Inspired by Target’s GO Collaborations, Macy’s is creating a men’s private label line called Threads & Heirs that will tap guest designers to bring their work to the department store’s customers.

Durand Guion, Macy’s vice president and men’s fashion director told WWD, “Target has had great success taking higher and more advanced designers to the masses. All of us have been studying this [Target] and looking at what would be the right combinations.”

First up for Spring and Fall 2010, Ruffian’s Brian Wolk and Claude Morais. The boys have obviously been focused on women’s wear as of late, but we, like Macy’s execs, have no doubt they’ll translate their aesthetic nicely into men’s again. Brian said that the collection will Americana by way of Williamsburg-inspired with many layers, striped button downs (with white collars), blazers, classic knit polos, and lots of pocket detailing and pleating.

So, are you interested in another collaboration? Will it translate as well in the men’s market at this more mass level? Time will tell.

We think Ruffian’s show is always such a hit because, a) everyone loves Claude and Brian, b) the boys know how to cast their models and c) they make cute clothes.

This season, the first two held true while the last one fell a bit short.

Their “Les Demoiselles de Ruffian” collection for Spring 2010 was a little bit Louis Vuitton AW09 - watered down - with a dash of military mixed in. There was layered lace, sheer swiss dot blouses and ruched ruffles at the neck, collar, anywhere. Coats featured tails and gold buttons and the last few looks featured that brightly colored Picasso inspired print.

Meanwhile, the hair and make-up were amazing. The girls—Iekeliene, Irina L., Eniko, Liu, Arlenis—positively glowed. And their colorful, slighty rock n’ roll eyes were balanced by soft pulled up hair.

Otherwise, it could’ve been the weather, but the mood on the way out of Exit Art was pretty gloomy.

This week of fashion parties continued with last night’s celebration of Ruffian’s new book, Ruffian Inside Out.

Though the book, written by Style.com’s Executive Editor Nicole Phelps, officially launched in April, we’ve been loving it since their AW09 show in February. Jamie Isaia’s photographs of Brian Wolk and Claude Morais are basically fashion porn.

Thus the party was a celebration not just of the book, but of the talented designers themselves. John Demsey, Group President of Estée Lauder, played host, even offering up his own home for the night and we spotted everyone from Simon Doonan and Rachel Roy to MAC ûber makeup artist James Kaliardos.

MAC has a special relationship with the brand and the book — they created a limited edition, just-for-Fashion-Week, not sold in stores lipstick shade for the Fall 2009 show called Ruffian Red, (which Britt obsessively rocked throughout Fashion month) that they so generously handed out again last night.

I also got a sneak peek at those fabulous Jin Soon-created polishes we mentioned last month and I can tell you, judging by the gorgeous orchid shade I saw, the collection is going to be fantastic.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE