Love Strong: To sit front row this season, you needed an invite and an Eddie Borgo spike bracelet. If we’re taking trend cues from Rihanna (and really, who isn’t) you’re going to need a gauntlet come February. Meanwhile, the spike bracelet’s still sitting on top of my Christmas list. {Barneys}

Double Duty: Marios Scwhab and Raf Simons discuss designing their own line while designing another. The former thinks designing Halston brings something new to his own label while the latter switches on and off between Jil Sander and his eponymous collection. {VogueUK}

Color Us Surprised: Claudia Schiffer wants her own line. As my mom would say, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you really feel the need to do it, too?” {Telegraph}

The Styled Life: Keegan Singh might be a bit young for a retrospective, but who doesn’t want to stare at his Abbey Lee/Rodarte shoot from The Last Magazine over and over again? {TheMalcolm}

In the midst of Fashion Month, a vacation, a birthday and what’s starting to feel like a blog explosion, I ran out of time to finish posting the series of Life With’s I worked on in LA this summer.

Next up is Molly Stern.

I’m tempted to call Molly “make-up artist to the stars,” but that doesn’t really cover it. Yes, she’s pretty much the only one who touches Reese Witherspoon’s face, but she’s also landed a gig for Cover Girl. She used to have her own clothing line, which sold in Barneys etc, she’s a mother of three and for lack of a less cheesy word, she’s one of the most inspirational women I’ve met - especially in this industry.

She got her start at the Shu Uemura store in her local mall, made fast friends with the girl who replaced her, Jillian Dempsey, moved to New York to find herself, moved back to LA when her mom set her up with the guy behind the counter at her favorite deli and only recently came to terms with working in beauty.

Click through for our meandering talk.

To say I’m fairly obsessed with Grey Gardens is an understatement, and not at all uncommon in the fashion industry. I’m a fan of the entire body of work of filmmaker Albert Maysles. Really it’s all just genius.

However, until now I’d never thought much about his eyewear. The people over at Barneys, however, have been thinking about it a lot. In keeping with the retro glasses trend, they partnered with LA-based Barton Perreira to recreate Maysles’ classic look.

Barneys’ EVP of Women’s Merchandising Judy Collinson says, “We saw everyone wearing glasses that looked like Albert Maysles glasses. Instead of looking for the best glasses inspired by him, we thought why no have the real authentic Albert Maysles glasses. He is such an iconic, respected and beloved figure. (Plus he looks amazing in the glasses.)”

Elle is hosting a panel discussion at Barneys next week called “The Mystery of Perfume” —apparently it’s fragrance week here at Fashionista.

The theme of the event instantly made me think of the book Perfume, though I doubt a scent-driven murderer will be discussed at all. Though I highly recommend the novel. But fragrance and what inspires it, how it’s made, etc really is one of the most interesting topics in the beauty world.

Robbie will be there, along with beauty director Emily Dougherty and a few perfumers including perhaps the most interesting one we’ve ever met, Frederic Malle. The man has mad skills when it comes to creating scents, and if you can get him talking about Paris in the 70s, you’ll definitely hear a crazy Karl story or two.

All the details and how to reserve your spot after the jump.

I know a bit about clothes and maybe kind of a lot about shoes, but when it came to sunglasses, I was clueless.

Until last week when I spent the morning at Silver Lining Opticians. It’s a hole in the wall on Thompson Street run by Jordan Silver and Erik Sacher and an absolute mecca of vintage frames.

But before I really got it, I needed a tutorial. Here’s how he explained it to me: In the early 80s, a man named Leonardo Del Vecchio started offering designers the opportunity to license eyewear. Before then, designers had treated the accessory as an extension of their ready-to-wear collection. For example, Christian Dior was one of the first brands to offer eyewear and he made super high quality frames that correlated to the kind of product on his runway. But Luxottica gave designers an “easy option,” and over the years production quality’s steadily declined.

photo courtesy WWDWhat’s as important to an Olsen as leather jackets and white t-shirts?

