week.

Sure, that sounds a little like Unzipped without Naomi, but we think it’ll be a good balance for the overly wrought fashion television shows currently messing with the definition of “reality.”

The movie hits screens February 20th, and you can expect tons of zingers: The IMDB character list includes Kelly Cutrone.

If you like cocktails, fashion and Copenhagen - here’s a fun project.

There’s a cherry flavored liqueur called Heering and they’ve come up with six different cocktails: Classic, Romantic, Exotic, Vintage, Dramatic and Rock’n’Roll (the actual recipes are listed on their site).

Whoever makes the best cocktail dress inspired by one of the above drinks gets their own runway show during Copenhagen Fashion Week in the Fall of 2009 - so you’ll show your Spring 2010 collection.

To qualify, you must either be in your last year of school or a new designer, as in, you’ve been designing for one to three years. You must submit a technical drawing, a description of the dress and a description of the fabric along with a current resume. If your design is chosen, you’ll be given the money to produce the dress and it will compete on a runway in Singapore at the start of the summer with dresses from fifteen other countries.

If yours wins, book a flight to Denmark.

Held og lykke (that’s good luck in Danish, we think)!

“Luxury is for the rich, not the nouveau riche.” - Karl Lagerfeld, to Derek Blasberg backstage at Chanel couture, on Style.com.

—BR(IT) BOY

We loved collecting Scratch ‘n Sniff stickers in early grade school, which is why we’re immediately obsessed with these t-shirts by Charlotte Ronson and Mika Hatsushima, artist and owner of the street wear brand, Cream of the Crop.

The shirts, which say “Love Me” on the front and smell of Jelly Beans, come in the colors seen at left, and will be available at Charlotte Ronson stores in NYC and Japan starting January 29th.

The tiny line’s meant to coincide with Valentine’s Day, but we think this is the best possible shirt for Sunday brunch with your Chuck Taylors and best friend, no?

Though you may feel an inexplicable urge to head to Dylan’s Candy Bar after…

In case anyone else sort of came around on The City after Olivia shut down Whitney over talking about her friends’ hook up situation in the DVF offices (“Whitney, you’re an adult. You’re what, 23 years old? You’re not in high school”), take note:

MTV’s picked up the show for a second season, which could mean more fun quotes from Olivia, but definitely more cameras at Fashion Week.

Not exactly win-win, but maybe Diane will show up on camera again?

If you’re not familiar with Absolutely Fabulous, get thee to Amazon.com.

The British sitcom ran on and off from 1992 to 2005. It stars Patsy (Joanna Lumley) and Edina (Jennifer Saunders), a washed up model and a wannabe PR dame who spend almost the entire series drunk, stoned and decked out in the loudest Moschino and tightest maybe-Alaia they can find.

Patsy and Edina’s fashion obsession led to an insane roster of guest stars including Lacroix, Zandra Rhodes, Gaultier, Erin O’Connor, Twiggy and even Naomi Campbell.

So, we’re kind of jumping for joy that Fox confirmed they’ve picked up the re-make and will debut it later this year (Saunders, the original Edina, has signed on as Executive Producer). This means fashion, fashion, fashion on TV in the form of a killer costume department and hopefully some major guest stars.

Because while Victoria Beckham on TV is fun, a Patsy and Edina meet the Costello boys meet Jourdan Dunn would be life-changing.

Undoubtedly, you heard about Dating a Banker Anonymous yesterday.

Now, can you spot the ex Conde girl in the group?

We don’t have to tell you Fashion Week’s barely three weeks away, but since we love you, we do have to share some fun information about what you can expect at Elise and Erin.

The Elise Overland presentation should be slightly drawn out, as the models will be walking the runway every 5 - 10 minutes (as opposed to the usual seconds) - though the PR team is prepared with champagne and DJ, of course.

And at Erin Fetherston you can expect antique dolls to be the theme in a “parallel wonderland universe” - so expect lots of polka dots, Nutcracker silks, brocade and baubles on heavy necklines (which sounds a little like her Spring 09 in tone, but maybe more like her Fall 08 in practicality.)

And if this hasn’t satisfied your appetite just yet, stay tuned for a glimpse into Abaete…

Even though you may not be very familiar with the name Peter Copping, according to WWD, you will be very soon.

