Thanks to the magic of television, I’ve seen Rachel Zoe die after Diane von Furstenberg told her “she’d become the woman she’d always wanted to be,” and watched Whitney Port stare blankly as the fashion icon dished out invaluable career and relationship advice. Now, thanks to Teen Vogue’s Fashion University, I’ve heard DVF for myself.

As the program’s keynote speaker, Diane walked out to so many flashbulbs that she had to tell her overly-eager audience to cut it out and listen. Here are some highlights of her lively, inspirational speech.

1. She takes pride in understanding women. Diane believes that clothes should be like close friends: “When you’re standing in front of the closet in the morning, and you feel like shit, you should go for the reliable one that makes you feel good.”

2. She always has a camera with her. Her close-ups of leaves, bark, or anything else she finds beautiful in nature can end up a pattern in one of her collections.

Basshole: We didn’t get to Chuck in person yesterday, but man do we love that pocket square. {Just Jared}

Friend Rate: The girls walked for only 50 euros at Lacroix, as opposed to their normal 1300 or more fee. Well played, ladies. {Imaginary Socialite}

Hackers, Part Deux: This whole Ali Wise situation just gets weirder and weirder. Thank god Chris and Jessica over at Daily Intel are all over it. {Daily Intel}

Lighten Your Load: Those annoyingly large September issues are going to be about 1/3 less large this year. It’s not a good sign, but it is incredibly more convenient for our arms. {WWD}

An Awesome Spectacle: We must have these glasses, like immediately if not sooner. {Garance}

More Coco to Love: A new American trailer for Coco Before Chanel makes us very excited for the September release. It also makes us think about how much we loved Audrey Tatou in Hors de Prix, the last thing we saw her in. {Elle}

We’re #3! Forbes rounds up the most stylish cities in the world. Though we’re guessing Cathy Horyn no longer agrees about their choice for the top spot. {Forbes}

We Cannot Tell a Lie: If we were pregnant, we would totally want to dress like Nicole Richie. {People Stylewatch}

Fashion and tennis have always shared a special bond: Coco Chanel, Lacoste, Anna and Roger.

Today marks the beginning of the most fashionable, in our opinion, of all the Grand Slams - Wimbledon. It must be noted that I am a huge tennis fan and much like Ms. Wintour, I have much affection for Mr. Federer. Though, unfortunately I do not get the chance to frequently jet to his matches.

I look forward to seeing what the people at Nike come up with for him every year for this tournament. It’s always dapper and ultra chic, like this jacket in the picture, though the cardigan sweater from last year might be my favorite.

I simply swoon over the classic gentlemanly touches and the retro feel. It just sums up everything that I think Wimbledon should be sartorially.

Maybe he can throw some advice about subtlety in fashion choices Serena Williams’ way if they cross paths at Centre Court, because we’re a little unsure about the gold pants as well as some of her on-court choices.

Do you prefer the classic look or something a little jazzier on the court? If you like tennis, that is.

We have a question for the brand 5Preview.

And it has nothing to do with the pricing structure of a variation on a men’s white tee, because we could ask the Helmut Langs of the world that same thing.

What we’d really like to know from the company, which we found on IDon’tLikeMondays (we don’t either) is how are you basically plastering Chanel’s logo all over tees and using the Marc by Marc by Marc template and font on others?

There’s nothing sneaky about the interlocking ‘C”s and the recognizable format. And while No.221 isn’t No.5, they do add up. And even Marc’s tees are less than $87.

So they’re basically selling a $10 Canal street knock-off, packaged as a $129 “underground Italian sensation.”

We’re not buying it.

—CARSON GRIFFITH

With a fan base that includes fashion arbiters (Diana Vreeland, Babe Paley and Coco Chanel), royalty (Aga Khan and Princess Diana) and stars (Sarah Jessica Parker, Greta Garbo, Halle Berry), Verdura, the Italian jeweller, has a very “niche” appeal - those with strictly superb taste and the bank account to match.

Yesterday in London, Nico Landrigan, Verdura’s VP, brought over from New York seventy of the jeweller’s most treasured archived pieces to the Obsidian Gallery in a “part exhibit, part sale”, to celebrate the company’s 70th anniversary (the exhibit opens to the public this October). Given what was on display, the security should have been as tight as it was down the street as the Obama’s and Sarkozy’s of the world assembled for the the G20. For the rare buyers (anyone got £50,000 handy?), jaw dropping pieces are available.

