Still Going Strong: Indochine celebrated its new book earlier in the week after twenty-five years in business. Give us vintage Kate and Christy any day. {TheMoment}

Oh, Louie Louie: Lara may be fronting the actual spring/summer campaign for Louis Vuitton, but Daisy Lowe’s secured a spot in their “beach-wear lookbook,” whatever that means. She shoots in Miami this weekend. {Grazia}

Get Your Cavalli On: Isabeli Fontana just shot Roberto Cavalli’s spring/summer campaign with Carolyn Murphy. The first makes perfect sense, the second’s still confusing. {Fashionologie}

Catch This Wave: After spending last week in Costa Rica, I still refuse to wear a coat in New York. Thankfully, Vogue’s avoiding reality with me. This week’s Most Wanted appeals to your inner surfer girl. {Vogue}

A few month’s ago, Net-a-Porter finally ditched mannequins in favor of actual models, albeit headless ones, but now they’ve gone a step further and captured their girls on camera.

The ‘video’ option’s only available on a few items so far, like the Marc Jacobs skirt at left, an Anna Sui tunic and a DvF cocktail dress.

There’s not much to it, the girl walks out wearing the item and spins around a few times before walking off the white stage. You don’t see her head, which is slightly creepy, and I’m not sure it brings anything new to the item (though if ever a dress drapes particularly well, it might).

Does this fill a gaping hole in your online shopping experience? Is the movement of Marc’s sequins enough to make you click buy?

Every year, twice a year, Henri Bendel holds an “open-see” basically a big old open casting call, fashion and beauty style. If you’re looking for your big break (Anna Sui and Todd Oldham got theirs here), the next one is happening this Friday, October 23rd.

Just be prepared to wait in a long-ass line. The buyers will be seeing prospective designers starting at 9 am on a first come, first serve basis, and you must be in line by noon to have a shot.

They are currently looking for merchandise for Spring 2010 in all the categories offered up at the story—from cosmetics and fragrance to bags, belts, hair accessories, and jewelry. Even gift-y items are fair game but leave your men’s and women’s apparel and shoe designs at home.

For more info go here or call 212-904-7992.

Good luck and send us reports from the front lines!

The rumor that Jean Paul Gaultier was next up for Target’s Designer Collaboration spread like wildfire just a month ago.

But now it’s true and everyone can rejoice and jump for joy like we did upon waking up this morning.

He’s the third designer after Alexander McQueen and Anna Sui to participate in this series, which shouldn’t be confused with Go! International (even though it’s much more international). Contributing to the series demands a muse, and Gaultier’s chosen the American woman, and America’s pop culture, as his.

We’ve developed a very particular cycle of excitement regarding designer collaborations. First, we’re excited to hear their names in an affordable sentence. Then we worry about how their runway brilliance will translate into prices ending with $.99. And then finally, we’re thrilled they’ve accepted the challenge and look forward to what they’ll make when stripped of financial freedom.

The best part is, we’ve done it so many times we skip straight to part three. Gaultier’s collection will be in Target stores from March 7th to April 11th. No word yet on Manhattan’s usual pop-up.

We almost forgot about fall given the SS10 hysteria.

Now that it’s freezing outside, we’re digging to the bottom of our closets to find the ball of tights that gets us through every winter, but plain black tights are significantly less satisfying than usual.

For FW09 designers showed a range of patterned and embellished tights that left us longing for something more exciting. From Marc Jacobs 80’s neon paisley to McQueen’s optical houndstooth, tights stopped being just something to keep warm, and started being a crucial accessory with which to liven your outfit.

Wouldn’t you rather brighten your fall wardrobe with some sparkle tights a la Anna Sui or some bejeweled Miu Mius? And if you still feel for black, try the sheer dotted tights seen at Balenciaga, which are perfect for adding a detail to a simple outfit.

We say ditch the black tights and start walking in technicolor!

So our friends over at our sibling site, Above The Law, came to us this afternoon with a little situation. You see they’d posted a story yesterday about how corporate lawyer types were being allowed, and even told, by their big law bosses to dress “down” during the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh so as not to draw unwanted attention from the protesters that follow this meeting wherever in the world it is held.

But, what to wear some readers asked? So we decided to step in with a few suggestion (even jeans are allowed!)

