In conjunction with the launch of the the Project PEP collection we told you about back in June, Jimmy Choo and the Elton John AIDS Foundation are holding a photo competition open to all of you.

The theme of the photos should be “You, Your Shoes, and 72” (and no you don’t have to use Choos in the shots!) Project PEP benefits the Simelela Rape Centre in South Africa with a chunk of the money going toward the HIV-preventative treatment, PEP. The number 72 is significant because that is how many hours rape victims have post-attack to be given the medication.

At the end of August, we wrote an Adventures in Copyright begging Alexander McQueen to do something about Steve Madden’s blatant copies.

Some of you agreed, one commenter asked, “Do you think McQueen cares this much?” To which of course we’d heartily answer yes.

So you can imagine, or try to, how high we jumped for joy when this morning, WWD announced that McQueen’s suing Madden.

The suit, filed in Manhattan October 1, calls Madden’s Seryna bootie a “studied imitation” of McQueen’s Faithful and points out, like we did, that the only detail missing is McQueen’s trademarked skull zipper. In exchange for Madden’s attempts to profit off of the Brit’s “widespread media attention,” they’re asking for an injunction, profits and payment of legal fees.

Now if we could just get Messieurs Blahnik and Louboutin on the case, throw in Tamara Mellon’s attitude, Jessie Randall’s charm and Marc’s spunk, this could be the most fashionable class action lawsuit ever.

We love Rachel Zoe.

What? You didn’t know?

And we’ve been searching for the perfect faux fur vest for some time now. Though they appear to be everywhere, finding the right one is easier said than done. There are lots of options, but I haven’t come across many cute ones for less than a $100 (and let’s face it, this isn’t something I know I’ll want to wear next year). In fact, the best one I’ve found thus far happens to be from Rachel’s collection for QVC - and it’s only $79.

Unfortunately, the smaller sizes are sold out, so I’m kicking myself for not buying it sooner. I was initially worried about the quality of a $79 faux fur vest, but it’s practically gone and dozens of commenters appear to love it.

I wear out my shoes like nobody’s business. This is the curse of New York. You don’t need a car, but you’ll spend a gazillion dollars at Shoe Service Plus, constantly fixing the soles and the taps on the heels that you already spent a chunk of a paycheck on. And then there comes a sad, sad day when perhaps that once gorgeous pair just doesn’t look acceptable anymore and they are retired. Sniff, sniff.

If this has ever happened to you with a pair of Jimmy Choos, this is going to be very good news for you. The company just today unveiled, Choo 24/7, a capsule collection of 28 classic styles, with updated lasts, colors, and finishes. Hooray!

Jimmy Choo’s next up for H&M.

Tamara Mellon is designing shoes and bags for the Swedish mega-store, as well as a full women’s collection for the November launch. The clothing, however, is meant to complement the accessories, not the other way around. They’ll also do a full range for men.

The whole things sounds kind of weird to us. We’re usually thrilled with H&M’s design collaborations and we know girls will scramble to buy something stamped ‘Choo’ - but why not let Jimmy Choo stick to accessories and find another great designer, one who’d love the opportunity, to design a solid clothing collection?

Not that we won’t be there on opening day, it’s just that we’ll probably bypass the clothes for the tallest shoes we can find.

Not that thinking about a pair of Jimmy Choos doesn’t always bring a smile to our faces. But this morning’s report that the company is designing a capsule collection for a good cause made us even happier.

The Project PEP collection is a partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation and will benefit the Simelala Rape Centre in Cape Town where their mission is to get the preventative HIV medication, PEP, to victims of abuse.

A very worthy cause indeed. This is definitely one of those ‘everybody wins’ situations.

There will be totes, sandals, flip flops, clutches, and flats ranging in price from $95-$995. We’re kind of digging that whole collage-y feel.

Angela Lindvall is starring in the campaign, shot by Terry Richardson.

We can’t wait til November.

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.

1. Jimmy Choo and Hunter teamed up to make a pair of faux crocodile Wellies (at left), which will be featured on the last page of April Vogue for Last Look.

2. The Clue (at right) is far and away Jimmy Choo’s best selling shoe. “They are the most popular shoe for us globally. They sell 10 to 1 compared to the other shoes, if not more,” said Jimmy Choo USA President, Brian Henke. We asked what made the $700ish slingbacks so irresistible: “It’s the comfort,” said Brian, “the pitch allows you to walk in them all day.”

