Like many, many girls, I’m a longtime Nanette fan. I think I’ve worn dresses of hers to around different weddings at this point.

Whenever you wear her clothes, you feel just the right amount of flirty meets sexy meets girly. She’s not messing with that formula at all this spring. And really, why would she? She knows where her sweet spot is and I totally appreciate that.

But she will definitely brighten up your closet with teals, oranges, reds, and yellows. After obsessing over the shoes, I fixated on the artsy prints, especially on the itty bitty shorts. It would take months of Tracy Anderson style ass kicking to get me ready for those.

But I’ll give it my best effort. See you soon, Equinox.

We love seeing expansion in the fashion business anywhere we can find it these days. This sunny August morning it comes from Nanette Lepore who will be adding more shoes to her pretty party dresses come spring.

The designer launched a capsule collection a couple years ago, but this new range (via a license with Peter Marcus Group), will feature twenty-five styles featuring a range of heel heights and beading akin to what’s found in the collection, according to WWD.

Available at the regular department store spots and Nanette’s stores, the shoes will set you back from $195-$350. There are a ton of contemporary shoes out there to choose from, but we have high hopes for Ms. Lepore.

“I just hope we don’t all fall through the floor!” —Nanette Lepore at her rollicking Saturday night holiday party.

Forever 21’s over Marc. They’ve moved on from Diane.

Like department stores promoting young designers mid-recession, they’re focusing on copying smaller names.

OK, so it’s probably not such a conscious downgrade to lesser known designers, but they’re ripping off Nanette Lepore and she seems like the kind of designer you guys would get behind.

We’re not sure who’s shopping for business wear at Forever 21 - if we had important meetings with non-fashion people, we’d probably worry that a $17 skirt would split mid-presenation - but if you are, you should know this plaid ruched pencil skirt’s been poached from Lepore’s Fall 08 runway.

You can say it doesn’t matter, that it’s just a plaid skirt and it’s just coincidental that it’s the exact same shape, pattern and color as a runway design for this particular season.

But would you mean it?

Memo to celebrity publicists:

If you have a cute client who needs a little push, RSVP her to a fashion show.

We’ve been hearing from PR Blackberries around the city that so far, there are way less celeb confirmations than in the past - in part because MTV’s Video Music Awards happen at the exact same time, in Las Vegas, “and we’ve lost so many regulars because of it,” confided one fashion publicist.

Of course a few famous faces will show for the shows, but this trickle could be a continuation of last year, when Mary Kate’s arrival at Jenni Kayne was received like the gift of the Magi. Just look at New York’s backstage photos to see the star drought.

But why have celebs stopped mobbing the runways?

In part, because they’re scared of the press mobbing them. Fashion shows are notoriously open season, with the understanding that if a famous person comes to a catwalk, they want the exposure - and the constant paparazzi.

We’ll never forget the arrival of Paris Hilton at Nanette Lepore last year - the panic was like the apocalypse. And at Zaldy’s show, when we had the bizarre experience of sitting next to Hilary Duff (who was awesome, we should admit), we had to wear our sunglasses because of all the flashes.

We suspect the other reason celebs fear fashion week is this story from The New York Times. Called “Look at Me, Look at Me, Please Look at Me,” it mocks Mischa Barton’s front row occupation during Spring ‘07 showings.

By Fall ‘07, Mischa didn’t appear at all, and celebrities who did deigned to make multiple shows got called out on their needy flashbulb habits.

Note the sneer we heard from two fashion insiders this weekend, when each remarked separately, “At least Debra Messing will be there.”

And maybe Evan Rachel Wood, too, since she has 3 movies premiering…

If you’re patient enough to wait in a 40-person line at the Nanette Lepore sample sale, you might as well carry some bags full of cheap but fabulous goodies back down in the elevator - and did we mention the elevator line is just as long?

That said, the Nanette Lepore sample sale does have some elusive great finds, but they don’t come in the flavors you might expect.

Don’t look for the breezy summer dresses or pastel knee-length skirts you’re wanting right now. Instead, go for the pants and shorts passed over by all the frantic shoppers scraping you with their Stam bags.

While the dresses are only $140- $165, what’s left is more for your grandmother’s closet than your own. Meanwhile, the adorable boyfriend jeans left ignored are just $85.

Similarly, Nanette Lepore’s shorts (which work with a cute blouse and flats) are only $75— plus, they’re a good investment, as their threads won’t unravel after the first wear - unlike the Urban’s version.

—NATALIE MATTHEWS

We are in love with these raffia flats from the newer Spring/Summer installment of Keds by Nanette Lepore, which are made from the leaves of palm trees in Madagascar.

It’s all about the contrast of the natural color of the raffia with the green piping on the bows and the leopard print lining. Of all the raffia accessories for summer, these might be our favorite, especially for $70. (Although we’re also into A.P.C.’s black and white raffia tote, which is definitely not $70).

Two things to separate them from yesterday’s jellies:

1. These guys breathe – after all, they’re woven.

2. Unlike Ferragamo’s version, they’re not sold out (yet).

Could raffia be the new plastic?

—ALISON COOL

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has piece on sneakers, and their increased presence in the nightlife scene, noting “someone at a nightclub may be wearing a $50 pair of dress shoes, while the guy standing next to him is wearing a pair of $2,000 sneakers.”

I swoon when I pass a cute pair of Adidas (or those Nanette Lepore for Keds, at left), but there are some places I just can’t bring myself to wear sneakers, including…

*A cocktail party
*A dinner party
*With any dress that’s not from Marc by Marc

Meanwhile, some of my best friends wear their sneakers to engagement parties, while others only have a pair for the gym.

I’m reminded of my favorite quote from Harper’s Bazaar ever, back when Lauren Davis was taking a break from Vogue and billing herself as a “fashion consultant.” When they asked her when a woman could wear sneakers, she answered, “My mother always said the only people who need to run are children and thieves.”

But something tells me you’re a little more flexible about when you wear your Vans - including all those times after the age of ten.

Yes?

“I don’t rely on mirrors,” explains Cher in the middle of Clueless, “so I always take Polaroids.”

Now Nanette Lepore goes one step further, commissioning a digital mirror that lets shoppers get instant feedback from friends online.

WWD reports: “Shoppers stand in front of a “magic mirror” and can send a photo or video of themselves to their MySpace page or to friends via e-mail or cell phone. The friends vote “yes” or “no” on the outfit and can text message back. The mirror displays the vote tally and messages.”

The problem: your friends have to be near a computer while you’re shopping, or else the concept doesn’t work.

The perks: you’ll immediately know if your chosen outfit “photographs well” - which for some people (McMullan stars, Cobrasnake fans, bloggers) is actually more important than if the outfit fits.

The pause: WWD may have jumped the gun a bit on the story - according to Nanette HQ, “the mirror hasn’t arrived in the store yet… right now it’s just an idea.” Will any department stores, or Nanette’s own boutiques, actually want to install something like this?

Polaroids, anyone?