There are many reasons we really want to go to Art Basel in Miami. From (of course) the art to the beyond chic crowd and parties. And just the general fun one can have in sunny Miami because you know, “Miami, Miami, you’ve got style. Blue skies, sunshine, white sand by the mile…” (If you get that reference, we’re pretty much automatically friends.)

But I digress. We just learned about another cool thing that will be at the upcoming Art Basel: a super swanky vending machine at the Mondrian Hotel filled with special edition goodies curated by Interview magazine.

Inside you’ll find this Pringle of Scotland t-shirt (pictured) designed by artist David Shrigley, hand-drawn Vena Cava shoes, art from the Gossip Girl set, old archival issues of Interview, and even an out-of-print copy of the Fabien Baron art directed Madonna Sex book.

So much better than the Doritos and Snickers you usually find in a vending machine.

Louis Vuitton’s re-thinking what exactly its customers aspire to.

On the one hand, Lara Stone’s replacing Madonna as the face of the brand. Madonna’s given Vuitton all the publicity she possibly can and Lara, French Vogue favorite, re-instills a high fashion edge; rotating both pop and fashion stars keeps both audiences interested. Steven Meisel will stay behind the camera.

Meanwhile, Vuitton’s sunglasses ads should make an impression on an even younger, slightly hipper customer. André Saraiva, the graffiti artist and man behind Beatrice, Le Baron etc, shot a group of kids including the Ronsons’ little sister Annabelle Dexter Jones and the not-so-child-like Olivier Zahm at New York’s Standard Hotel.

WWD says he’ll continue shooting the cool kids and their “party-all-night vibe”

We’re kind of obsessing over these shots of Natalia from the upcoming issue of V, shot by Hedi Slimane and styled by Nicola Formichetti (who also did that awesome Gaga video we put up the other day.)

One, because we never tire of Ms.Vodianova. Two, because we love pretty much everything that Hedi shoots. Three, the gold eye makeup. And four, we’re suckers for music references mixed with couture.

Here’s what we’ve come up with so far: the last shot is oh-so very Madonna “Like A Virgin” both the video and the classic VMA performance. In the middle spread, we’re feeling a little Brit Brit nude bodysuit circa that rockin’ “Oops I Did It Again” at the 2000 VMAs while we’re getting Grace Jones vibes from the one on the right.

But we’re a bit stymied as to the opening spread shot. What do you think??? (Oh and be warned there’s a little bit of nipple action.)

Raise your hand if you think Gisele is gorgeous. How about Adriana Lima, the Fernandas and Madonna’s Jesus? Yeah, we pretty much agree that Brazil has bestowed upon us some of the world’s most beautiful people.

So when a friend emailed us this link this morning, we found the recent study cited rather curious. According to this, Brazilians and Americans view physical beauty differently. Researchers pointed to feature position and culture as the culprit in this varying POV. Interesting, as of course cultural differences have always played a part in views on beauty.

But how does that explain the global unanimity on the aforementioned beautiful ones? Our guess: Fashion and all its trappings is its own very stand-alone culture. Just refer back to that quote of the day from this morning.

photo courtesy The SartorialistA Friend In Need: Which is better? Adrien Grenier on the Sartorialist? Or Adrien Grenier labeled ‘Friend’? Either way, the combination of that face and Scott’s camera is fantastic. {Sartorialist}

Teenage Wasteland: We would have paid so very much money to witness one Madonna’s early (as in childhood) performances of “Baba O’Riley”, complete with midriff top and body paint—so very SS10. {RollingStone}

Wannabe: So it’s not exactly hard-core fashion news, but we like to include all things that sort of involve a Beckham, which this does. There may be a Spice Girls musical in the works. To which we say, hell yes. And zigazig ha. {JustJared}

Chicest in All the Land: We definitely can’t argue with Inès de la Fressange being named the most chic woman in France. Oh, to live in a country where Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is at number five. Sigh. {Telegraph}

The other day I watched Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, a cheeky, cult movie about a girl band written by—wait for it—Roger Ebert.

The story is silly and the cast earned master degrees in schmacting. But it’s a classic for a reason—the costumes are amazing, the makeup is pure perfection and the hair is beyond refreshing. After years of stringy and over-dyed, limp extensions, it was actually inspirational to see overdone bouffants with some serious lift at the roots. It seems like I’m not alone. Madonna’s hair has been getting higher and higher lately as has Janet’s and my fave Spanish actress Penelope (see the video below) always rocks enviably high, sexy hair.