For fashion historians and junkies, not only were the jewels exhibited, but also the original, handwritten ledger books from the 40’s, including four items purchased at around $2500 (a grandly sum then) by Mrs. Henry Fonda. Vanity Fair’s Amy Fine Collins once said of the Italian Duke, whose muse was Babe Paley and lover Vogue editor Nicky De Gunzberg: “He is the century’s best jeweller… his designs are not for insecure people and does not appeal to the herd instinct. Women who wear Verdura don’t want to look like every other person wearing their Van Cleef diamond flower pin, their Chanel suit and their Prada bag.” Nuff said.

—CHARLEY B

We almost didn’t get into Zac Posen tonight. Not because we weren’t invited, but because, apparently, Zac Posen has the tightest security ever. You couldn’t even get to the front doors of the Tents without your actual paper invite in hand (which hardly anyone carries around all day), so we, and many other people, ended up at the top of the stairs arguing with a quartet of security guards, trying to explain that if we really were crashers, then we could never get in once inside the lobby anyway (this argument did not work at all).

Instead, we frantically searched our iPhone for the RSVP confirmation, watched actual crashers give up immediately once security asked for the invite, watched actual editors get hassled and freak out, tried calling several people who we thought could be in the Tents and possibly help, before the nicest of the guards secretly let us in on the side. Phew.

When we got to the check-in table, we had to actually produce a photo ID. While fishing through our wallet that won’t even close these days (cab receipts), we had to ask: What’s with the security tonight?” One of the PR girls responded that this show gets exceptionally crashed, with people rushing the doors, bringing last season’s invites, sometimes making invites, and, even worse, using other people’s names. So, understandable. Still, it would be nice if one of those nice girls from inside could have stood on the steps to let in the people that they at least recognize.

Alas, the show goes on: Zac’s Fall 09 opened with the piano-playing sibling quintet, the 5 Browns, and with clothes so sumptuous you’d have thought you were in Rococo times (or, at least, sometime before September). Every single look was totally over the top, especially the coats fit for majesties (or, Andre Leon Talley).

The most annoying part had to be when we looked over at the front row (Rachel Bilson, Claire Danes, Sandra Bernhard), because we finally understood why Zac had more security than a fur convention. But the best part, other than Alek Wek’s surprise spin on the runway, had to be Coco’s: As she made her way to the pit, someone yelled out, “Now there’s a woman!” She cracked a smile and a laugh, and so did everyone else.

We’re pretty split on children in this office. Natalie loves them, Alexandra thinks they’re adorable and Britt thinks they’re obnoxious. We’re kind of sure Brett agrees with Britt, but he’s not here right now.

However, we all love kids’ clothes, especially J.Crew’s crewcuts collection - those kids are better dressed than most adults west of the Atlantic.

We felt the need to explain why we were browsing through the children’s section of J.Crew’s website and how we came across the $248 Ivory Tweed Coco Jacket.

We don’t feel the need to explain why we’re bringing this to your attention. But we would suggest taking note of the catalog description which oh-so-subtly admits that, “this little jacket is a nod to vintage.”

It is indeed. As well as a nod to Karl Lagerfeld and the team of couturiers who continue to produce Coco Chanel’s signature tweeds.

Tangentially, even if you’re disgustingly obsessed with your gorgeous kid, do you honestly buy them a $250 white jacket?

WWD reports a rather fun rumor this morning -

That Audrey Tautou is in talks to replace Nicole Kidman as the new Chanel No.5 commercial girl.

If the story holds true, Jean-Pierre Jeunet will direct Audrey, as he did in Amélie, and we’re sure the whole thing will serve as a sort of pre-commercial to the Coco Chanel biopic, Coco Avant Chanel, Audrey is set to headline.

But will she run around paris in a floaty pink dress?

For whatever reason, we have the feeling this one’s going to involve Audrey staring in the mirror of a beautiful vanity table, but we’ll see…

VogueTV was granted access into the private home of Coco Chanel - and we’re in love.

Check out the video, hosted by Vogue UK’s jewelry editor, Carol Woolton if you want to know:

1. That Chanel kept lion statues in her house

2. That the 2.55 quilted bag was inspired by her sofa

3. What it’s like to listen to a video simultaneously played in French and English

Enjoy!