3. Tamara Mellon’s designed a line of makeup bags for Fall, which perfectly match the regular bags, possibly resulting in the cheapest clutches Jimmy Choo never intended to make.

4. It is illegal to import python commercially in the state of California.

5. It is totally appropriate to squeal “CHOOS!” in the midst of champagne, mini pieces of toast and the open invitation to try on anything in the store.

And now, we’ll just wonder why we never learned so much in a single day of school.

Jimmy Choo’s in dire need of a PR intern to start immediately.

They need someone at least three days a week from 9am to 6pm. If you’ve interned in fashion PR before, and they’d prefer it if you have, you know the drill. Sample tracking, working with magazines, stylists, celebs (especially since it’s awards season). You also need to have a handle on Excel and PowerPoint, be detail oriented, a team player and obviously have a deep love for all things fashion, shoes and bags especially.

The best part? They’ll give you $10 a day for lunch, cover your subway pass and give you school credit if you need it.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to us. If you can handle it, send your resume to jimmychoo.press@gmail.com and remember - I’m a size 8 (Editor’s Note: Natalie’s a 6!)

Did anyone else notice the curious ads in this Sunday’s Styles Section of the Times?

It starts on page 10: “Jimmy Choo SALE” in a plain white block. Below that: “John Varvatos SALE.”

Page 11: “Bottega Veneta SALE.” [Editor’s Note: Bottega Veneta has sales?!]

Page 12: “Mulberry HOLIDAY SALE, 50% off Select Merchandise.”

And that was when we knew this whole sale thing’s officially jumped down the rabbit hole.

Now go to it (if you can). Because you know being able to say you bought a Knot bag on discount is like being able to say you did a Hail Mary play in the last minute of your High School state football game, and came out a winner.

We think Revlon might be trying to revamp its image.

Not only did they bring on Gucci Westman, former head artistic Lancome honcho famous for her Fashion Week work, earlier this year, but now they’ve brought on Tamara Mellon to the Board of Directors.

The Jimmy Choo founder said she’s happy to leverage her “consumer insights and experience in the luxury fashion business” for Revlon.

So does this mean $30 mascara for a drugstore mainstay?

Maybe. But we’re pretty sure it means Revlon eyeshadow under our seat at Halston…

Quick!

How are these shoes different?

1. Length of ankle strap.

2. Angle of the back part of the shoe that covers your heel (sorry, we’re not cobblers)

3. Color of buckle.

4. Color of that little cap on the heel.

5. Oh, and the insole - One’s Jimmy Choo, $585; the other’s Nine West, $89.

But if either of these stomped past us down Madison? We’d think you were out $600…

“She’s got the Jimmy Choo-oo-woo-oo-woos. She needs the Jimmy Choo-oo-woo-oo-woos…Cheesecake fake baked disco ball.” - From The Jimmy Choo’s, by Chester French.

John Galliano kicked off Couture week in Paris yesterday with a spectacular-as-always show for Dior, while the rest of the world mourned the crashing stock market and slowing economy.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Choo, the British luxury shoe brand, announced that while most retail outlets continue to suffer, their profits reached record highs last year. And last week, WWD reported that 2007 was Chanel’s most profitable couture year ever.

We’ve noticed this trend over the last year, luxury sales growing, or at least not dropping, while the rest of the industry suffers. While analysts often attribute it to the rich getting richer, and being generally unaffected by minor economic trends, we wonder if it has something to do with the recent push to bring luxury to the masses.

We know, or at least hope, that the average fashion fan isn’t saving for a couture gown, but we also know plenty of girls who skip meals for weeks to buy $600 Jimmy Choos, or pay rent late to afford $300 Tom Ford sunglasses, foregoing weeks of retail therapy at mid-range stores in lieu of one major luxury item.

If more people put their money toward a piece of the luxury market, do the levels of retail directly below suffer?

Like free designer handbags? How about four of them?

W Magazine is about to unveil their Spring Bag Sweepstakes.

What’s up for grabs? The Chloe, Dior, Jimmy Choo and Marc Jacobs bags at left.

Head over to their site at noon, when the contest officially begins. All you have to do is fill out your info and sit pretty until March 31 when the winner is announced.

Only one person can win all four bags, so we suggest putting in your name as many times as you can type it without chipping away all your Blue Satin.

Bonne chance! (you’ll need it)…