The women’s studio director of Louis Vuitton, who’s been with the company since 1997, is said to have already tendered his resignation, which compounds speculation of his joining the Puig Group (Nina Ricci’s parent company) after having met with Puig President Mario Grauso earlier this month.

Obviously, everyone’s thinking Peter’s been tapped to replace Olivier, who is allegedly done at Nina Ricci after his Fall 09 show, leaving Peter in the spotlight (of course, most of the design credit at Louis Vuitton goes to Marc, not the many people who work directly under him) and Olivier unemployed.

If this is all true (which we’re betting no one will know for sure until at least March), the moves would leave not only Olivier looking for yet another high-profile job (and since Rochas is currently taken by Versace veteran Marco Zanini, we can’t expect the revival everybody wants) but also a pretty huge gap at Louis Vuitton.

We’re guessing Kanye’s dusting off his resume right about now.

—Thanks NYLONguys!!

Remember way back when Paramount announced they’d be making the movie-version of the book, Fashionistas?

Well, according to a tidbit in WWD early this morning, it’s for real.

They quickly chatted with one of the movie’s stars, Hollywood newcomer (acting-wise, anyway) Kirsten Lea, who says she’s getting lavished with free fashion goods thanks to her role in the romantic comedy set to hit screens in 2010.

At which point, we’ll probably have to add a period to our site name, but whatever.

Alexander Wang’s jumping on the menswear bandwagon.

StyleFile reports the downtown darling’s working on his first full blown men’s collection to debut in Fall of 09 and he thinks, “It’s strange that so many designers are doing men’s now…for us it’s a component that’s always been there.”

The component being that his women’s clothes are already pretty tomboyish - a kind of reverse Dior Homme - and that the boyfriends of the girls who wear his clothes need their own slouchy tanks, ripped denim shorts and tight leather pants. Actually, whether those boys have girlfriends is highly debatable.

Anyway, Wang’s already rocking the samples while out and about in the city so if you’re desperate for a sneak peek, well, we can’t tell you where to find him but we can almost guarantee he’ll take next month’s bow in the line and then we can discuss just how much the official collection will vary from his usual baggy t-shirt and skinny jean uniform.

Ever since the non-stop negative news surrounding Men’s Vogue, some people have been wondering what Bonnie Morrison - Men’s Vogue’s special projects editor, formerly of KCD fame - has been up to, seeing as how her job must have been downsized in ratio to the magazine’s own shrinkage.

So here’s what: We hear Bonnie’s in charge of the PR for Chris Benz’s show this season, which is back to being a presentation after having a runway show on an actual stage for Spring 09.

So will Chris’ presentation draw even more hype this season (remember Taylor Momsen swung by last time) given Bonnie’s extensive PR credentials?

We’ll let you know on the night of the 16th.

Natalie: I can’t believe all this news about ABS knocking off the Jason Wu dress. I mean who would wear that knock-off? It’s so recognizable anyone on the planet would be like, “Dude, you’re wearing Michelle Obama’s dress.”

Britt: But that’s what they do. All they do is knock off famous dresses.

Natalie: But I feel like it’s different this time. Everyone knows this dress.

Britt: But everyone knew Gwyneth’s pink Ralph Oscar dress.

Natalie: But this is different! You don’t have to follow fashion to know this dress.

Britt: I promise you people will buy it. It will sell out in minutes.

Natalie: God, I would love to meet these people, I have so many questions for them.

Britt: No you wouldn’t.

Natalie: It would be so embarrassing! I would never be able to get it out of my head, “I’m wearing a wannabe First Lady ballgown.”

Britt: Well if you see anybody in it, you should tell them they could’ve bought it at Jessica McClintock five years ago.

Natalie: It’s not even pretty.

Britt: I know, I know.

The most successful rip-offs, the things that fly off shelves, are the products directly modeled on something that everyone from the die-hard fashion fan to the suburban high school girl is familiar with.

More Carrie Bradshaw’s Dior gladiators than Margiela.

But we’re guessing these have been knocked off because Rachel Bilson rocked the nude version of the half-sandal, half-boot shoe with some on trend boyfriend jeans last summer, not because Margiela’s the new cerulean.

