Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that bloggers must disclose any sort of payment for any sort of product reviewed or discussed on their blog.

It’s something I’ve tried to do, though we’ve never had an official policy on Fashionista. We get a fair amount of free stuff over here, in fact we probably get a handful of packages each week, but we only really post product reviews once obsessed, like with my new James Twiggy jeans, or confused, like that Lancôme vibrating mascara primer. More often than not, products come after we write about something we’ve discovered and fallen for on our own, as a thank you.

The New York Times wrote, “the move suggests that the government is intent on bringing to bear on the Internet the same sorts of regulations that have governed other forms of media, like television or print,” as if it’s a compliment; blogs are suddenly legitimate.

Which is great. Except that print publications, at least the ones we pay attention to, aren’t held to the same standards.

Laing Love: Chadwick Tyler shot Heather Marks for Jeremy Laing’s AW09 campaign. The images are hauntingly gorgeous. {JeremyLaing}

Picture Perfect Pixie: Pixie Geldof landed an editorial in September’s British Vogue shot by Alasdair McLellan and we find ourselves desperately wanting a peroxide bob. {Models}

Ben or Noel? Ben, always Ben. Just yesterday over lunch we were wondering why the heck we don’t have more Scott Speedman in our lives. Banana Republic has answered our call as he’ll be appearing in their new ads. Bless you, Banana. {WWD}

Majority Does Not Rule: In case you were wondering, Hamish is not a member of this newly discovered Condé club. We love that they even asked the question. {Daily Intel}

When we hear the name Jessica Joffe, we think: Patrick McMullan, Banana Republic ad (Spring 06), the New York Observer, that Stylecaster video, etc.

When most other people hear that name, they just think: Who?

So here’s another piece for that puzzle called, “Who is she, and why is she everywhere?”. Jessica Joffe, the redhead at left, is now the face of Katy Rodriguez’s Fall 09 line.

We’ll ignore the fact that Katy Rodriguez - talented designer that she is - isn’t exactly the biggest, baddest ad campaign of them all, and focus on the fact that campaign season is being kicked off (for the most part) by a semi-socialite instead of a celebrity or supermodel. Sign of the times?

“If I were in a band in sixth grade I would have called it The Banana Republic Club.” —Derek Blasberg, while interviewing Alison Mosshart in the new Interview.

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!)

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.

We’ve been meaning to go through our closet lately, since every drawer seems to have a six-inch high padding of “maybe I’ll wear it” clothes that never sees the outside world. So good thing Banana Republic’s giving us a reason to get going.

Who: Banana Republic and Goodwill

What: Their second annual sweater and coat drive - Bring your gently worn sweaters and coats to any Banana Republic store (US and Canada only), from October 16th to October 26th, and get a 30% discount at the store in exchange.

Why: Because not only could you use a cute sweater dress on sale, but all donated goods will end up at Goodwill locations around the country, and the revenue from your old stuff will fund job training and employment programs for people who could really use it.

Last year’s drive generated almost a half-million dollars - and wouldn’t it be so easy to talk your boyfriend out of ugly sweater choices with facts like that?

Banana Republic’s coming up on its 30th anniversary, and to celebrate the achievement of keeping us in merino crew neck sweaters for three decades, they’re releasing their City Insider Guide, a limited-edition Zagat (but not) to NYC along with some shopping freebies.

The Guide will be available in BR stores from August 28th to September 7th, but only while supplies last, and is meant to give readers the skinny on the newest NYC restaurants, bars and museums.

But our favorite part? The booklet includes information for free iTunes downloads and 20% off Virgin America Airlines flights, along with a bunch of other discounts for cool stuff in the city.

We can’t imagine what the fashion advice will be (101 Ways to Wear a Cardigan?) but at least we might be able to convince ourselves to take the trip to California this winter.

Today’s WWD may be a little funky so far, but there’s at least one story they made sure to get up there, and it’s pretty dire.

They’ve broken that there’s been a sweatshop operating out of Long Island City (which we’ve always heard was a nice, cute place with great views of the city) that’s been employing “over 100 mostly immigrant workers” with illegally low wages and overtime hours since 2005.

The workers have been manufacturing garments for a company that supplies clothes for Macy’s, Gap, Banana Republic, Express, Victoria’s Secret, Limited and Coldwater Creek.

Workers were being paid on a per-garment basis, completing each one in under a minute. They had even been coached on how to respond to suspicious investigations, in case that ever happened.

We’re not surprised that there are sweatshops, but more so that this was happening so close to home. But what’s the response from each of these companies going to be?

We stopped by Banana Republic’s showroom yesterday to preview their holiday collection - and, well, holy Mad Men.

If the costume designers for our favorite show get lost on the way to Kate Spade, it’s because they’re caught picking up some watered down Michael Kors at Banana.

Their winter palette is purple, black, gold and a pinkish nude. The shapes are definitively vintage: bell cut skirts, boat neck shift tops and dresses, high waisted pencil skirts and cropped 3/4 sleeve jackets. There are a few Prada-esque lace shifts and skirts mixed into the heavy silks and tweed jackets, all paired with patent booties and chunky gold peep-toes. A selection of Inhabit-like sweater coats and boyfriend slacks hung on the casual end.

Even their jewelry looked like it was sourced from antique jewels, especially when nestled next to the fur muffs, (marked “LUXURY”), and elbow length gloves.

We loved almost every single piece. Just wish it came out before fashion week so we could prance around Bryant Park like it’s 1962.

Last Year, Kate Moss wore a dress from Topshop (yes, we know it was her own design, but still) to the Met Ball - the party of the year and the most appropriate time to wear couture.

