Joyce Culver, 92nd Street Y“Fashion advertisements are hateful,” said Isaac Mizrahi at tonight’s 92nd Street Y panel discussion on the future of fashion, “but they work.”

Glamour’s Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive moderated the talk between The Washington Post’s Robin Givhan, Ashley Olsen and Isaac. The group discussed Michelle Obama, the economy, Ralph Lauren’s ad scandal, fast fashion and the fate of platform heels while Mary-Kate Olsen and Justin Bartha cheered from a few rows back.

Robin and Isaac spent the first ten minutes relishing the First Lady’s effect on the fashion industry. Robin heralded the example she’s setting “for women over thirty with busy careers and families who feel disenfranchised from fashion,” while Isaac finds her balance of mass and high fashion “so inspirational.”

Cindi asked the group why the fashion industry is so hated and Robin brilliantly responded that people have no problem condescending to fashion because it’s a women’s industry.

“No one ever says spending thousands of dollars on season tickets for football is a waste of money, but spending $5000 on a dress…” to which Isaac almost jumped out of his chair in agreement.

“Right on! Misogyny rears its ugly head again!”

In Vogue’s April issue, Sally Singer hung out with Zoe Kravitz and Olivia Thirlby while they searched high and low for clog boots.

Though no one, from Alex Wang to Opening Ceremony knew what she was talking about, Olivia insisted, “I’m bringing back the clog.”

To which we thought, “No thank you.”

And then of course they stomped their way down Chanel’s runway and forced us to think about them again. So here we are a couple of weeks later, split down the middle. Last night over post-party pizza I told Faran I’d never ever wear clogs. Ever. She gave them a resounding, “Hell yes.” (Though she’s had this debate before.)

Intern Alyssa says no, “They’re ugly and unflattering. Maybe a step up from Crocs,” and intern Kate agrees, “When I was little I had them in lots of different colors to match my outfits. But my mom dressed me, so I had no free will.”

Makes My Heart Sing: It’s taking every ounce of self control not to run down Crosby Street and buy this skirt from Opening Ceremony and wear it everyday. I want it. I need it. But if I do buy it, I will hang my head in shame next year and wonder what came over me. {OpeningCeremony}

Pepe La Pugh: Remember Gareth’s cube? Well just in case it meant more to you than to me and you’re still trying to recapture that moment in the garage, you can buy the “double-Mohican” head piece created by Pugh and Ruth Hogben at ShowStudio’s shop. {ShowStudio}

WWJoanDo: Shirley Manson and Elijah Wood star in Oliver Peoples’ Spring lookbook. The totally random pair channel the stars of Mad Men - probably Joan and Don - and look pretty fantastic doing so. {Blackbook}

I have to admit, my fall/winter wardrobe is looking pretty drab. I’ve been trying to find a way to brighten up my monochrome closet, preferably with one or two pieces that really make a statement.

That said, over the last few weeks I’ve noticed an emerging trend that’s perfect for what I am searching for, though I find it a bit perplexing. Vivid Navajo and tribal prints seem to be popping up everywhere, but I can’t figure out which is the way to wear it best.

Opening Ceremony is carrying a selection of wool, Navajo print items in unexpected shapes that make them look fresh. I love how the mini-skirt is styled with simple black tights and boots, allowing the color to really pop.

Yesterday afternoon MAC’s John Demsey and Milk’s Mazdack Rassi hosted a panel discussion for Parsons and FIT students in the studio that was the site of so many shows this past week.

First, let us just say kudos to the two. MAC & Milk was a huge success in my opinion. It was such a more serene atmosphere than the agita-inducing tents. The staff was incredibly helpful. PR people told us it was drama-free and easy to stage their shows and presentations. There were no nightmarish elevator or temperature situations (two of our big concerns). My only real complaint was the patchy internet service I sometimes got inside on the second floor. A girl’s gotta Tweet!! But all in all, it was a job very, very well done. Let’s do it again in February!

Back to yesterday’s interesting panel, moderated by the hilarious Suzy Menkes and including Rassi, Jack & Lazaro, Humberto Leon and Caral Lim from Opening Ceremony, Parsons Dean of Fashion Simon Collins, and Alexander Wang.