But will they actually sell? Can Steve Madden market this $170 shoe to the mall going masses? And if so, can it come with an informational packet on how incredible Martin Margiela is and what he’s done for fashion in the past twenty-five plus years?

The best part is you can actually see how insanely luxurious the leather is on the Margiela shoe through this teeny tiny online picture and if they weren’t sold out everywhere, it’d only cost you an extra $400 for a million times more quality.

In case you’re in Berlin tonight, and in case you’re curious about Iekeliene Stange’s photography-related pursuits, you’re in luck, because her first Polaroid-only exhibition, “I Like Ponies,” gets feted with an opening night party by projektGALERIE at 7pm local time.

Entrance is free (even for the party), and the pictures stay up through January 31st (more details here).

On a side note, projektGALERIE’s blog includes some interesting information: That Iekeliene is so serious about her work, she’s considering moving to Berlin full-time in order to concentrate on her art.

So does that mean less face time with the Dutch model for the fashion world? …

Safilo, the Italian sunglasses manufacturer, is looking for its own financial bailout - preferably in the form of a private equity fund.

Safilo makes pretty much everyone’s glasses, from the entire Gucci group to Marc Jacobs to Dior to Juicy to Armani and they’ve racked up about $753.8 million in debt according to WWD. So until they get their cash influx the Italian government is sponsoring a temporary shutdown of four of their factories.

Sunglasses used to be the easiest way for everyone to buy into a designer brand - the thought being that most anyone can scrounge and save $200 to put a little bit of Gucci on their face if they’re that desperate. Which is why when even the smallest labels get bought up by major corporations or gain serious financial backers sunglasses, perfume and accessories become the priority. But, like most luxury goods these days, plastic-frame profits have plummeted and are only expected to get worse.

So the question is, who’s so rich that they can pour almost $800 million into a company that makes $300 sunglasses in the middle of an international economic crisis?

“But the problem isn’t limited to design. The overwhelming number of people in their 20’s at the shows guarantees that everything will seem new to them. So Mr. Jones can do pointless things to tailored clothes. John Galliano can summon his pirates and tri-cornered highwaymen. Jean Paul Gaultier can pop on the Afro wigs and issue some jivey pinstripes (with a mini-me line of children’s clothes). And Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy can evoke a Teutonic fantasy with laced black-leather leggings and severely buzzed heads. There is little demand to do something that’s actually new and relevant.” - Cathy Horyn, on Men’s Fashion Week, in the Times.

If you had any thoughts that Valentino being left in the hands of the house’s longtime accessories designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli was something the higher-ups would try to sweep past as quickly as possible, think again.

The pair’s first collection as (temporary?) creative directors for Valentino - Spring 09 Couture which hits the runway tomorrow night at 6:30 local time - will be streamed live at three different Valentino boutiques in Paris, Rome and Milan (obviously, we’re betting it’ll hit the internet, too).

Valentino’s promising that the streaming aspect will add an “urban and sophisticated, dreamlike and digital dimension,” which is quite a change of pace from last season’s Facchinetti couture, which was widely described as “quiet” and “graceful”.

So does a celebrated entrance mark the beginning of the new longstanding tastemakers at Valentino? Guess we’ll know by Thursday morning - Valentino’s people will certainly make their true feelings known.

Everyone’s wondering why Delphine Arnault - Bernard’s daughter - was front row at Gareth Pugh this week, sparking rumors that LVMH is gearing up to add the young designer to their luxury constellation.

So here’s the other part to that rumor:

We hear that not only has Gareth already joined LVMH, but he’s set to do so as Kris Van Assche’s replacement at Dior Homme (no word on where KVA will go).

And we’ll all read about it very soon - Vogue Nippon has a piece coming out soon that details the move.

Morning!

Jimmy Choo’s in dire need of a PR intern to start immediately.

They need someone at least three days a week from 9am to 6pm. If you’ve interned in fashion PR before, and they’d prefer it if you have, you know the drill. Sample tracking, working with magazines, stylists, celebs (especially since it’s awards season). You also need to have a handle on Excel and PowerPoint, be detail oriented, a team player and obviously have a deep love for all things fashion, shoes and bags especially.

The best part? They’ll give you $10 a day for lunch, cover your subway pass and give you school credit if you need it.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to us. If you can handle it, send your resume to jimmychoo.press@gmail.com and remember - I’m a size 8 (Editor’s Note: Natalie’s a 6!)

We’re getting breathless e-mails asking what, exactly, is the deal with this Grazia item reporting an already battered rumor - that Nina Ricci is looking to replace Olivier Theyskens with an unnamed successor - from the front row at Spring 09 couture this week.

But honestly, we’re surprised it’s even come up again. Not only is Olivier’s Fall 09 show in mere weeks, but he just announced a major accessories line with Nina Ricci not even two weeks ago, and Mario Grauso, the president of Nina Ricci’s parent company Puig Fashion, recently made a point of reaffirming his love for Olivier after rumors of disharmony persisted for months.

Unless of course, all these facts are worth nothing, and Olivier is about to face a Facchinetti-style ousting this March (even though his contract with Nina Ricci isn’t up for renegotiation until this October.)

Guess we’ll have to wait until the dust (and front row boredom) settles.

If you’re going to copy someone, this is how to do it.

Valentino’s Bow Clutch is classic with a fashion forward touch. Most girls would carry a metallic clutch but most would shy away from this particularly dramatic bow.

So, if you want to sell that design to the masses and make a lot of money off of someone else’s idea, tone it down a bit. Make the bow a bit smaller, maybe a touch floppier so it’s more subtle.

Offer it in a few more colors, stick to a simple silk instead of a statement metallic leather, and charge 90% less.

Guaranteed success.

Is it just me, or is the rollerball seriously underutilized? I mean, you’ve got your lipgloss rollerball and the occasional fragrance one, but other than that, not much happening with the quirky delivery method.

Apparently, Garnier feels the same way. First came their Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller and now there’s Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Roller, a super-sized anti-aging rollerball treatment for your face. Seriously. I know it sounds kooky, but it’s totally my new favorite beauty toy. It’s a skin care treatment and facial massage rolled (heh) into one.

[Beauty lesson time: In general, most of us don’t take the needed time to properly apply our skin care products. Ideally you should be massaging a product into your skin for at least a minute in order to get its full effects. Massage boosts micro-circulation and helps products penetrate deeper into the skin’s surface. Since you’re physically rolling this gel into your skin instead of distractedly slapping it on your face, you’re forced to slow down and invest some time in actually applying it. And it’s surprisingly relaxing, considering you’re standing around steamrolling your face with a giant plastic ball.]

But the whole draw for me is obviously the application. I’m sure the formula, which features the brand’s Pro-Xylane complex along with vitamin A and omegas 3 and 6, does a great job at plumping, and replenishing the skin, but at the grand old age of 25, I’m not looking to fight off deep wrinkles just yet. Hopefully Garnier’s new obsession with the rollerball lasts long enough for them to come out with a lightweight moisturizer in the same format, so I can get my rolling kicks in a skin-appropriate product.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

So Gossip Girl’s a re-run tonight.

Which means we/you are in desperate need of a dose of Chuck Bass and can thank Teen Vogue for this behind-the-scenes video. Of course, it’s even better when it’s a dose of Ed Westwick because then he’s British and not royally fucked up.

Westwick says of his own style, “I’d like to think it’s cool,” to which we’d respond that ripped sports jerseys are very difficult to pull off and he shouldn’t feel bad for trying. His sartorial choices are inspired by his love of music and apparently, in his Gossip Girl downtime, he has “plans to start a musical movement in New York City.”

Wearing Rag & Bone cardigans and Lady Grey necklaces is a good place to start.

Gareth Pugh showed his first full menswear collection in Paris last night.

The “visionary” collection - super skinny pants, platform patent boots, chain mail vests - might’ve sparked LVMH’s interest, according to The Telegraph. Delphine Arnault, Bernard’s daughter, sat in the front row and personally congratulated Gareth on his show.

The editorial darling could be a big financial risk for LVMH (whose stable of fashion brands include the more reliable likes of Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs) and a much needed breath of fresh air on the heels of their Lacroix sale.

If forced, we’d have pegged Gareth for Gucci Group membership, but it’s hard to imagine him under anyone else’s control, financial or creative, and answering to a larger body who demands a certain measure of commercial success (because we’re pretty sure Michelle Lamy, Rick Owens’ wife and Pugh’s current backer, loves him just the way he is).

