I’m not talking about Kate Moss (in fact, dare I say it on Fashionista, I might be over her), but Katie Grand.

She looked fantastic last night, mostly because she looked in need of a good scrub which is quite refreshing from the legions of blow-dried Barbies swooping into London this month.

We spotted her at Dover Street Market’s bash for the launch of the Standard perfume in a frumpy grey coat that looks like it came from a charity shop, clogs (ed. note: Eek!) with gold details, bare legs, messy hair held back with an elastic band topped with a gigantic green cartoon character bobble - and not a stitch of makeup.

But the kicker? An Hermès Black Birkin bag with a giant green dip-dyed raccoon tail hanging from it. Hear that PETA? Animal tails are about to explode.

Score another victory over industry counterfeiters, and the people who sell them. A French court has ruled that eBay must pay 80,000 euros (or around $117,000) to LVMH for allowing fakes of their fragrances to be auctioned on the site.

This summer, LVMH scored a huge victory and has since put eBay on alert, and their lawyers working some major hours on the cases, according to WWD.

But the rulings are still going both ways. The auction site had to pay damages to Hermès, but won a case that stated they weren’t responsible for fake Tiffany & Co merchandise being sold. I guess this could be a product of different courts in different countries but I would hope eBay would at least try to monitor to to the best of their abilities.

Because you can’t stop every phony, but we all know how much it sucks to get your eBay purchase and find out it’s not the real deal. The worst.

Last night, while half the world lived it up at yet another September Issue screening and the rest of us ate cotton candy and danced to The Rumble Strips at Charlotte Ronson’s JC Penney bash, The Daily reported that Jean Paul Gaultier might be stepping down from his role as Creative Director of Hermes.

He’s been running the storied French house since Martin Margiela left in 2003 and done quite the successful job of maintaining Hermes’ status while increasing its high fashion credibility, not to mention profitability. They announced that their second quarter sales were up 12% this year, a good amount, a great amount given the economic climate. And Hermes has a stake in Gaultier’s own line which means the break will probably be amicable, or at least less messy than the recent Cortazar/Ungaro debacle.

So now the fun part, if it’s true and he goes on his way, who will take his spot? In our wildest dreams someone with a purely rock n’ roll aesthetic would take on the classics. Christophe Decarnin? Giles? Chris Kane? We know it’ll never happen, but the imaginary results are awesome.

Don’t get me wrong, New York is the best city in the world as far as I’m concerned. That’s why I had to move back after a couple of years in SoCal. But Los Angeles has things like temperate weather, hiking Runyon and Topanga, ridiculous Mexican food, Coffee Bean, and In-N-Out that I miss on a regular basis.

They also have Jenn Ripley’s Archive Agency - basically a fashion lover’s mecca in the heart of Larchmont Village. Jenn puts together an amazing collection of designer pieces (often exclusive, based on her industry relationships with showrooms, designers, and even factories) that she sells out of her loft. She often holds weekend sales open to anyone, but her most frequent visitors during the week are stylists (personal and wardrobe), professional shoppers and agency types searching for the perfect item for a client.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the times that a number of private collectors are selling off pieces of their Hermes stockpiles at an auction tomorrow in Paris at Artcurial.

We’ve heard about these types of sell-offs happening (very privately) on NYC’s Upper East Side and in Westchester County, but this sounds like the mother lode.

If you’re in Paris and have a few thousand euros to spare, that is. Or $14,000 if you want to snag the raspberry croc Birkin that’s going on the block.

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for a Vicky B sighting, no?

The 37th Annual Lighthouse International sale starts a week from today.

So just in case you planned on shopping this weekend, we’d suggest saving a few bucks for the charity - Jason Wu, Christian Lacroix, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, DVF, Hermes, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Prada, YSL, Zac Posen, and pretty much everyone else has donated to the sale. There’s a Chanel tweed jacket for $150, a wool Stella coat for $350, a $300 Marchesa gown and even a Dior wedding dress.

There are samples, vintage and slightly worn pieces from more recent runways - including Kim Cattrall’s green Jimmy Choos or her gold Valentinos at left.

The sale takes place at 110 East 60th Street between Park and Lex from Thursday, May 14 to Saturday, May 16, 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 17th from 11am to 5pm. A one day pass is only $10, four days is $30 and you can buy tickets here.

Nothing like Chanel for a cause.

YSL’s launching a “new vintage” capsule collection at Barneys next month.

The clothes will be made from fabric recycled from the YSL archives and built into some of their most memorable designs. Does that mean safari jackets made from Yves’ original left over fabrics or a reconstructed le smoking jacket made from pieces he actually sewed?

Not sure, since the above news is buried in this morning’s WWD article on the luxury world’s latest tactics for attracting those customers still willing to drop thousands but unwilling to do so without pampering.

The trick is, according to Robert Burke, “to get traffic that’s not associated with sales.”

So they’re getting personal. Jimmy Choo hosted a party at Tamara Mellon’s house, Hermes launched a traveling photo exhibition (of course, the photographs are of Hermes product) around which they throw intimate shopping parties and Jil Sander threw a fashion show for 250 of its nearest and dearest clients which resulted in solid sales for the week directly after.

Apparently, there’s no limit on how far luxury brands will go to attract even a single new client - though we bet they’d stop short of tattoos.

Central Saint Martins grad Mary Katrantzou showed her collection right after Mark Fast’s.

Her bold prints were inspired by perfume bottles, sometimes abstractedly and sometimes so literally that I could see the Hermes ribbons and the shape of Lancome’s Tresor.

The prints were the easiest thing to notice but the dresses themselves were beautifully made. A long column in black and silver cut down the middle to reveal a panel of sheer grey fabric begged to be walked down a red carpet.

Mary began her career as a jewelry designer and stylist Keegan Singh accessorized the dresses with bold chunky gold and black necklaces and bracelets that were just as covetable as the clothes.

They’re the kind of dresses you can only wear once - but you want to wear them everyday.

One for the stealth shoppers, especially those that prefer to do their damage at home:

We finally just heard about JemznJewels.com, which means we’ve found yet another site to troll between work-related clicks and e-mails. It’s an online consignment site, which just got a makeover after ten years in existence (that’s right, online shopping in ‘98, who knew?).

Available: Kelly bags - like the barely-used red leather one at left - gently used YSL, the Fendi Selleria on sale, etc.

Best part? The random (sometimes Victorian) jewelry thrown in as an extra bit of fun. Because you really have to dream to get through a Tuesday, no?

WWD just announced that Temperley has designed a little apple purse made of napa leather and metallic python, of which only 25 were produced. They’re hoping it creates a bit of buzz for holiday.

But earlier this year, Hermes came out with their own apple purse, this time a candy apple green color on lambskin replete with a little knife, for kicks.

Coincidence? Or does Temperley think their customers don’t shop at Hermes, therefore will never know their $1,000 purse is actually somebody else’s cute idea?

You decide.

Editor’s Note: Brett just pointed out that Missoni also did an apple purse for Spring 05 as part of a fruit scheme.

Ok, we’ve received about 800 e-mails today asking about the status of the Hermes sale, so we dispatched Fashionista friend Rebecca Suhrawardi Austin from Papermag.com, and here’s what she saw:

1. The line is from the middle of the block all the way to Sixth Ave (they’re only letting in a certain number of people at a time) - but, we hear if you walk up like you’re somebody who shouldn’t be waiting in a line, they let you right in.

2. The whole thing is incredibly civilized: dressing rooms, tons of people to clean things up, polite employees, plenty of space to check things out, shelves, etc.

3. The goods are so-so: Don’t expect to find a Birkin - the bags are mostly canvas totes that we’ve never even seen anyone carry. There are hardly any shoes at all, and the clothes are mostly very uptown, very ladylike - think flowery dresses and cashmere sweaters. But at least there’s a wide range of sizes stocked - at this point, anyway - even the teeny-tiny ones.

4. This could actually be a decent place to get some impressive holiday gifts - there are tons of scarves and ties, and the menswear section is practically untouched. But also, there’s tons of china (mugs for $39), bathrobes (but like $342) and even baby booties ($54), if that’s your thing.

5. It might be easy to get in, but the line to pay goes all the way from the front of the space to the back, so that might be a little while.

Ok. And now you know.

Right this very second, Lydia Hearst is in Paris. Not because she’s early for Saturday’s shows, but because she’s the star of the next Hermes lookbook.

This is just another gig in the UESider’s burgeoning modeling career - she’s posed for Escada, Nars, myriad editorials/covers, and she’s even walked a few runways that weren’t Heatherette.

Plus, a zillionaire publishing heiress is probably the best method of targeting-the-audience we’ve seen since Cory Kennedy smirked for Urban Decay.

Maybe they’ll even name a coin purse or something after her.

Morning. Did you know there’s an Hermes sample sale starting tomorrow? About as rare as a baby snow leopard in the open, but yes, it’s true:

Who: Hermes, yes.

What: A sample sale - we doubt there’ll be samples, but we bet there’ll be tons of belts, scarves, shoes, ties and bags, and maybe some actual clothes if you get there on the first day.

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th Street, between Sixth and Seventh, 4th floor.

When: Wed (tomorrow!), 10am - 6pm; Thurs, 10am - 8pm; Fri, 10am - 6pm; Sat, 10am - 6pm, Sun, 10am - 6pm.

Why: (please fill in)

Go.