A few weeks ago, Sarah Jessica Parker, that ultimate paragon of the cheap dress / expensive shoes look showed up to Matthew Broderick’s premiere in a dress from Bitten. It’s one thing to go on Oprah wearing a $40.00 outfit and $700.00 shoes to promote your new line - but the red carpet’s a bit of a different scene. And this is the woman who not too long ago wouldn’t step out on a red carpet in anything less than couture. Now she’s in a $10 cotton sun dress?

Is this what she meant when she said she and her friends compete over who spends the least on their outfit?

And then last Thursday, Vanessa Von Bismarck, PR Princess and real life Countess wore Banana Republic to a Lulu DK event at Antony Todd. Her wedding was documented inVogue and the dress was custom made Derek Lam. But now that she’s pregnant she decides mid-priced career wear is more her speed? As far as we know, she is not designing a line for BR.

We love Banana and Topshop, but given the choice, Britt would wear Vivienne Westwood, Natalie would go straight to Matthew Williamson, and I would be on the phone with Thom Browne. Maybe if we wore Chanel Couture on a weekly basis, we too would be jonesing for a cheap and chic red carpet look.

How about you?

—BRETT KANE

Last night’s unveiling of Banana Republic’s Fall 2008 Holiday/Fall line was like a lot of other fashion week shows, except in April.

It started twenty minutes late, PR girls everywhere, editors pretending to ignore the free champagne, assistants in standing room only - the Vogue girls even held court from their first and second row seats, just like the good old days of February.

The clothes were, of course, perfect Banana Republic - cozy coats, elegant dresses, a muted color scheme of mostly blacks and grays.

But we think the real standout of the night was the models. Not only did Iekeliene walk for the label’s 30th anniversary, but we fell in love with a new girl, too -

Meet Arlenis (she’s so new we don’t even know her last name), a newbie at Marilyn who’s not only rumored to be involved in the already infamous Vogue Italia set to drop this July, but who’s also a favorite of COACD.

Every time she stepped out on the runway, eyes stopped staring in the direction of the clothes, and went up to try and figure out where in the world this girl came from.

Can’t wait to see what she walks in September…

This week, Banana Republic launched their Monogram line, which was supposed to be a little more classic but not more pricey than their trend-oriented career wear.

Now, American Eagle is doing sort of the same thing.

They’ve just launched a website called Martin + Osa, which has a bunch of I’m-grown-up-really outfits, that cost basically the same amount as actual AE.

Who is this stuff for?

We’re guessing college kids who have their first jobs - the same college kids who were just wearing their AE Aerie tank tops to early morning lectures.

We have to admit, it seems like a very smart strategy - sort of like Hilary Duff insisting her tween fans will grow with her as she does more adult roles (or ok, at least more adult photo shoots). Guess we’ll see if it works… though we do wonder if it overlaps with Madewell.

Today, we learned that Banana Republic was launching a new sub-label at their stores.

It’s called “monogram” and it’s described by Banana Republic as “our signature label collection defined by remarkably rich fabrics, distinctive details and a modern, leaner fit for the most eloquent expression of style. Available in limited quantities.

Translation?

Lots of navy blue.

Interestingly, the collection isn’t priced any differently from the rest of BR’s offerings, the way J. Crew has a special suiting section in stores, or Forever 21 has their “upscale line,” and yes, we were trying hard not to laugh while typing that.

Maybe the Monogram label isn’t a higher end thing at all, but a reassurance to customers that as J. Crew and Club Monaco get increasingly trend-oriented, Banana will always have classic (predictable?) looks?

New venues always attract old crowds, and the New Museum on the Bowery is no exception:

Following its star-crammed opening hosted by Calvin Klein (and sealed with Martha Stewart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Ashley Olsen), the museum hosts a fete next week for Banana Republic and their favorite fashion editors.

Then it’s time for FORM to showcase their latest collection in the museum’s Skybox, which provides an insane view of the city skyscape, as seen from downtown.

And finally?

Lutz + Patmos will host their Fall ‘08 cashmere presentation, which usually lures Carine Roitfeld as well as various celluloid darlings like Liv Tyler and Julianne Moore.

This time around, another starlet is slated to attend, but for once, we can’t tell.

Can you?

You know that old sweater you keep meaning to wear on a snow day, the one stuffed between fuzzy ear muffs and Grandma’s scarf in the bottom drawer?

Accept the fact that you’ll never wear it. Ever.

Instead, consider Banana Republic and Goodwill’s ingenious “Share the Warmth” promotion, where you don’t have to feel guilty about buying more clothes - because you can also help other people get dressed in the process.

Beginning today, shoppers who donate sweaters at any Banana Republic store will receive 30% off a new sweater (excluding cashmere - sorry, not our rule). All donations support local Goodwill job training and career services.

Sweaters should be “gently used” and donated by December 12th - and if you take a heap of yours, you can pretend you also donated your boyfriend’s sweater by mistake - while really stealing it for yourself…

— NATALIE GUEVARA

ps - the model is Chantel Lee

A conversation was sparked in the office today when we noticed the following items:

1. J.Crew leggings cashmere, with a faux pee flap in front, $150.

2. Basic bathrobe, Banana Republic, classified as what to wear while “opening presents,” $298.

3. $200 sweatpants. Also BR.

On the one hand, it must be fun to romp around in cashmere jammies all day. But unless you’re also drinking hot cocoa brewed with marshmallow diamonds, it seems a little excessive… even, dare we say it, tacky.

Is there an excuse for overpriced pajamas? Can robes that cost more than champagne really be worth it? Or is this just another “luxury” markup, to go with our $2000 handbags and $750 shoes?