I’ve never really been a puffy vest kind of girl, but after flipping through this month’s J.Crew catalog about a million times and reading about Pharrel’s Bionic vest for Moncler, I suddenly need one.

The musician’s designed a special collection for the luxury puffer brand. His vests and jackets come in black, all black and only black, including one vest in particular he’s billed as a bullet proof vest for pacifists. Inside, the jackets and vests are printed with images - mostly of nature after dark - by Japanese artist Keita Sugiura.

The range will drop in Fall 2010, no word on price points or stockists yet. But every piece uses fabric from Bionic, Pharrell’s three-year-old company that makes yarn from recycled plastic bottles.

If I’m venturing into puffer territory I’ll probably stick with something more like this, though between Pharrell and Giambattista Valli the idea of fancy down outerwear’s growing on me.

A Fashion Veneta: Booth Moore’s in Milan, well actually everyone’s in Milan, for Men’s Fashion Week. She caught the Bottega Veneta show on camera. Will purple ever not be in for men? {LATimes}

Surprise, Surprise: Look who’s on the cover of Teen Vogue. Emma Watson, looking like we do in our wildest dreams and saying, like they all do, “I want to be normal.” {TeenVogue}

Say It’s So: Gap’s bringing back their Heaven and Dream fragrances, the latter of which throws me back to my 8th grade locker, Third Eye Blind, Doc Martens and tiny floral dresses. {BeautyAddict}

With every designer from Roland Mouret to Carlos Miele entering the menswear market, you’d assume it’s one area that’s seemingly recession proof, or at least suffering on a smaller scale.

It looks like that may not be the case. If Men’s Vogue going under wasn’t the first indication of trouble on the menswear home front then Thom Browne might be the perfect warning to those considering suiting up the boys in the near future.

Browne’s known for his too-cool-for-school designs - outfits that look like you picked them up off your bedroom floor and suits practically built around bow-ties. But apparently investors just realized said suits cost about $5,000 a pop and they’re not holding their own on the rack. Which means canceled orders for Spring and Fall from small boutiques to big department stores and the possibility of bankruptcy.

It’s a bit of a surprise for two reasons:

1. Thom Browne has quickly become the fashion world’s sweetheart.
2. His multi-million dollar partnerships with Harry Winston, Moncler and Brooks Brother continue into 2011.

With that much established success and future potential, how could anyone not be surprised he’s flailing? Is this an omen for all the designers we previously assumed could ride this out and a warning to those trying to expand?

-CARSON GRIFFITH

Reader Josh pointed out this jacket from Sean John (at right) to us.

Even with the Hefty bag quality of the material, it probably looks familiar to you. Why? Because it mimics the iconic, puffy Moncler jackets, of which we’re sure His Puffness is fully aware exist.

Need further proof? He’s dubbed his lookalike “the Montclair,” which is a little like giggling while taking money out of a store register.

But we guess it must be ok, since he is Puff Daddy (oof, we went there).