Meanwhile, if Pugh joins the luxury conglomerate, shoes and bags are guaranteed and the thought of Gareth Pugh shoes knocks the wind out of us.

Last week, Kanye’s sneaker designs for Louis Vuitton were revealed to the world during Mens Fashion Week in Paris.

This week, Kanye has apparently sat on his successes, and decided to go ape online.

Please check out this video in which he dubs himself “Martin Louis The King, Jr” in what seems to be Kanye doing an impersonation of Michael Scott doing an impersonation of Kanye West.

Recess!

Fall 09 Fashion Week’s theme is turning out half-Barbie, half-recession.

While more and more designers pull out and scale back, Barbie’s taking on New York with all the force her tiny waist can muster.

First up, it’s two days of Barbie makeovers at the 5th Avenue Sephora. To celebrate the doll’s golden anniversary, Stila’s releasing five limited-edition Barbie Beauty Cans. Each one’s full of all the make-up you need to make your face look like either Ponytail Barbie, Malibu Barbie, Foxy Barbie or Jewel Barbie.

Stila’s make-up artists will be there Friday, February 6th and Saturday, February 7th from 12pm to 6pm.

So if you see us out and about looking a little too Malibu for a New York winter, just know we’re revving ourselves up for this kind of unusual Fashion Week.

Perhaps Rick Owens’ animal clutches were just a warm up to designing accessories in jest.

The American in Paris has signed a deal with Eastpak, of junior high and hiking fame, to design a collection of fifteen bags (plus a unisex raincoat) under his denim brand, Dark Shadow.

If Raf Simons’ previous collections for Eastpak are any indication, you can expect the Rick backpacks to cost at least $100 each, making you the most subversive (yet well-packed) kid in the hallway.

At least, if high school kids even carry backpacks anymore - Do they?

Thanks to the good people over at Les Mads, Pamela Anderson’s Spring 09 ad campaign for Vivienne Westwood has officially hit the internet.

Predictably, Pamela’s breasts serve as co-stars.

Vivienne and her husband/former student/stylist Andreas Kronthaler flank the Baywatch babe in a few shots. Vivienne even dares to wear the same dress as Pamela (guess who we think looks better).

Can’t wait for this to break in March magazines - It kind of highlights the insert-celebrity-here quality the Katie for Miu Miu campaign can’t rise above.

“I want to live the dream, I want to throw bows, I want to rock Prada.” - Shaun White, the American snowboarder, during his own commercial for the Winter X Games, on air this afternoon.

Dolce & Gabbana’s February interview with Interview is now online.

Read it to find out their thoughts on each other, their current customer, etc.

But really, we just wanted to show you this picture.

It’s almost the weekend!

If I could build a “Forever Wardrobe” like Plum Sykes does in this month’s Vogue, it’d be topped off with one of Bottega Veneta’s woven clutches.

I lean toward a clutch anyway - an oversized patent sack-like one for Fashion Week, a vintage velvet pouch for dinner, a woven straw rectangle for the beach - and there’s something perfectly classic, totally feminine about Bottega’s little box.

Whether this plastic-looking Kate Spade imitation makes me so mad because it looks like it’s woven from something slightly more durable than Easter grass or because despite it’s plastic-y sheen it dares to cost over $300, or because its design is so explicitly ripped from Bottega Veneta’s thirty year-old design, I’m not quite sure.

Either way, Kate’s far too smart and far too creative to be ripping off someone else’s classic.

This just in:

If you’re planning on checking out the the massive March issue of Interview (of course you are) then you can expect one teeny-tiny cover girl.

Mary-Kate Olsen has been shot for the cover, decked out in “tons” of Proenza.

So who will be her interviewer? (Glenn? Ashley?) Sadly, we have no idea.

But if you do…

We reported a few days ago of the magic that is the Luella Magazine. America is going wild about it, London is insane and Vogue is constantly trying to find out the latest.

I can exclusively reveal that not only is the magazine definitely happening, but also that Jourdan Dunn really is the cover girl! And just for an extra Friday treat I think we should take a look, don’t you?

The first issue should be out this Spring and will probably follow with an Autumn/Winter, making the Luella mag a bi-annual.

More details to follow, very soon…

ps Keep your ears open because these “bright young things” are everywhere. New York, Paris, London - it could be your best friend, your work mates or even your mum!