My first thought for the ladies was to definitely keep it simple: a dark fitted jean (I’m currently obsessed with my “Curvy” style from the 1969 collection at the Gap), maybe a cool not suit-y black blazer, with a striped tee underneath and a simple black boot. Subtle, professional, but not too corporate lackey.

Or throw in a little retro vibe plus color, like this look from fall Chris Benz. Maybe I’m wrong, but brights don’t scream Big Law to me. The other option I came up with was to go luxe boho, like you’re part of the professional counterculture, if you will. Maybe something along the lines of this Anna Sui print with some black tights and a slouchy bag.

The Anna Sui show is always a party.

But this season, for some reason, lacked a certain spunk (and we don’t just mean the confusing empty boxes inside the gift bags). It had all the good models (though it missed Agyness), the brightly colored embroidery, the youthful influence, and a party soundtrack, but it was, as the person next to me said, “all over the place.”

Her backdrop featured circus tents and if my Twitter icon hadn’t suddenly disappeared off the face of my iPhone, I’d have tweeted three’s a trend. The circus was nowhere to be found in Sui’s clothes though, instead there were a handful of hippie references and school girl looks we’d guess we’re inspired by her Gossip Girl inspired Target collection - if that isn’t too confusing.

And yes, we know ideas get recycled from season to season and that Marc’s own collection screamed “Rei,” but I swear those metallic dresses were in Bleecker’s Marc by Marc window last spring.

We’ve expressed our confusion over fashion networking sites before, and we still don’t really get it.

But this site, Fashionair, which launches for the public tomorrow, has already stolen hours of our time - even if parts of it fall into the above category.

It’s partly because it just looks so amazing and partly because the founders, Sojin Lee and Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment, know everyone. They plan on introducing editorial style films and taking their site’s visitors around the fashion world into places like Anna Sui’s bathroom, Aerin Lauder’s closet and Ellen Von Unwerth’s studio.

ABC’s: Agyness Deyn’s the face of Anna Sui’s AW09 cosmetics campaign. You can buy the makeup and Sui’s new line of hair products at her Soho store, though we’d avoid whatever made Agy’s hair look like that. {BeautyCounter}

More to Love: More facts on Fashion’s Night Out, including this scary tidbit, “one-out-of-10 retail-industry employees [are] out of work.” We’ll bring you the full report on Monday so you can start making a game plan for September 10th. {WSJ}

Now We’re Talking: A few behind the scenes shots of Charlize Theron for J’Adore Dior. It’s the fragrance’s tenth anniversary and these images should put Vogue to shame. {InStyle}

Cintra-Gate: We’re pretty sure the Gray Lady writer isn’t going to put out the fire she started yesterday with her JCPenney piece with these kinds of apologies. Not that we think she really wants to. {The Cut}

“‘One of Target’s top executives got nervous about being that closely associated with the show, given the [debauchery] its characters get into,’ says an on-the-set source. For example, Blake Lively’s character, Serena, killed a man, and most of the characters frequently get wasted, do drugs and have promiscuous sex.” —The New York Daily News on why Anna Sui’s line for Target won’t have a starring role on an upcoming episode of Gossip Girl after all.

Sui and GG: Pictures have surfaced of Anna’s Blair/Serena/Little J/Vanessa-inspired collection for Target. We’re liking, lots. {Refinery29 via The Cut}

Football Moms: I love the NFL and can be spotted every Sunday of the fall/winter proudly donning my Peyton Manning jersey (go Colts!) But this seems pretty darn niche: Reebok is launching NFL maternity gear. {WWD}

Bird is the Word: Juicy Couture has created a pricier, but more grown up line. We’re reserving judgment until we see it in person. {Elle}

Who won big last night at the CFDAs? Here’s the full list:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte’s Laura and Kate Mulleavy
Menswear Designer of the Year (tie): Calvin Klein’s Italo Zucchelli and Band of Outsiders’ Scott Sternberg
Accessory Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton
Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry
International Award: Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Anna Sui
Eugenia Sheppard Award: Women’s Wear Daily editor-in-chief Ed Nardoza
Eleanor Lambert Award: GQ’s Jim Moore
Board of Director’s Special Tribute: First Lady Michelle Obama

Not Tweeting: Coco Rocha doesn’t do the Twitter thing. So if you think you’re following her every move, right down to a supposed internship at Vogue, you’re sorely mistaken. {Oh So Coco}

Bare Becks: Mr. Posh Spice unveiled his latest undies ad for Emporio Armani in London yesterday. This is one campaign we will never, ever tire of. {Vogue UK}

Don’t Be Koi: A new “international ambassador” arrives in New York today. It’s a giant fish. Really. {Elle}

BFFs: Marc and Anna Sui chat about tats, Garren and the Motor City. {Style}

Very Shady People: Thursday Styles gets their investigative journalism on…about round sunglasses. {NY Times}

Anna Sui’s the next designer for Target’s Designer Collaborations Series (following their first ever, Alexander McQueen).