Kids’ Stuff: You can’t really argue with the fact that little ones look extra cute while wearing designer clothes. Unnecessary? Sure. But still adorable. Especially when said clothes are made by the lovely Stella McCartney. {W}

A Belated Happy Birthday: Mr. Mickey got serenaded by a pretty chic group for his bday this weekend…um, Madonna anyone? And Penelope Cruz, and Beth Ditto, and Pedro Almodovar. Well played, friend! {FWD}

Joanie Got Married: Okay, so this isn’t exactly fashion-related (though the dress looks amazing), but our favorite Mad Men redhead, Christina Hendricks got married and we love her so much we had to post something. Let’s hope her new husband is more of a stand-up guy than that wuss that her alter-ego married. {Just Jared}

Beauty Mark the Calendar: Crazy talented makeup artist Dick Page is coming to town, the Shiseido counter at Bloomies to be exact, on October 21st. We highly suggest making an appearance. {Beauty Counter}

SNL’s Deep House Dish may have been creating a mock rivalry between ultimate icon Madonna and current talk-of-every-town GaGa, but the sketch did illustrate that there are a few requirements to being a dominating diva.

Here, four of the key elements that led to these two conquering the charts and the monde of mode:

1. Eschew pants, of course. After dedicating unlimited hours to yoga, Pilates and the Anderson Method, assets must be placed front and center.

2. Become a blonde. Both Gaga (nee Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) and Madge (born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone) ditched their brunette roots years ago.

3. Lash Out. Overdone eyes are de rigueur for aspiring performers. Rumors of Madonna sporting mink lashes by Shu Uemura on her R-Invention tour spawned the company’s new Luxe line, a synthetic version featuring criss-crossed strands for a more dramatic effect. Or try applying the individual Make Up For Ever to create a customized look. And the only-at-Sephora fiber-infused Fiberwig mascara promises fluttering—and lengthened—lashes without the hassle of glue.

4. Bestie up with MJ. Duh.

Stam Does Shrimpton: Everything about this shoot for Numero Korea is spot-on 60s perfection. That hair is a-maz-ing. {Models.com}

Madge’s New Girl: I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that when Madonna picks one of your dresses to wear to a Marc Jacobs show, you’re having a pretty awesome moment. Even if you have to hear about it through Facebook, like Caroline Seikaly. {Vogue Daily}

Game Night: Britain’s facing a bit of a housing crisis. To raise money 52 creative types like Damien Hirst, Vivienne Westwood, and David Bailey designed a deck of cards to support Shelter’s House of Cards campaign. Do good and play Hold ‘Em at the same time. Sounds like a plan to us. {Guardian UK}

If you have to wake up at 8am on a Sunday morning, severely jet-lagged and having worked more than two weeks straight, you want to see a collection like Louise Goldin’s.

The Central St. Martin’s grad and knitwear genius sent out a parade of candy colored outfits with mini-Madonna circa Gaultier bullet bras under lightweight sweaters and wrapped tulle with mini skirts and fanned dresses. There were knit jumpsuits with gold glitter. She stuck what looked like rollers under the shoulders of vests and jackets to give a different kind of volume. Models wore leather shorts and lace and sparkles and studs and quilted trim and cropped sweaters and spectacular crystal embroidered leggings and still somehow, it avoided looking over the top.

I’ve seen a terrifying amount of crop tops in the past couple of weeks, but this is the first time I’ve thought that maybe, just maybe, it’d be worth joining a gym for spring. As for bullet bras? Count me in.

Anna’s bodyguard earned his keep yesterday at Michael Kors keeping the throngs of photographers swarming Michael Douglas (yep that Michael Douglas, sans Catherine Zeta Jones) from getting to the EIC and Grace. But eventually she got irritated enough to move to the second row until just before the show started.

Michael always puts on one of the most fun (and biggest - 67 looks!) shows of the week and he definitely stayed true to form with a soundtrack that started Gaga then mixed in Madonna before going back to our Lady of the week. “Poker Face” pretty much always gets me going, even on a gray morning nearing the end of Fashion Week.

The clothes gave me a boost too. Clear plastic panels on dresses! Major bubble necklaces! Metallic pants and shorts! Seafoam galore! Zippers! Delicious spring sweaters!

And as Britt so aptly said, a finale dress (pictured above) “that will be on Heidi Klum in 2.5 seconds.”

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

I got to Marc at 7:45 - the earliest I’ve ever been in my entire life.

There was a line for ticket holders and a line for not ticket holders. I’m not sure what happened to the latter because my ticket was turned over, flipped upside down and the beefy security guard even read the serial number. Once inside the boiling hot white box I was told a) the girls were painted white and b) Lady Gaga was definitely coming.

I stationed myself behind Katie Grand, Juergen Teller and Jefferson Hack (down the row from Rachel Zoe and across from Anna and Bee) and soaked in all their British (and I guess German) brilliance. At 8:03, Perez Hilton was still by his lonesome and the two conspicuously empty seats were filled with Madonna and Jesus. PR’s panicked, “Lorenzo swore he’d take care of it!”

Iris Strubegger opened in a charcoal coat belted over something cream with a very white face and very Geisha shoes. Ruffles followed on suits, dresses, skirts, bags, scrunchies, they came in tulle and wool and cotton and anything else. Karlie wore a military coat, Stam rocked a black cut-out jacket and Vlada had her bra on the outside. The show ended with a series of beautiful dresses, hand beaded white over nude tulle and cream ruffles edged in black all over slightly loose nude mesh leggings.

