Dolce & Gabbana’s shooting their Fall 09 campaign at Gleason’s Gym in DUMBO - right now. We never really pictured that hot pink coat in a Brooklyn gym…

Those Balmain shoulders, the sharp eighties silhouette Christophe Decarnin so successfully reinvented last season, popped up on almost every runway, from Behnaz to Topshop, from Herve to Pringle. But a few designers weren’t satisfied with mere shoulder pads and actually ballooned their silks into real life leg-of-mutton sleeves.

Roksanda Ilincic’s silver, almost angular sleeves added an edge to her glamourous pastel shifts while Dolce & Gabbana’s worked in the opposite direction. Their rounded shoulders gave linear dresses womanly curves.

Julien Macdonald’s steroid sleeves are a bit less dramatic but maintain the bubbly upper arm that skinnies at the elbow - because a sleeve of Dolce’s proportions on Macdonald’s already 80’s-loving, zippered, bedazzled mini might be a bit much.

Scarlett Johansson’s rumored to be the new face of Dolce & Gabbana.

She’ll front their Spring 09 campaign, already shot by Mert and Marcus according to Style.com, though for beauty or fashion, no one knows.

Scarlett’s experienced either way. She’s posed for L’Oreal and Louis Vuitton, both of which should prepare her for Stefano and Domenico in case her numerous red carpet Dolce wearing moments weren’t enough.

Tthis puts the celeb count at three this spring with Katie Holmes for Miu Miu and Madonna for Louis Vuitton. The group model shots are at a bajillion and we wonder how either strategy is recession friendly.

Meanwhile, we’re secretly hoping Scarlett makes a cameo on Model.Live, since Cato Van Ee is in D&G’s Spring campaign, too.

She can address the major differences between acting and modeling and tell us how she strikes such a delicate Dolce/Stella balance.

Everyone wore suits to the CFDAs Monday night, but what about the suit’s slouchy sister?

We’re accustomed to Julian Schnabel’s penchant for his wife’s silk pajamas, in fact we don’t know if we’ve ever seen him in anything but.

However, we’re not thrilled with Rachel Roy taking sartorial influence from the artist. The designer wore the grey silk suit at left to a screening of Australia last week and though we understand the need to be comfortable at the movies, we think wearing head to toe silk PJs is kind of inappropriate for an evening function despite their runway presence - especially when said PJs are wrinkled.

We might actually throw a men’s pajama top over a sequin mini and tights, or under a leather jacket for a pop of color, but wearing a silk PJ top and pants together and in public is like wearing any one of the sheer runway dresses from this season, the way the models wore them.

As in, improper unless you’re a man of Julian’s stature lounging under your mandelier smoking a cigar with a glass of scotch.

Are we way off, or would you wear pajamas?

To: tips@fashionista.com
From: billythekid@popfan.com

Dear Fashionistas,

I don’t mean to be a traitor to my generation, but I don’t understand how pop stars get dressed.

I was having my morning Sanka and scrolling through dlisted when I saw this promo pic for Britney’s new album.

It was like, “Woah deja vu!”

Where had I seen that skirt before? Then it hit me like a ton of unread Vogues that the skirt is very similar to Balenciaga F/W 06, (the same collection that gave birth to the Olsens’ favorite platforms). The skirt isn’t an exact replica, but methinks it’s a modest retail version of its crotch-grazing runway cousin.

First Rodarte, now Balenciaga? Am I going insane or have my fashion eyes deceived me? And why are her stylists bringing her old but not vintage pieces when there’s so much new stuff out there to be worn? Dolce & Gabbana’s S/S 09 collection would fit the album’s theme perfectly. I have no other recourse than to bring my questions to the lovely panel at Fashionista. HELP!!

XOXO,

Billy the Kid

Aside from the pajama inspiration at Dolce & Gabbana, there seemed to be something else a little off, like say, the fact that a number of models were missing their pants. We know everybody’s been saying Spring 09’s all about showing your body off, but the lack of bottom garments really takes the cake.

Especially in Milan, hot pants seemed to be Most Popular, winning over skirts / pants / dresses. This is like the bottom version of the bra-top - cool, interesting, but so unlikely to be worn in the streets, we’ll be surprised if these ever hit the racks (outside of the lingerie department).

You could:

1. Wear leggings underneath, or if you’re more prone to the Edie look- sheer to opaque stockings.

2. Wear a longer, butt-covering blazer / vest / sweater over them.

3. Wear it to a beach party (go-go moves not included).

Reasons it may not work: Too many to list.

-ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION