This Thursday, October 22, you can meet Christian Louboutin. The master of the six inch heel will be at Bergdorf Goodman later this week to answer all your nagging shoe questions.

You should, by now, know why his soles are red, but you could ask:

1. How he picks which designers to work with.

2. If he has a favorite shoe.

3. If he had to play favorites, would he choose Jonathan Kelsey, Charlotte Olympia or Nicholas Kirkwood?

4. If you have the money for one pair of Louboutins, should you go with black, nude or something wild and crazy?

Make sure you RSVP here!

At the end of August, we wrote an Adventures in Copyright begging Alexander McQueen to do something about Steve Madden’s blatant copies.

Some of you agreed, one commenter asked, “Do you think McQueen cares this much?” To which of course we’d heartily answer yes.

So you can imagine, or try to, how high we jumped for joy when this morning, WWD announced that McQueen’s suing Madden.

The suit, filed in Manhattan October 1, calls Madden’s Seryna bootie a “studied imitation” of McQueen’s Faithful and points out, like we did, that the only detail missing is McQueen’s trademarked skull zipper. In exchange for Madden’s attempts to profit off of the Brit’s “widespread media attention,” they’re asking for an injunction, profits and payment of legal fees.

Now if we could just get Messieurs Blahnik and Louboutin on the case, throw in Tamara Mellon’s attitude, Jessie Randall’s charm and Marc’s spunk, this could be the most fashionable class action lawsuit ever.

Last season, Mary Katranzou’s collection was inspired by old perfume bottles; their images were screen printed onto silk in a range of jewel tones.

For spring, she was inspired by blown glass and presented a series of brightly printed dresses with more creative shapes. She added a pinch of glitter to some and serious jewelry to others, all with towering Louboutins. So many shots of color swirling together made me realize how neutral New York’s spring collections were. London’s always more colorful (and not just color wise), but I don’t think New York’s usually so boring.

Since she and Mark Fast showed back to back without a break in between, most everyone was talking about Mark’s “fat girls” (their words, not mine) on the way out, but I tripped up the stairs behind Christian Louboutin. And though he spoke French and I’m so far past exhausted, I’m pretty sure he thought Mary’s collection was fantastic.

A friend emailed to say she was skipping coffee and heading straight to Prada this morning to pre-order the thigh high boots I mentioned in my second of what will now be three posts on the matter.

I might wax rhapsodic about them, but I can’t actually afford them while she, corporate lawyer with perfectly long legs can both buy and wear them — the question is where? Underneath her slacks?

Most everyone we (as in at Fashionista) know functions in a world in which anything goes, in fact, the crazier the better. But we often forget about people in the corporate world who actually wear, gasp, suits to work everyday. And we wonder how they get their fashion kicks.

If we worked in a proper office we imagine, unrealistically, that we’d wear Vivienne Westwood suits and round toe black Louboutins, but we’ve been to midtown and it doesn’t look like that. Yet we know a love of fashion isn’t restricted to those working in it. So basically, in an attempt to reach outside our bubble, we’re wondering what you wear in your office if you’re into fashion enough to be reading this site.

There are countless things that I love about Paris—walking the streets of the Marais and soaking up the style, the Tuileries, salads at the Costes.

And, of course, no trip is complete without a trip (or three) to Ladurée—home to the best macaroons.

Now the patisserie is collaborating with Christian Louboutin on a new collection of boxes to house said delicious goodies, available in September. As far as random collaborations go, this one we like.

They already make a perfect gift to bring home from a trip, or thank god (at least for some of you) you can order them online.

TheOutNet has some new competition.

Browns, the British department store that is kind of like a physical incarnation of Net-a-Porter, just launched a new website called “Labels For Less.” The site offers last season’s merchandise (the good stuff) from both Browns and Browns Focus at pretty severe discounts - up to 70% off.

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?

Do You Swing? A new film gets the real story on what happened to Biba’s Barbara Hulanicki after she basically dressed a generation of Brits in the 60s in a new film. Also, see what Barbara thinks of Kate Moss. {Independent}

Victoria B meets SATC: And so the Sex and the City sequel rumors begin. First up, that Mrs. Beckham will be making an appearance. She’s allegedly taking acting lessons to get ready. We love her, so we approve. {DigitalSpy}

Loub Library: All the old favorites and new obsessions. Now if only we could get a card that allowed us to check them out for free. {Grazia}

Our fashion crush on Emma Watson grows stronger with each passing day.

Last night at the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the rain did not scare the actress into compromising her look. She wore a beautiful floor-length vintage Ossie Clark dress with Chanel jewelry.

We’ll keep this in mind the next time drizzle deters us from wearing something nice.

Emma looked very elegant in the uniquely detailed dress and even the low neckline was in good taste, instead of attention hogging cleavage. There’s not much more we can say about it: we’re obsessed with Emma’s style.

Bergdorf Goodman’s teamed up with the American Visionary Art Museum for their 5th Avenue windows.

The museum’s in Baltimore, Maryland, but its artists created a collection of fantastical backdrops here in New York for clothes from Jason Wu and Oscar De La Renta, brightly colored homes for Louboutin shoes, erratic sketches frame a bejeweled Valentino bag and a man carved from wood watches over a Rodarte look complete with slashed gloves and Nicholas Kirkwood boots.

The museum’s mission statement defines visionary art as “art produced by self-taught individuals, usually without formal training, whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative act itself,” which, when combined with the best of pre-fall fashion makes for a must-visit outdoor museum on the street.

Thank god it’s finally stopped raining.

We’re usually drooling over Christian Louboutin’s killer pumps, but the Spring 09 Adona have had our hearts beating fast since we laid eyes on their first incarnation on Phillip Lim’s runway.

Surprising to learn ASOS and Pour La Victoire are also big fans - they’ve gone ahead and knocked off the darling shoe. The Louboutins are going for $1,265 while ASOS black version’s sell for around $45 and Pour La Victoire’s for $225 on Shopbop. With the drastic price cut comes a downsized top ruffle - a shame since the brashness of the original made us love it so much in the first place. It’s like the shoe itself is embarrassed over its identity theft and is trying not to be noticed.

We just got back from the Decades Two pop-up shop in Soho, above the Kiki de Montparnasse store and we’re still trying to catch our breath.

The Los Angeles location has a beloved, loyal following of fashion obsessives on both coasts. New Yorkers upon arriving LA have been known to stop by the store before even checking into their hotels.

And it’s easy to see why. Walking in the doors was like entering an other-worldly paradise where only beautiful things reside.

We spotted Natalie Portman’s black and blue Rodarte, the pink Oscar dress Carrie pulls out of Baryshnikov’s box, nude Louboutins and navy Lanvin pumps, perfectly worn in Balenciaga motorcycle bags, a mint green Valli gown, a McQueen caftan, Westwood bustiers and an entire rack of Chanel tweed.

Any savvy shopper can spot Selfridges’ bright yellow bag from a mile away and the British department store has embraced their love of all things bright in honor of their 100th Anniversary.

They’ve launched a pop-up shop, open from today until the end of the month, full of fancy designer goods accented in Pantone 109.

The Christian Louboutin pumps at left might be our favorite. We admit, we would have loved to see a hot yellow sole and heel. But the compromise, a bright toe, is quite cool and unexpected. They’ve made very limited quantities, as in just a few pairs per size, and you can only get them at the pop-up shop.

There’s also a rubber ducky yellow dress by Giles, a special edition Marc Jacobs Stam, and some neon yellow Converse.

Happy Birthday Selfridges!

—CHARLEY B.

A reader just sent us the link to this Steve Madden bag and our stomach kind of dropped.

We expect him to copy the Fendis, Givenchys and Christian Louboutins, but as always, it’s so much more painful to watch a small, independent designer get ripped off.

Alexander Wang launched bags less than two years ago, just a few styles, all slouchy, all zippered, all made from incredibly soft leather and all at relatively reasonable prices (around $700). Steve Madden’s sold bags forever, all plastic and all shiny and not always rip-offs - the handbag ‘designers’ obviously lack the shoe ‘designers’ budget (because they do go out and buy loads of Chloe and Chanel and Louboutin shoes, rip them up and rebuild them to make the copies spot on).

But someone in that department loved Alex’s Brenda Zip bag so much, they went and made their own and called it the B-Zipcross. Then they threw in a copy of Alex’s model-loved Donna Hobo just for good measure.

Sometimes, Steve really pisses us off.

Britt has a pair of extremely holey black jeans and yesterday, a guy on the street told her that his mom could sew up the rips if she was interested.

The other day, my brother asked if my vintage Lagerfeld earrings get satellite reception. Last week, I wore shoulder pads and my friend said I looked like a line-backer.

Everyone has different style - that’s what makes fashion so fun. But sometimes commenting like a bitch - regardless of the good natured joke at the comment’s heart - can leave the trend setter on the defense no matter how confident they might be.

Whether you’ve shelled out major cash for your outfit or scoured vintage stores to build it, if it’s not jeans and a t-shirt and you’ve made an effort to look semi-stylish you’ll probably elicit colorful comments.

For some, like Britt, it’s easy to ignore the haters. (Ed. note: I didn’t take the line as an insult, but maybe I was supposed to?) For others, like me, insulting my Louboutins is like insulting my [future] offspring. You just don’t go there.

Do you have a fall back comeback to insults? Or are you totally immune?

—CARSON GRIFFITH

Natalie Massenet’s much-anticipated The Outnet finally launched this morning.

The site’s as easy to navigate, though not quite as pretty, as Net-a-Porter and stocks about 200 brands right now. You can search by designer, by category and by percentage off or click on Dress Me where they’ve sorted product by occasion. Also, they’re doing seventy-two hour pop-up sales on rotating items.

There’s a note on the site that Marc Jacobs will be in next week and we’ve spotted some amazing finds like this Derek Lam grecian dress, this cream Zac Posen bag and this awesome Mulberry jacket.

But remember that part about how it wasn’t going to be all recycled Net-a-Porter product? True, we probably spend an inordinate amount of time on the mother site but we’ve seen all of this before, this Chloe dress, these Marc shoes and this 3.1 Phillip Lim shift - all at the exact same prices - except for these sequined Miu Miu’s which are $100 less at Barneys right now.

There’s a gem of a Burberry trench, some beautiful pieces from Nina Ricci and we spy the Louboutin zipper heels. It’ll be swell to have a Net-a-Porter sale year round, but let us know when there’s something we haven’t seen.

To: tips@fashionista.com
From: shoestylista@gmail.com

Hi Britt & Natalie,

I’m a freelance stylist looking to rid of about twenty pairs of shoes. They’re in mint condition, straight from this season’s runways and presentations. There are custom Manolo sandals and booties and Louboutin styles include the Peniche, Miss Golf, Defil, Lapino ankle booties and Rolandos. They range in size from 37.5 to 41.5 and in price from $250 to $375 with the over-the-knee black Manolo boots going for $500.

I’m doing an open to the public sale at my apartment and was wondering if you know anyone who might be interested. They can email me for more information/the address.

Thanks!
ShoeStylista

This is not a joke. That’s her real email address above. Have a blast and hope you run into LSD on the street.

There’s been a mid-season scramble for interns.

As magazines crash and editorial teams fall by the wayside, you might get to do some extra cool stuff as an intern in Lucky’s fashion closet.

So, if you’re motivated, dedicated, obsessed with fashion, hard working, dying to get into the fashion industry/get your hands on the Louboutin for Philip Lim ruffled shoes and learn just how clothes get from designer to magazine, this is the opportunity for you.

You will also steam and invoice and perform general fashion closet intern tasks. They need you from now until mid-May and can, of course, give you school credit if you need it.

Also, as our own personal side note - interning at a major magazine is nothing like Running in Heels would have you think. Being a positive, upbeat, team player is essential to the job.

So, if you can handle that, if you’re dying for that, email luckyfashioncloset[at]gmail.com.

We’ve always been intrigued by Mary-Kate and Ashley’s adamant choice to remain invisible from The Row.

They’ll make public appearances for Elizabeth and James and talk about it in the press, but when it comes to their $300 t-shirt line they didn’t even advertise until this season and they refuse to let themselves be too publicly associated with it.

But the retailers who are determined to sell their line through this recession can’t help but push a little bit of Olsen into the leather jackets and cotton tees. The Spring 09 editorial-like, giant size Barneys catalog was shot by Patrick Demarchelier and stars a string of current top models rocking head to toe runway looks.

On the last page Eniko wears The Row, with cleaned up Olsen hair, over-sized shades, perfectly chunky Louboutin platforms and for extra emphasis, a white paper coffee cup.

The twins might not want to be the face of The Row, they might want their clients to buy their line based on quality and design expertise, but Barneys knows it takes more than that to sell a $550 white v-neck.