Sunglasses, duh.

The twins, who’ve grown Elizabeth & James with shoes and jewelry this past year, are ready to expand The Row. Instead of starting with bags or accessories, they’ve done sunnies.

Mary Kate told WWD, “Designing eyewear was definitely more complicated than we thought, and of course we wanted to be extremely hands-on.”

But they did manage to choose four frames, including the ones at left, in collaboration with Linda Farrow. They’ll launch this spring, starting just under $400, and sell alongside the twins’ clothes at Barneys and Bergdorf.

photo courtesy WWDHidden among all the Paris Fashion Week gossip is Barneys’ Christmas theme.

After embracing all things green and peaceful for the past two years, they’re sticking with just plain funny and devoting their Madison Avenue windows to Saturday Night Live, partly in honor of the show’s 35th anniversary.

In what may be a case of ailing retailer helping out ailing TV show, the two will launch the windows on November 16th with an in-store party and, Simon’s hoping, lots of cast members.

In the windows, you can expect to see the Coneheads, Mary Katherine Gallagher, Gilda Radner’s Roseanne Roseannadanna, Sarah Palin, Steve Martin’s King Tut and even a Weekend Update desk with Amy Poehler behind it — though we do expect all these characters to be exceptionally well dressed.

As for your shopping bags? They’ll scream, “Have a Witty Holiday,” which we’ll make sure and do, once we’re done with Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Prabal Gurung showed his second eponymous collection yesterday, to a full house including Vogue-ettes, Peter Som, LSD, Rachel Zoe & Brad, Derek Blasberg, Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann, buyers from Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman and a bevy of other impeccably dressed admirers who squeezed into a tiny square of a room high above Chelsea.

The clothes were asking for a major scene on Rachel’s show - they ranged from cocktail appropriate to Oscar perfect, including a pretty major red dress with giant black bows and a skinny white tux with a sheer white blouse underneath; the white Grecian goddess-like dress was our favorite.

Prabal was the best part though - the adorable designer bopped around with the biggest smile on his face. Guess that’s what happens when you manage to create the newest and most major buzz at New York Fashion Week.

Chanel-o: If Craig McDean had shot this with Baptiste Giabiconi instead of Constance Jablonski (for Interview), Karl Lagerfeld might have exploded from excitement. That would’ve been fun. {Models}

It’s It: This went up at the start of the week, but in case you missed it & you’re still wondering just who Becka Diamond is, this guide to the It-Girls of fall 09 will prove extremely helpful. {Style}

Ca-Caw: Thank you Malvin from Project Runway for inspiring the kids at EW to edit this little piece of Arrested Development awesomeness together. We were just remarking on Lindsey and Gob’s chicken dances earlier in the week. And by remarking we mean re-enacting. Happy Friday! {PopWatch}

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy: Barneys is about half way through their warehouse sale & shoes just got knocked down 40%. Meanwhile, we saw their awkward TV commercial last night and still wonder why they don’t just use Simon Doonan. {Racked}

Sketched Up: We read about Igor & Andre yesterday morning, the blog from California- based fashion illustrator and model lover Danny Roberts, but wasted an hour of our life on it last night. His work is spectacular. {Igor&Andre}

“What’s jarring is the marriage between the series and its new home. Project Runway is Barneys; Lifetime is Kohl’s. The cable outfit that broadcasts Army Wives and Reba reruns maintains an ethos that says, ‘Viewer, I see your cellulite; I’m down with your fibromyalgia; I know your menopausal misery.’ …the current season [of PR] is loaded with the unwrinkled: 9 of the 16 competitors are under 30, possibly a function of the fact that the casting is now conducted by Bunim/Murray, producers of The Real World. And yet there is no mistake that you’re watching Lifetime when you encounter Qristyl, a 41-year-old woman who designs plus-size clothing and makes no excuses. “I don’t call it plus-size,” she tells us, ‘I call it plus-sexy.’” —Ginia Bellafante in her NY Times review of the new season of Project Runway.

Fashion’s Night Out just released their prolific schedule for September 10th.

Seven hundred stores across all five boroughs will stay open until 11pm, but Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, a surprise celebrity guest and the cast of Hair will kick everything off at Macy’s six hours earlier.

At Barneys, Wool & the Gang will teach knitting while Scott Hahn & Rogan of Loomstate customize t-shirts. Zac Posen will be painting inside Bergdorf’s Fifth Avenue windows while Peter Som and Cynthia Rowley have an in-store cook-off. What are we most looking forward to (aside from the Olsens)? A fashion game hosted by Andre Leon Talley with teams led by Donna Karan, Robert Verdi and Linda Fargo.

Various contests will be held throughout the night in which one can win tickets to runway shows, haircuts by Sally Hershberger and Oscar Blandi, a custom Carolina Herrera wedding dress and the chance to be on set during a Demarchelier Vogue shoot. Cindy Crawford, Hugh Jackman, Stephanie Seymour, Sasha, Caroline, Chanel, Lily, The Misshapes, Taylor Momsen, Yasmin le Bon, Coco and Diddy are just a few of the people with planned appearances.

Don’t forget to shop while you’re out ogling your favorite fashion people!

Earlier this summer, Carolina Herrera waved aside any Elle Woods’ prejudices and gushed about the color orange, calling it “the new red” and using it prominently in her lovely Resort 2010 collection.

I love orange, and am totally willing to jump onto the trend, but unfortunately something about an orange dress - on me- is not quite right. I have yet to find an one that I can rock like Karlie or Sessilee did on the runway, instead I end up looking like an elementary school teacher dressing for Halloween.

Enter orange accessories. I’m particularly drawn to this clutch and these pointed flats that I saw on Net-a-Porter. Both are from Jil Sander, where Raf Simons also gave us some beautiful orange dresses for fall. Loving that clutch: great color, great design.

Barney’s has a ton of orange wallets and accessories, mostly by Valextra. And of course Hermes has gorgeous options. But the pickings are still a little slim at this point. Tell us, have you spotted any good jewelry or shoes in “the new red”?

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

I’ve spent almost three of the past four weeks in California which means I’ve worn pretty much nothing but old Levi cut-offs, white James Perse tees and my red Saltwater sandals.

It’s been wonderful.

But yesterday it was back to reality, which means gearing up for fall, for fashion week, for September issues etc. and while dicking around online, I changed my mind. Now, I want, need, must have a pair of thigh high boots. The problem is a) which pair and b) will anyone make a pair for under $1000 that don’t scream Pretty Woman and then of course c) what do I wear them with?

The thing is, while they were on almost every runway, I half expected them to elude the actual market given the state of the economy, as if fashion would pay attention to a reality other than its own. Sure enough, the boots are everywhere. Ideally, of course, I’d have a spare $1,470 for the Brian Atwoods which I’m tempted to call the originals. And if those didn’t fit over my slightly-larger-than-LSD-thighs I could always go for a flat version from Chloe for $1,235. But I’m barely 5’4” so I’d probably do better in something like these Pradas. In my dreams though, I’m wearing the Louboutin-meets-Catwoman version (though they might me higher than thigh) because I don’t know if the Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte masterpieces are even being made. The only high street ones I’ve spotted are suede, Topshop, and called the Brittany - a sign?

Maybe, but as of this morning they’ve already disappeared. What’s a girl to do?

We are so excited for September.

While the official list won’t be released until August 17th, we just received a huge rundown of events for Fashion’s Night Out, the New York City fashion celebration this September 10th. Over 300 retailers in all five boroughs have already signed up to party from 6pm to 11pm. We’re a little overwhelmed by it…in a good way.

We already told you about Alex Wang at Barney’s. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Also at Barney’s? The Olsen twins (girl crush times two!), Jonathan Adler and Lisa Perry, on hand to teach you how to knit. After you learn, you can knit a square to be included in a blanket to be sold to benefit the September 11th Memorial Fund.

“Our customers are still shopping. Their spending is more restrained. It’s now a two-pairs-of-Blahniks-instead-of-five kind of a thing. But it’s creeping back; by fall, it will be three-and-a-half pairs.” —Simon Doonan staying positive (thank god) in WWD.

This September doesn’t just mean Fashion Week, fall and my 25th birthday (yikes!), it also means the first ever Vogue Night Out.

Mayor Bloomberg and Anna Wintour announced the initiative in May, hoping for a revitalization of fashion and retail in New York City. The event’s taken on international proportions, with counterparts in London and Paris on the night of September 10th.

The best part of the night’s shaping up to be something other than endless promotional tees and charitable tie-ins: the presence of the designers themselves.

Today, Vogue UK lets slip that Alexander Wang will be on hand at Barneys teaching customers how to walk a runway which means we’re left wondering how the the other participating designers will feature. If it’s cold enough, can Vera Wang teach ice skating at Rock Center? We’d like Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren conducting traffic at 57th and 5th and Donna Karan drawing horse carriages from Bergdorf to Saks.

Is that too much to ask?

This morning’s inbox is flooded with sale announcements.

While no one’s hit 75% off quite yet, except for Selfridges which sadly we can’t make, spring prices are being slashed left and right.

Saks just announced 25% off all women’s denim (on top of their already 40% off sale), for two days you can take an extra 20% off sale at Shopbop and Barneys added inventory to their sale while knocking everything down another 25%, too.

J.Crew’s having a ‘secret’ sale - enter SECRET at checkout for 20% purchases over $175 and Net-a-Porter’s sale section’s already disappeared which means we expect it to be further discounted on the Outnet sooner than later.

And, someone emailed yesterday to ask why in the world Intermix is selling spring Rag & Bone for full price when it’s 50% off on Bergdorf’s 5th floor - we don’t know why, but we do think you’d like to know that if you have your heart set on that perfect romper at left you should probably head to 5th instead of Madison Avenue.

Happy shopping!

It wasn’t going to be long before designer Sean Monahan of Sea New York hit our radar. He’s kind of perfect for the current climate — a former Wall Street analyst who ditched his career in finance and turned designer.

He started out dressing his best friends which quickly turned into dressing Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Ricci, Leighton Meester, Blake Lively, Chloe Sevigny, and Alexa Chung. He wanted to create clothes that “make girls smile,” an ethos that whacks the sometimes unbearably heavy gravitas of fashion across the head.

Stocked by Barneys and Milk, his clothes are happy, lighthearted and full of frills, pretty prints and easy to wear dresses so it’s no wonder an army of models are also fans. His clothes kind of embody the “off-duty model” look.

Meanwhile, he’s quietly adding some big names to his design team. Monica Paolini, his best friend, muse and former design director at Betsy Johnson and Jill Stuart, is now on board as well as Emilie Roy of Dior.

There could be perhaps no two houses as misaligned as Betsy Johnson and Dior, so it will be interesting to see what the two new creative forces come up with.

As long as it stays light and fresh, we’re pretty sure we’ll love it.

—CHARLEY B.

We’ve been getting loads of pitches about fashion social networking sites and we don’t really get it.

The sites, for the most part, appear to be places where one can go for shopping advice. Each caters to a slightly different crowd or offers vaguely different services. On some, you upload pictures of yourself in outfits and ask for advice while on others you tick off your favorite stores or styles and either editors or fellow community members offer style advice.

While we’re of the shopping-alone persuasion - I hate shopping with anyone - we know there are people out there who consider it a social experience and need input from everyone from their friend to the shopgirl to the cashier in order to make a purchase.

Based on our experience both in retail and in fashion, that girl isn’t the fashion obsessed girl; she isn’t the customer scouring the internet for all things fashion related, which means there’s a giant divide between these sites and their target audience - not to mention a new version pops up almost daily.

Unless we’re totally off and you’ve forgone Barneys and Net-a-Porter for a communal virtual shopping experience.

But have you?