Anti-Fug: I’m starting to worry that my favorite outfits always get Fugged. This is the Olsens at Opening Ceremony’s Tokyo opening this weekend; they look perfect. {GoFugYourself}

A Friendly History: Juergen Teller talks about the origins of his relationship with Marc Jacobs, his campaign process and the controversies they’ve faced together. {TheMoment}

Peachy Keen: Peaches Geldof continues her random TV reign. She’ll cover New York Fashion Week for GMTV, “Fashion is the thing that establishes creative talent and a person’s aesthetic individuality, but most of all it’s a fun way to express yourself,” she says. {PressAssociation}

In the Dollar Dumps: The Post reports Derek Lam’s having a few financial issues. He’s allegedly losing $1 million per month and his CEO’s been MIA for all of August. The CEO, of course, denies the whole thing. {PageSix}

Photo from Jak&JilBlack Frame, the PR company whose client list includes Rodarte, Nicholas Kirkwood, Opening Ceremony, Viktor & Rolf and Visionaire, needs both interns and Fashion Week volunteers.

The good news is you don’t have to be a college student for either one, but you should have some fashion industry experience for both. As an intern, you’ll need to commit to at least three months starting now. You’ll help track and organize samples and press clippings and you should love fashion and be an excellent communicator and team player, especially under pressure.

United Bamboo just launched their online store today, just in case you don’t have time to pop into Opening Ceremony or Confederacy to pick up one of their color-block dresses. They’ll also be offering up lots of items exclusive to the site.

In keeping with the company’s philosophy of collaborating with cool downtown artists, musicians and the like, they got James Iha, of Smashing Pumpkins guitar fame, to do the music.

Plus there will be graphic animation by French illustrator Pier Fichefeux, just another person who makes us really, really wish we could draw.

Who would you like to see as their next musical or artistic partner?

Chloë Sevigny mentioned to style.com that she’d be interested in collaborating with a high-end company, voicing admiration for Sofia Coppola’s collaboration with Louis Vuitton.

Now, we’ve loved Chloë since Kids and her intern days at Sassy, and think she has great personal style, but her collection for Opening Ceremony was…fine. The pieces she rocks best usually aren’t her own designs. So, I’m not sure why she should garner so much positive attention as a potential designer.

It’s not that I think actresses or singers or artists shouldn’t be able to try their hand at design (I too am loving the Sofia-designed Louis bag), but just because a gal (or guy) dresses well, doesn’t mean they should be invited into the fashion industry to run around like a kid in a candy shop.

Everyone cheers for Chloë but freaks out about Miley and Lindsay. The freak-outs are for good reason, no arguments here. But I’m also personally done with Chloë as fashion designer.

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

When large companies rip-off small designer’s work, we get irritated.

There’s something tragic about watered down design - like watered down beer - ew.

Post-Chris Kane, someone sent us another disturbing Topshop rip-off. That Alexander Wang dress? The black stretch mesh sheath with thick, detailed embroidery? Topshop’s taken it upon themselves to bring the exact same thing, not an interpretation, to the masses.

Wang’s expertly coiled embroidery, extra-long sleeves, fun thumb-loop, and back zipper have been replaced with a far less innovative diamond-patterned embroidery, short sleeves and a plain sheer back.

Just this weekend we dubbed it the new “dress that won’t die.” It’s been everywhere - Kanye’s girlfriend wore it in Paris, Missy Rader wore it in Wang’s lookbook, in editorials featuring everyone from Eniko Mihalik to Liu Wenn - which means that everyone on Topshop’s design staff is ultra-aware of it.

The Wang original is for sale at Opening Ceremony for $955, while the Topshop version is going for $90.

The thing is, no one has to buy the $1000 version. Most people can’t. But instead of buying a copycat, why not admire the original and honor the designer’s work by not encouraging mass reproductions and rip-offs?

—MELISSA ELLIOTT

“I’m the Carrie Bradshaw of pop music. I’m completely poor with a closet full of couture.” Lady Gaga to Yahoo’s The Thread while shopping at Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles

We’re betting you missed this in the fashion flux, too: Opening Ceremony has finally launched their online store, which means you can now get your hands on all their awesomely curated duds no matter where you are.

Really, it was about time - we were starting to get annoyed with their old website that had only their address on it and my non-NYC friends have always bemoaned the fact that they couldn’t get the house brand, and some over the other lines outside of New York or LA.

While the online selection is definitely smaller than the store’s, there’s definitely enough goodies to keep you occupied. So, sit down, put away your show schedule and enjoy some much needed retail relaxation.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Scoring vintage Betsey Johnson is only half the battle of thrift store shopping - trying to find what you love in your (actual) size is usually the part that turns a good shopping trip into just a bad trip.

So good news: Betsey feels your pain, and Opening Ceremony knows an incredible deal when they see one, so they’ve paired up to introduce a new-ish range from Betsey, the Betsey Johnson Archive.

Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: Re-makes of 35 of Betsey’s best vintage designs to launch at Opening Ceremony in NYC and LA (and some Betsey Johnson stores) this Fall.

In the meantime, you can try to hold yourself over with the vintage page on Betsey’s site. But we’re just going to send the Opening Ceremony people telepathic messages all afternoon - “Please host an 80’s dance party for the launch!”

Think pink and hearts. Now picture Ksubi jeans with a Jeremy Scott twist.

Whoa, right?

It’s Scott’s fifth collaboration for the Olsen-beloved Australian label, and there are enough skinny jeans and bustiers to dress the length of Bedford Avenue.

In fact, it looks suspiciously like Chloe Sevigny’s first Opening Ceremony collection but Scott has sunglasses, sunglasses we really want - especially the baby pink ones with tiny black hearts peppered across the frames.

The collection debuted with his runway show in September, but we’re sure you want close-ups. Scott clarifies, “The collection is inspired by the French Revolution and is parallel to today’s social, economic and political climate, hence I titled the show ‘Let Them Eat Gas!’”

Um, ok, sure. That’s totally the vibe we got, too.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding the Beijing Summer Olympics of 2008, and here’s some more:

Opening Ceremony is kicking off a 72-hour long party at their Howard Street store on August 8th (the first day of the Olympics), surrounding games like Scrabble and, we’re hoping, Spit. There’ll be ice cream, fries, and plenty of limited-edition goods for those of you looking to actually shop at the Soho boutique.

On a side note, we hear the international games are serving as inspiration for the Spring 09 collection coming from Telfar, the Yohji-ish Liberian prince cum New York designer.
Expect insanity.

There is life yet for Chloe Sevigny’s Opening Ceremony collection.

While on Topshop, we came across their new Post-War Precision collection (originally called the Valerie Collection, though we don’t know why they changed the name). Topshop describes it as “1950s pin-up styling with a rockabilly twist”, but between the checkered pieces, acid wash jean jacket and ditsy floral print dresses we thought “We Wish We Were Chloe Sevigny” would have been a more apt description.

Just take a gander at these high-wasted checked pants. Remind you of anything? We thought so. Similarily, this blouse by Topshop is almost an exact replica of one Chloe turned out for Opening Ceremony (although in the picture it’s shown in floral, Chloe also made one in basic white), one of the more wearable pieces of the collection. And these tiny floral printed shorts are very reminiscent of Chloe’s floral skirt. Topshop even went as far as a floral bustier, one of the more signature pieces from Chloe’s collection (ps. we’re still not sure who’s buying these). [Editor’s note: Natalie loves Chloe’s floral bustier!]

The Topshop stuff is actually really cute (thankfully, they stayed away from midriff baring tops) but our reaction was overshadowed by the same sneaking suspicion we had when we tried the items on last March in Opening Ceremony, or maybe it was last April and at Urban Outfitters. Either way, we’re wondering why, amidst less than positive reviews, the Sevigny collection has had such a strong influence on retailers.

Perhaps Chloe was on to something, but it’s a shame her designs are being copied more often than worn.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

“As a destination for fashion insiders and the people who wish to dress like them, this may be the most influential place in retail at the moment,” wrote Eric Wilson of Opening Ceremony in The New York Times this morning.

Really?

We think it’s more like this: Opening Ceremony has only become well known, outside the fashion clique, by making brands like Topshop and Target accessible to New Yorkers.

But as far as directly influencing the fashion industry, and even the retail industry, our immediate thought was, “What about Barneys?” Isn’t Barneys the store powerful enough to propel unknown kids to style icon status, like Proenza? Isn’t Barneys to blame for the national influx of “Goyard” stamped canvas bags? How many stores can claim a Creative Director with an internationally recognized face, like Simon Doonan?

Even if you don’t agree that Barneys is the “most influential store” out there, it seems like quite a stretch to bestow the honor upon Opening Ceremony - a store that is apparently now taking notes from Target with their new celebrity clothing line.

While we usually love most of their clothes, nothing about the store appears revolutionary - not to mention that our readers repeatedly express their disappointment with Opening Ceremony in our comments section.

“Most Influential” is a pretty hefty title; on which store would you bestow the label?