Guess what, mes petites abeilles, Hermes is hiring interns!

Their fashion closet needs someone right away, but you need to be available 2 - 3 days per week, from 9am to 5:30pm, the entire Fall season.

And here’s another catch - you MUST be able to receive school credit.

So e-mail Katy (who said she thought Fashionista would be the “perfect platform” to look for interns, so please don’t embarrass us with an Odyssey of a cover letter!) at printern2@hermesofparis.com, and maybe if you’re really good they’ll give you a Kelly.

Actually, we doubt it, but maybe if you’re really good, you’ll have a place to work when you graduate!

Bonne chance!

I’ve had a long love affair with Hermès. I love the house’s sense of secret luxury; I love the connections with Grace Kelly and Jane Birkin; and I really love the Hermès tie I stole from my dad years ago because I loved the horses on the label.

What I don’t love however, is Heidi Montag’s recent habit of toting Birkins around LA to prove how much she loves “fash-on”. Nor am I much inclined to smile when I see Pharell’s giant purple crocodile travesty. I mean, don’t we have Gucci for these people?

And yet, I still love Hermès despite myself, specifically the ladylike Constance, and anything with a shot of Jackie O. But every time I see some reality TV actress carrying a perfect beacon of elegance, I die a little inside. I think, “Am I really coveting the same stuff as Audrina?”

So the bigger question is, could you wear something that someone you loathed loves? Could you get over seeing say, Britney, walking around in those Roger Vivier flats you’ve drooled over? Or Megan Fox matching her night gowns with that Bottega Veneta knot clutch you’ve been waiting to buy?

And before you come out with “Oh, that’s ridiculous,” just think of how many names are ruined for you because of that bad college roommate or that mean boy on the playground. Sometimes, it’s about the association.

And so, does that translate to what you wear?

—BRETT KANE

If Hermès said dance, would you?

We obviously would, and so would Juliette Binoche. Well, she is. We just don’t really get why.

WWD says, “Hermès has asked Juliette Binoche to dance. The newly created Hermès foundation has tapped the actress for an upcoming spectacle choreographed by Akram Khan.”

The show will travel around the world’s major capitals throughout the next year to raise money for said foundation. Only, we can’t find the foundation. Hubert Guerrand-Hermès started a foundation for peace twelve years ago - is the new foundation for the arts?

Will Juliette wear looks from Fall ‘08 for her interpretive dancing? If so, we think the paisley prints would be pretty.

Though it’d obviously be best if Gaultier designed an entirely new wardrobe to be auctioned off post dance for the charity.

We’ll see you at the New York show.

We all know men’s accessories can be kind of dull, especially when it comes to watches. So when there’s something new rather than just a stainless steel or brown leather band, I take note.

The neon for men trend that began on the Spring 08 Burberry/Y-3/Moschino runways is now showing up in timepiece form.

Case in point: the bright blue Fred Flare, at left, and Burberry’s new Antarctic collection with three retina-searing color options. Even Hermès (sort of) jumped on the bandwagon by using their bright orange on their Clipper Chrono Diver, which will set you back $3,975.

The thing about a good watch is that it works with every outfit, from a tuxedo to a linen blazer to bermudas. Trouble is, they can get pretty pricey, so girls should be very happy that they can get in on the neon look with just $10 nail polish.

—KYLE HAYES

It’s one thing to say, “Oh, I can totally make that myself!” and another to actually follow through.

We’re constantly planning on making pretty jersey dresses and chunky necklaces for summer, though they rarely come to fruition, but we never planned on DIY’ing our own Kelly bag.

Thankfully, Hermes has made it very easy. You can go on their addictive World of Hermès site - seriously, we’ve spent the past hour watching videos of models in India, coloring in scarves and plotting on how to afford their pretty hair pins - and print out your very own iconic handbag.

Color it in, cut it out, glue it, and just put it on your desk because it’s really very tiny.

It’s like paper dolls - but better.

I really do eat an apple every day.

But I usually just throw it in the depths of my bag and hope it’s still ok when I go searching for it at three in the afternoon.

Hermès doesn’t think that’s a great idea. In fact, they’ve gone so far as to develop a separate purse for my apple.

They’ve just launched a new section on their website called, “Travel the World of Hermès.” You can watch videos, (some awkward but some with very cute boys), read illustrated storybooks and watch the computer add color to a blank silk scarf.

Or you can go straight to the tile with the apple and “mon amour” scrawled on the left. The slideshow displays the granny-smith-apple-green, lambskin apple holder with stainless steel lining. And of course it comes with a horn-handled knife for snack time.

A little apple shoulder purse might be adorable for a twelve-year old’s allowance, but we’re guessing this is just a bit out of an adolescent’s price range… and mine.