And we kind of couldn’t be more psyched about her inspiration for the collection - which will launch online and in about 250 stores on Sept. 13 - S, B, V, and little J. Seems Ms. Sui is also a Gossip Girl fan.

She told WWD, “By combining the elements of art, city, spirit, punk and glamour, we created a collection that exudes New York City fashion.”

Anna’s always held a special piece in my downtown hippie heart. And to be sure her fashion shows, whether you’re into the clothes or not, are always rockin’ fun. I’m pretty sure that she’s going to come up with some pretty sick interpretations of the girls. Perhaps there’s a funkier headpiece in Blair Waldorf’s future that will help her fit in at NYU?

Now if she could just do something about little J’s hair.

To: tips@fashionista.com

From: parsonsreview@yeah.com

Not so much a tip as an observation:

Took the SATs last Sunday; one of the grammar questions had “Anna Sui’s colorful prints” as the subject. Immediately I felt more comfortable.

When the College Board goes the Fashionista way? I had to alert you.

Xo,
M

Hypothesis: Fall 09 is mostly a season of repeats.

Proof:

1. Balmainia.

2. The entire decade of the 80’s turning up… everywhere.

3. Marni loving Prada perhaps a bit too much.

4. Jean-Charles Castelbajac sending his models onto the runway from a giant mouth a la Viktor & Rolf Spring 08.

5. Jeremy Scott giving out his Longchamp bag to Beth Ditto and Kanye West to tote around at the Fall 09 shows like it’s really Spring 06.

And so on.

Conclusion: Discuss!

Looks like the r-word hit the runways harder than we thought. I heard the term “DIY” batted around backstage so much it had me wondering if next season we might see models backstage with lash curlers and cans of Elnett in hand.

The smoky makeup at Chris Benz and Anna Sui along with the hair at Jason Wu, Rag & Bone, Wren and Miss Sixty were all fashioned to look as if the models had done it themselves. At the Twinkle by Wenlan show, MAC’s Gregory Arlt took the inspiration quite literally, letting some models curl their own lashes to get his “50’s girl on a first date” look.

Good news for those of us trying to recreate these straight-from-the-runway looks at home, not so great news for beauty pros if some designers actually decide to take their words at face value and let the models do their own thing. While I doubt the reality of that particular scenario, you never really can be sure. Stranger things have happened at the tents.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

This was my first Anna Sui show. And it went pretty much as I had hoped.

This is what I saw: Photographers going crazy over Taylor Momsen (we really want to know who her publicist is). Peaches Geldof, on the other hand, sitting completely unnoticed (much to her dismay, we’re sure) and beside Hilary Alexander (much to her to dismay, we’re sure). Coco Rocha trumped them all by having a camera crew of her own; we seriously can’t wait for her E! Canada segments to air.

Agyness opened the show, her first Fashion Week appearance so far, wearing a feathered hat with her usual quirky aplomb. There were more feathered caps to come - almost every look was topped with a feather-adorned beanie. The first looks were all black and white, and we were beginning to think we’d be seeing a completely monochromatic show until a turquoise paisley dress popped up, after that, saffrons, navys and dark chocolates were mixed in.

At first, we were convinced the show would be military-inspired. And then we thought it referenced Russian peasantry. And then, after seeing the paisley dresses and the brown leather fringed purses, we were definitely feeling the ’70s. Finally, we decided it was a little bit of everything and in true Anna Sui style, it totally worked.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Fact: Scott Schuman and Barbie both recently got book deals.

Next up?

Anna Sui is publishing her own memoir!

It’ll include personal snapshots, textile designs, inspiration boards, and pretty much her whole life story.

No word on exactly when the book debuts, but expect it to come from Chronicle Books.