—BR(IT) BOY

Remy, Student (I asked her what she’s studying and she’s still in high school to which my friend replied, “Damn, I wish I was that cool and poised in high school).

Got Her: At Mike Figgis’ photography opening at Milk last night (which you should really go check out).

Stalked Her: Because an olive green/hot pink combo always works, because I had to know why everyone in the room wanted to talk to her and because she was the only person wearing actual color.

Shot Her: Because she was basically wearing a fashionable sack and looked amazing. Also, because when I said, “Hi, I’m from Fashionista,” she gave me the biggest hug ever.

She Says: “I’m in one of the pictures! I know Mandy, from Seventh House, and when Mike started the project she called me to ask if I’d pose, which of course I did because Mike’s amazing!” (Which explains why everyone wanted to talk to her.) “I’m on Seventeen’s style council, I love throwing random things together.”

We Say: If Seventeen folds, will you be our style council?

Fashionista’s very own photographer, Jeremy Kost, is looking for an intern.

He’s specified he needs someone “sharp, tactful, hard-working and self-motivated” because you’ll be working on and uploading images to his site, occasionally assisting on shoots, and some events.

It’s unpaid, but you could get school credit, but only if you know what you’re doing in Photoshop, own your own laptop (which you’re comfortable bringing to the office), have flexible hours, know the difference between Jessica Stam and Jessica Joffe, can organize anything, are cool with Fashion Week madness, etc. In short, you must be awesome.

If you think you’re it, send your info to Jeremy at Info[at]RoidRage.com. Luck!

News:

What Comes Around Goes Around is moving their famous vintage archive, so they’re having a sale to lighten the load of 100,000+ pieces. So bust out your Sharpie:

13 -17 Laight Street, 5th Floor, Buzzer # 28, 212.274.8340.

Wednesday, February 4 - Tuesday, February 24, Seven days a week 11am - 7pm

Up to 75% off (more details), new items added weekly, ridiculously deep discounts during the last week - incredible.

And yes, we’ll remind you on the 3rd.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is climbing back up quite nicely it seems.

After a rather anonymous job for DoTheGreenThing.com, the jilted beauty has managed to land herself as the body for the D&G Underwear ads, which seems to be her only fashion campaign for the season, not counting some continuing work for Agent Provocateur.

We think she’s probably one spread away from landing herself a Fall campaign for somebody big enough to be considered “back,” (Calvin Klein Jeans? Etro?) and then it’ll be like the whole thing never happened.

Which just goes to show - If you do the crime, make sure you have the time to pose like a wrestler for a little while.

Yesterday, Louis Vuitton showed their Fall 09 collection at Men’s Fashion Week, and Kanye’s sneakers were part of the mix.

Some were red, some were kind of orange (guess the white didn’t make it), but they seemed to all be monochromatic marshmallows for your feet, and Marc looked pleased.

We suggest Men.Style.com to see the rest, and a total suspension of relativity when the prices come out.

We learned a lot of valuable lessons from Rachel Zoe’s reality show.

The wise one explained that while she’d love to throw her girls onto red carpets in fashion forward runway looks, the public doesn’t always get fashion forward. And so she’s forced to put aside her own taste in lieu of more traditional garb. As in, if she veers too far from strapless/sparkly/long De La Renta, US Weekly will have a field day with her poor unsuspecting clients.

It’s with that rule in mind that we’ve chosen what we hope three of the nominees will wear and what we think they’ll actually wear.

To begin, we’d die if Kate Winslet wore this Vivienne Westwood. It’s her night, she has to win and this is the dress one wears while winning. Plus, we’re still not sure exactly why Britain got so pissed over her Golden Globes speech but this would be a nice nod to her homeland.

Amy Adams, please eschew chiffon and jewel tones for a night - you’re hot and you can rock this black lace. If you’re scared or intimidated, the Oscar De La Renta label is there to comfort you.

Anne Hathaway! Congrats on the nomination. You’re hot, too. And young, so very young, too young to wear so much Valentino and the frumpy Chanel couture of late so why not go nuts and wear this super sexy Proenza cut-out gown? Seriously, Ryan Seacrest won’t know what to do with himself.

But what do we think they’ll actually wear? What do they have to wear to land Best Dressed? Click on my friends.