Lorenzo and Gaga did show up about twenty looks in. Photographers went nuts, do we photograph the clothes? Madonna? Gaga?

Clothes please.

Going to the Chapel: Congratulations to Milla Jovovich and new husband Paul W.S Anderson. She wore Temperley London for the ceremony and a mini dress she designed for the reception. And of course, she looked gorgeous. {Blasblog}

Were You Wondering: Brad Goreski, Rachel Zoe’s second assistant and the only boy of the threesome talks about the second season of The Project. {Valet}

A Stylist’s Stylist: ‘‘Accessorize when you can’t fit the clothes,” says crazy talented Arianne Phillips. You know, the woman Madonna and pretty much every major film studio goes to for their costuming needs. {T}

Quartered Covers: Not that we don’t love all of V’s covers, or that we’re not feeling LOVE’s double covers, but the four covers of September’s Another Magazine are exquisite. And if all those girls show up to their Fashion Week party, well Marc & Gaga might have some competition. {DailyFeed}

You gotta love a day when you get to namecheck Candy Pratts Price, not once, but twice.

The Style.com Fashion Director is co-chairing a major charity event in the Hamptons on August 15th for the Ellen P. Hermanson Breast Health Center at Southampton Hospital. Stella McCartney, Daphne Guinness, Steven Klein and André Balazs are also on the invite.

The cheapest tickets are $250 which isn’t all that crazy for a New York charity party. But, of course, you’ll need to be in the Hamptons.

Not to fear, there’s another awesome component: an online auction going on now until August 25th.

“Every day I become more myself and more confident about showing my natural behaviors. I did a video recently, the ‘Vulture’ video, where I’m naked in a jock strap and I’m just becoming more myself for a moment, you know?…Any of these people who are made out to be provocative—like Madonna or Britney or Lady Gaga— they’re just showing the world what a natural human being is. They’re showing the secret parts of being human, not the freaky parts. People think that being provocative is being freaky, but a lot of the time the most provocative thing is when you’re a natural human.” —Fashion obsessed Brit singer Patrick Wolf in a quick conversation with W. We love a man who’s been obsessed with Vivienne Westwood since he was 11.

Kelly Osbourne used to be the punk princess.

We all remember the pink hair, heavy make-up and lots and lots of black (this princess was, after all, the daughter of the Prince of Darkness).

I was in middle school (ed note from Abby: I just fell off my chair while reading that phrase from my lovely intern. Holy crap am I old!) when she covered Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach and am not ashamed to say that I danced to it in friends’ rooms and at school dances.

We liked that she wasn’t some twiglet and embraced her and all her many quirks, both style and otherwise.

Through His Lens: “I was in bed with Charlotte Rampling. I felt like the king of the castle.” Indeed, Juergen Teller. Indeed. {The Independent}

A Softer, Smoother Madge: More shots from Madonna’s LV campaign have hit the interwebs. And they’re just as crazily retouched as the first one we saw. {Catwalk Queen}

Ads, Ads, and More Ads: Campaign shots abound over at Modelinia and it’s making us feel the need for a trip to the country. {Modelinia}

Tommy Wants To Rule the World: We love the fashion paparazzi shots on Jak & Jil. We also love Tommy Ton’s taste in music. {DazedDigital}

So once I got over my line of Olsen questioning I finally got down to business.

If there’s a common thread among the people I’ve interviewed, it’s their nostalgia for a time when talent was enough, when you worked hard and made your way up the chain to the ridiculously successful place in which they all sit now instead of these days when everyone wants a piece of the industry and who you know becomes more important than what you know.

In Part II, we talk about how Rolando ended up at Bumble & bumble, Fashion Week work versus editorial work, being on a plane with Charlie’s Angels and his Madonna moment - because really, everyone has one.

Across the pond today, Angels The Costumiers are putting up a bevy of costumes from films and television shows at the Bonhams Knightsbridge auction house in London.

The goods include a bullfighter style jacket Johnny Depp wore in The Man Who Cried, and a jumpsuit from the Bond film Moonraker.

How we’d feel about owning something that Johnny Depp once wore aside, we’re now making mental lists of which movie’s costumes we would bid on.

For me, it would definitely be Audrey Hepburn’s dresses and dress suits from Charade, crazy eighties getups from Parker Posey in Party Girl and Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan, and in my ultimate fantasy, Kirsten Dunst’s queenly gowns from Marie Antoinette. Britt’s with me on Marie Antoinette and would also kill for Julianne Moore’s wardrobe from Boogie Nights and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s from Secretary. Abby loves the clothes from either version of The Thomas Crown Affair worn fabulously by Faye Dunaway and Rene Russo, along with some of Gwyneth’s pieces from The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Whose wardrobe is on your wish list?

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE