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.

Things kicked off at the tents this morning with the 9 am Michael Angel show. I was tired, obvs, and frustrated that I didn’t have my Daily to read while I waited for the show to start (they were all kinds of late getting to Bryant Park!) But I soon got over it.

Lauren Santo Domingo, Derek Blasberg, Julia Stegner, Julie Gilhart, and Linda Fargo were all settled in the front row as a parade of prints and sequins trotted down the runway, giving me a much needed jolt. (Seriously, can’t Diet Coke become a sponsor? I don’t drink coffee so that McCafe situation does nothing for me.)

But I digress. The detail work on the clothes was especially impressive on the Swarovski bedecked flesh-colored long sleeved top that Iekeliene rocked. And the peep toe Manolo booties were to die for.

Equally obsession-inducing, in my book, were the bright colored Alexis Bittar baubles. Those earrings have me seriously considering piercing my ears…yet again.

After you have given away few pairs of shoes away, you may want to check out this footwear-charity collaboration.

While Abby is considering forgoing her Havaianas to save her feet, some big names in fashion have created their own versions of the summertime staple.

The sandals are to be auctioned off to benefit charity CLIC Sargent, a charity giving money to young people who have cancer, and their families.

Naomi Campbell, Manolo Blahnik, Matthew Williamson, and Lulu Guinnness (pictured) are just a few of the people adding their special touches (or in Naomi’s case, heels) to these flip flops.

Havaianas is no stranger to a collaboration. In 2004 the company partnered with H.Stern to create a diamond encrusted pair. And while we love diamonds, we love Issa’s polka-dotted pair more!

The shoes are hitting Selfridges window displays on June 15, and will be available for auction on June 26, but for now you can check them out online.

Is it sad that we are checking the cost of flights to London right now so we can check them out in person?

—MELISSA ELLIOTT

Major magazines have major closets - one filled with shoes, one with bags, one with clothes and one positively overflowing with beauty products.

Those beauty products get cleared out with major sales, up to four times a year with the proceeds going to charity, and I used to run them. I’d get an almost sick thrill from watching which items the editorial staff attacked. It could be the ugliest shade of bright orange lipstick, but if NARS ran its way down the side in bright white letters or interlocking C’s sat at the bottom, I’d place all my money on a Manolo beat-down.

The interns and I watched with eyes agog as usually composed women dived across tables for YSL foundation two shades darker than their skin, while less expensive but still amazing brands languished on the table.

Sure, everyone has their favorite brand, but there’s a fine line between brand loyalty and snobbery. I may be addicted to Kiehl’s, but I won’t ignore the recently launched Olay products on my desk. In fact, some of my favorite new products come straight from Duane Reade: Bioré Skin Preservation, L’Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara and Aveeno’s Nourish shampoos and conditioners.

There are plenty of brands that have earned their reputations by producing both efficacious and innovative products, there are also a lot of brands that create less than great products that ride the fashionable celebrities-love-it wave which defeats the purpose of any product.

When you’re shopping for products is it about the brand or do you actually research the product behind the label? Furthermore, are you loyal to one company or is your medicine cabinet home to every brand under the sun?

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

To: tips@fashionista.com
From: shoestylista@gmail.com

Hi Britt & Natalie,

I’m a freelance stylist looking to rid of about twenty pairs of shoes. They’re in mint condition, straight from this season’s runways and presentations. There are custom Manolo sandals and booties and Louboutin styles include the Peniche, Miss Golf, Defil, Lapino ankle booties and Rolandos. They range in size from 37.5 to 41.5 and in price from $250 to $375 with the over-the-knee black Manolo boots going for $500.

I’m doing an open to the public sale at my apartment and was wondering if you know anyone who might be interested. They can email me for more information/the address.

Thanks!
ShoeStylista

This is not a joke. That’s her real email address above. Have a blast and hope you run into LSD on the street.

The first person I saw while climbing the stairs to the Band of Outsiders presentation was Garance Dore (she’s like the female Scott Schuman, basically). Then, I saw Glenn O’Brien, Editorial Director of Interview, and Lauren Santo Domingo, and realized that Band has somehow upped its buzz in the past couple seasons.

And it’s understandable. The clothes are both precious and wearable, a balance everybody wants but few designers seem to get, and the collaboration with Manolo Blahnik for shoes was incredible - think boxing sneakers manipulated into open-toe stilettos that actually work, especially with thick, cable knit socks.

Of course, it was hard to pay attention to the adorable presentation - models posed in fake telephone booths, on bare mattresses, with a rope ladder leading to nowhere, etc - with Kanye West quietly perusing the space with a relentless reporter shadowing his every move (this guy even waited for him when he tried to cut off the conversation by using the restroom).

But we guess it isn’t a Band of Outsiders presentation without some kind of celebrity presence.

Obviously, the recession is on everybody’s minds, and obviously, most talk here at the Fashionista offices usually turn to shoes. So here’s a thought we had this afternoon:

If one good thing comes out of this economic crisis, it could be the deafening pop of the what we’re calling the Shoe Price Bubble. Picture it:

Constant sales lead to constantly lowering prices. Constantly lowering prices could lead to stores beginning with more reasonable prices rather than suffering through crawling profits and an embarrassing stream of sales. Price adjustments could lead to stores pricing strategically, in order to get the most customers, which could ultimately lead to the general price of what we all know are stratospherically over-priced goods plummeting back down to a normal range of say, $400 for designer shoes, rather than $1,000+.

Because as it is right now, we’re living in a world where hundreds of extra dollars can be slapped onto something as some kind of name-association fee. But if brands want to survive, it’s getting to a point where everybody has to throw their hands up and just admit they’re marking things (and by “things,” we’re specifically pointing towards shoes, bags and denim) up because they can, and because nothing’s stopped then.

Until now. Do you think prices could start much lower for this Spring’s wares? Or could store’s conservative ordering keep the supply - and prices - as high as they’ve been?

If we didn’t love our own grandfather, we’d want Manolo Blahnik to take his place.

He sat down with China Chow to talk shoes, of course, at his favorite LA diner. He goes there because he loves the french fries and is obsessed with milkshakes.

In fact, by the time this video starts, he’s on his second because he doesn’t “care about his body”, which makes us love him even more.

He talks crazy fans and crazy shoes, all the while rocking a crazy polka dot bow-tie.

At the end, we kind of want to hug him, and we kind of want to go buy shoes.

What do you get when people from MTV, Sears and High School Musical join forces?

They say, “summer blockbuster”. We say, longest commercial ever.

The American Mall, the network’s new musical, centers around a Utah mall that’s “a home away from home for teens everywhere”. High school kids work in the mall, shop at Sears, wear clothes from Sears, carry bags from Sears and just really love Sears. And, just in case you don’t get it, there will be co-branded commercials during the TV movie that tell you to shop at Sears.

The actors, playing the kids who love Sears, will also appear in Sears’ online ‘lookbooks’ and at screenings across the country to promote Sears.

Sears hopes to set the tone for back to school shopping by making kids all over the country ask their moms to take them to Sears.

It actually kind of sounds like what Sex and the City did for brands like Manolo and Dolce minus the teensiest bit of subtlety.

We’ve often heard guys lament that they have so many less fashion options than their girlier counterparts.

To be honest, we don’t think this particular injustice will ever change, but it looks like at least one designer is trying his hardest-

Manolo Blahnik is designing shoes for men!

The L.A. Times got a sneak peek of a few pairs, at left. Needless to say, we’re hoping these are the most flamboyant of the bunch.

It’s clear that guys have painfully few options when it comes to high-quality and fashionable footwear. And while we like the idea of more off-beat shoe options for our boyfriends, we’re not so into open-toe, suede slingbacks (for them) either.

Incidentally, if the leopard print sandals come in a mens’ size 6, we might be willing to shop the collection…

What’s a guy to do?

—ALISON COOL