Every year, twice a year, Henri Bendel holds an “open-see” basically a big old open casting call, fashion and beauty style. If you’re looking for your big break (Anna Sui and Todd Oldham got theirs here), the next one is happening this Friday, October 23rd.

Just be prepared to wait in a long-ass line. The buyers will be seeing prospective designers starting at 9 am on a first come, first serve basis, and you must be in line by noon to have a shot.

They are currently looking for merchandise for Spring 2010 in all the categories offered up at the story—from cosmetics and fragrance to bags, belts, hair accessories, and jewelry. Even gift-y items are fair game but leave your men’s and women’s apparel and shoe designs at home.

For more info go here or call 212-904-7992.

Good luck and send us reports from the front lines!

We just got back from lunch with Misha Nonoo and Deborah Lyons, two best friends whose first capsule collection of eight extremely tailored coats and jackets is hitting stores right now. Takashimaya already has Nonoo Lyons pieces on the floor with Intermix (and its website) and Henri Bendel following suit over the next week or so.

The girls are just as lovely as their menswear-inspired pieces. They decided to focus on jackets as they found them to be a staple in their wardrobe, but one that was never just right.

All of the fabrics are classically European, but every piece, down to metalwork details, is produced in Manhattan.

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.

As we’ve all heard, Henri Bendel is going to stop selling clothes and focus only on accessories.

But, it turns out that is not exactly the case.

A friend of Fashionista just told us that at the store has indeed ordered some coats, capelets, and cropped jackets to appear in the store for fall.

Which makes us wonder what other “accessories” we’ll find on our next trip uptown to the land of brown and white stripes?

It was raining yesterday, just in case you haven’t heard, which was super appropriate for Burberry day, just in case you haven’t read.

The party in honor of the lighting of the new Burberry sign was held atop the Palace hotel, otherwise known as home to Chuck Bass. Even we had to walk the white carpet, strolling along behind Julia Roitfeld wearing that white Alexander Wang dress (someone should tell Vogue UK it’s not Burberry). Tallulah Harlech rocked red lipstick while waiting for the elevator with Glenn O’Brien and Bendel’s former fashion staff.

We’d been handed a Burberry card at the entrance and showed it at the foot of the stairs, in the elevator, outside the elevator, to walk up the stairs, and finally to enter the penthouse where Alexa Chung dj’d in the same grey shift Hilary Rhoda wore - but with a vintage belt and chunky boots, of course. The band on stage, One Night Only, looked like they stepped out of a Burberry ad (complete with red guitar) especially with Lily Donaldson and Hugh Dancy standing stageside.

That’s about when we got trampled by Orlando Bloom and a ridiculously handsome hockey player who was not Sean Avery, which was also when they ran out of champagne and we ran home to finish Say Anything.

Even beauty brands are taking on “inner beauty” lately.

A growing number of companies have started to explore “nutraceuticals” - water that will clear up your acne, supplements for supermodel-shiny hair - even Henri Bendel is jumping on the bandwagon. They’ve just unveiled a sleek new space to showcase their exclusive partnership with the upscale supplement brand FunctionaLab.

I’m nothing if not cynical of the beauty supplement trend, but I have to say I was impressed by the professionalism of the brand. Instead of a one-product-fits-all approach, FunctionaLab launched with hundreds of lab-tested and health-concern specific nutritional supplements. From customized programs to antioxidant-boosted elixirs, all are aimed at enhancing outer beauty through inner health.

If you, like us, are getting impatient with summer’s arrival, these upcoming makeover freebies might help put some warm weather pep in your step.

Starting tomorrow and running until Monday, Nars is offering free mini makeovers at Henri Bendel. They’re busting out their just-launched summer color collection and will help you create a new look. The shimmery teal Tropic Single eyeshadow is definitely worth trying out - even if you normally shy away from brightly colored eye makeup. You’ll also get a free sample of Nars foundation with your consultation. Makeovers are by appointment only - call Bendel’s at 212-904-7954 to schedule yours.

And if you’d rather take a hands on approach to learning the art of makeup application, YSL’s Artistic Advisor Val Garland is teaching a master class at Saks on April 23. The class costs $50 but the fee’s redeemable in product.

If not, Garland will conduct one-on-one appointments from 10am to 7pm that same day. Call 212-940-2156 to book.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

It’s always fascinating to go to various shows in the same location. If I hadn’t walked in the same entrance, I’d never have believed Coventry debuted their fall 09 collection in the same theatre as Rag & Bone.

Matthew Terry’s clothes might’ve been presented to a smaller audience but they were still a hit. He layered sheer lightweight knits under Ralph Lauren-y jackets. There was a beautifully stitched strapless tweed dress with an almost cable knit bust, tight pencil skirts, lace blouses and high-waisted knit pants - all in a neutral palette.

The clothes were grown up and sexy but the light cashmere knit made them look super comfortable. We’d even wear a couple of the men’s cardigans, which we should be able to do come fall if the smiling, nodding heads from buyers - especially Bendel’s and Odin - were any indication.

Meanwhile, we might’ve spent too much time contemplating the randomness of the front row which sat, in order, Leigh Lezark, Sam Endicott of The Bravery and Mrs. Pete Campbell from Mad Men. Because what, really, is the probability of any of them wearing this collection?

Somewhere in fantasy world, Blair Waldorf is gasping for air.

Eric Daman, Gossip Girl’s stylist extraordinare, has taken on a side project. He’s the new consulting creative director for San Diego-based mall staple Charlotte Russe.

The retailer’s having some financial difficulties (surprise!), but instead of panicking they’re throwing all of their weight into tightening their brand strategy and targeting a slightly wider market, sixteen to twenty-nine year olds.

Daman was brought in by their new president, who happens to be a Barneys vet, to help transform the stores into something more Bendel’s than Forever 21. If anyone can do that with Charlotte Russe product, it’s probably Daman who must have a teenage girl’s brain tucked into his own.

“The idea is to make girls feel better about shopping at the mall,” he says. Does this mean we’ll finally have to go to the Manhattan Mall?

Something for your econ notes:

Henri Bendel’s jumped on the accessories bandwagon, rolling out several accessories-based stores in Ohio, California and Florida.

The mini-stores sell nothing but accessories, all Bendel-branded. Think, that Bendel mug beauty event invitation from earlier this year, except, you pay for it.

Fun.

Ever dreamed of the day when buying one of your favorite designers’ bags actually helped to make the world a better place?

Well, thanks to Glamour, this day has come. The magazine, through their Fashion Gives Back program, has asked Doo.Ri, Loeffler Randall, Subversive, Band of Outsiders, Chris Benz, and 3.1 Phillip Lim to each design a unique tote bag made of 100% organic cotton, and of course the best part is, 75% of all profits will go to Global Green USA.

We can’t imagine a better way to give to charity than by treating ourselves to a new book bag. And can you think of a cuter way to pick out your lettuce than with Phillip Lim’s kissy face? And I believe Band of Outsiders’ design is actually based on the inside of my purse, hair clips and all.

If this sounds like the cutest route to philanthropy, head to Henri Bendel some time tomorrow or this week - we have a feeling these will sell out quick!

—HAYLEY PHELAN

This just in from out and about:

Henri Bendel is going fur free!

We’d expand a little more, but we’re about to be late to Alexander Wang’s show -

Back soon!

Yesterday, an invitation came into our hands from YSL Beaute.

It celebrates the upcoming partnership between Gossip Girl and Henri Bendel (Faran has more details on that over at NYLON), but it also has something rather ridiculous:

An RSVP line that states:

“Please reply by August 20th, ASAFP!”

At first we thought it was a typo, and then we realized - oh no. It’s really a take on OMFG, the infamous (and rarely printable) catchphrase harnessed by the evil geniuses at Gossip Girl for their recent and hell-raising ad campaign. And a scary indication that GG’s trendsetting seeps far beyond their headbands and high heels, and into the language of youth culture as we know it.

Our first response: ONTFD!

Our second response: ROTFFL!

Translate at your leisure.

Those shopping uptown this week may notice something cool:

Giant stacks of the new ELLE Accessories magazine lining the walls and the windows.

And upstairs at H.B., there’s even more -

All of the accessories - scarves, bangles, shades - are laid out on giant white trays with black block lettering that mirrors the ELLE Accessories layout.

It’s incredibly clever - you’re literally shopping the magazine - and also points to the changing relationship between magazines and retailers. With recession fears and online shopping encroaching on big fashion boutiques like Henri Bendel, it seems the two establishments of women’s fashion need each other more than ever. But whether it’ll convince you to buy $80 bangles is another question.

Personally, we’d love to see ELLE Accessories open a freestanding store of their own, curated by their editors - we’d wear anything that Kate Lanphear picked out!

If you live in New York, you might have already passed the Henri Bendel windows announcing their exclusive relaunch of Members Only.

Yes, we really do mean the brand whose swooshy, zippered jackets monopolized outerwear in the 80’s and now reside in fraternity house costume closets.

Apparently, they’re making a high fashion comeback, starting at Bendel’s but soon to be available at boutiques like Fred Segal and Scoop across the country.

Or, if more convenient, at your local Forever 21.

It usually takes the chain at least a month to hang designer rip-offs from their racks, but their imitation Members Only jacket was available at least a week before the real ones hit shelves.

Or maybe we should say twenty-five years after?

Take a shot - which above is the original?

Like every other beauty obsessed editor in the city, we hit up the Bendel’s Beauty Breakfast this morning, and it was totally worth it.

The big news:

-Laura Mercier is opening a lash bar (think Shu), only at Bendel’s, the second week in February. (Britt, at press time, is applying her new pair in the bathroom.)

-Makeup artist extraordinaire Mally Roncal is selling the amazing sheer red lipstick she originally created for Zooey Deschanel.

-And Le Métier de Beauté is coming out with a liquid liner pen that works exactly like a fine-point Sharpie.

But our favorite part of the morning? When colorist Katrina from Giella overheard our nail polish woes (we’ve been trying to find the perfect shade of bright orange,) and mixed the exact shade we had in mind right on the spot - much like the Fashionista lip gloss they made for us last year.

It might be a little pricey ($25 a bottle!) but we think it’s worth it - especially for getting certain wait-list/only-sold-in-Europe shades, or even for tweaking colors you love but clash with your skin tone.

It was the most well-rounded breakfast we’ve had in a while.