I’m not talking about Kate Moss (in fact, dare I say it on Fashionista, I might be over her), but Katie Grand.

She looked fantastic last night, mostly because she looked in need of a good scrub which is quite refreshing from the legions of blow-dried Barbies swooping into London this month.

We spotted her at Dover Street Market’s bash for the launch of the Standard perfume in a frumpy grey coat that looks like it came from a charity shop, clogs (ed. note: Eek!) with gold details, bare legs, messy hair held back with an elastic band topped with a gigantic green cartoon character bobble - and not a stitch of makeup.

But the kicker? An Hermès Black Birkin bag with a giant green dip-dyed raccoon tail hanging from it. Hear that PETA? Animal tails are about to explode.

Cat’s Meow: We’ve missed you this season, Catherine McNeil, though you look perfectly content posing for Greg Kadel in Vogue Italia. {Models}

No Models? Mon Dieu!: German magazine Brigitte’s banned professional models from its pages. They say they’ve been using Photoshop to fatten up girls for years and they give up. So from now on, it’s “real women” only. {The Guardian}

Style Like Me: We’ve mentioned it before, but stylist Elisa Goodkind’s awesome blog jumps into closets across the city (and its outer boroughs) in search of inspiring wardrobes. Today, ogle over Becka Diamond’s Chanel pumps and Rick Owens jacket. {StyleLikeU}

Don’t Stop Believin’: It’s the song that never dies. Apparently Kate Moss was accosted in the street by a Journey-loving thong-wearing gentleman after Simon Cowell’s 50th birthday party. And this is where our moms would tell us nothing good happens after 2 am. And we would disagree.{Page Six}

Dennis Basso’s newest collection of evening wear is coming soon to a debutante ball near you.

The designer says that his company is all about a “lifestyle,” which was evident from the usual crowd he drew for his show. Apart from a handful of expected editors, the front row was filled with the requisite uptown types of all ages—and I saw some serious bling and Balmain on those walking in—looking for a dress for next season’s events.

For the younger set, there were plenty of short dresses, whose cinched waists, voluminous tutus, and muted color palette were inspired by the ballerinas of Degas. The floor length gowns were equally as beautiful, and many of them were adorned with rosettes and metallic silk. I can’t forget about Basso’s signature fur, which he incorporated into the collection as bolero jackets and long vests.

Speaking of fur, all show-goers got a special treat as they exited the tents: the most grotesque animal-rights display I’ve ever seen, complete with a man in a skinned-animal suit, wielding what looked like a dead fox. I walked away feeling guilty and I don’t even wear fur. Yikes.

Of all the trends that popped up last week during New York Fashion Week (so much more on that later), the one that took us by surprise most was the use of fur by designers who’d never designed with animal skins in the past.

First, we saw it at Ohne Titel, then at Alexander Wang and Thakoon (whose shows were actually sponsored by Saga Furs), and then finally at Marchesa (left).

We’re not really sure what this means - has fur become more acceptable? Is it a backlash against “restrained” times? - but consider this: Fall 09 was the first time in ages that PETA didn’t protest at the Tents.

In fact, the PETA presence was much less this time around, which makes us wonder, has fur won the battle?

Scene: Crossing Bowery, at Houston, a bus almost runs us over.

Britt: Oh my god! It’s wearing Anna’s hair!

Natalie: What?

Britt: The animal is wearing Anna’s hair!

Natalie: What are you talking about?

Britt: I think it’s a wildcat - on the bus! It has her bangs and everything with some sexy pink highlights thrown in. “They look just as stupid wearing yours.”

Natalie: That’s kind of brilliant.

Britt: More effective than pie throwing, I’m sure.

Natalie: I don’t know why, but I feel like Anna would laugh.

Britt: They should’ve given the raccoon Olsen hair.

Please excuse the blurry pic, this really was on the side of a moving bus. You can read about the campaign and get a clearer, but smaller picture, here.

No doubt you know all about the Olsen frenzy at the Union Square Barnes & Noble today, complete with special rules for those hoping to get a minute in front of each twin while they sign their new book, and the requisite PETA protesters outside.

But you’re probably wanting more, no?

So here it is. Just for you, we’ve scanned Mary-Kate’s handwritten Proust questionnaire, and transcribed Ashley’s introductory essay - NYLON’s got MK’s version - after the jump.

So don’t say we’ve never done anything for you.

Hugs.

ps. We really do highly suggest ordering the book for yourselves.

WWD has been documenting the downfall of our economy, and all the fashion roadkill that’s gone with it. Today’s reported victim? Cashmere.

According to their research, knitwear manufacturers are producing much less cashmere for Spring because it’s probably too expensive for most people right now. They say companies are trying to put out more wallet-friendly cotton blends, and Qi Cashmere has even dropped the “Cashmere” from their brand name.

So here’s something we just realized: If people start buying less cashmere (though we admit, we love it), and more cotton-based clothes, that probably means a whole lot less dry cleaning, which means a cleaner environment (perc, the solvent typically used by dry cleaners, is considered a hazardous air contaminant by the EPA), not to mention one fewer monthly bill.

And it doesn’t stop there - If people still want to shop but want to keep the per-instance footprint on their checking account as small as possible, they’ll probably avoid expensive furs and leathers (so we guess PETA members can sleep a little sounder), too.

And who knows, maybe this will turn into more farmers planting cotton to get in on the trend, which would only make its price drop further for everyone.

But back to this economy-environment relationship - could what happens to us financially impact what we do to our environment? Guess we’ll find out - Unless of course, we get a Zoot Suit effect, in which case, prepare to see certain ladies strolling Madison in full-length mink capes.

Today, we found out that Carol Alt will be posing for Playboy. Weirdly, this is not surprising - we’ve been tracking the naked chick trend for a while, ever since French Playboy started to get all high fashion on us.

Nakedness doesn’t bother us (obviously) - we think you should be able to take off your clothes as you please. But what’s with all the excuses?

Carol says she’s taking it off to send the message, “eat healthy, look healthy and be healthy.” And Lily says she wrapped her knee-socked legs around a plush teddy in the name of “art”. Neither mention paychecks, but then again, neither mention the word “porn”, so we guess it evens out.

But when you think about it, models and famous faces have been baring it all for PETA for about a decade, which is obviously for a good cause, but would we think so if it was Traci Lords baring her business on every newsstand claiming it’s for the animals?

Because the only message we’re picking up on is that nudity is great as long as your publicist has a boatload of excuses and maybe a cause behind it.

And on a not-really-side note, where the hell is James Franco’s PETA ad? Because then we might really believe that people are earnestly using nudity to say something other than that tits sell.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

I was thirteen the first time I went to London and I spent half the trip trying to get the Queen’s guards to flinch.

One specific fellow at Windsor Castle was a dead ringer for Christian Bale - and I was obsessed with their hats.

But The Guardian just informed me that each of those spiffy hats takes one whole bear to make, which makes them decidedly less cute.

So of course the British Ministry of Defence has asked Stella and Dame Viv to come to the rescue and design not just a new style of headgear but to find an alternative material, much to Peta’s liking, I’m sure.

The Queen’s guards have been sporting those rather large bear hats since the Battle of Waterloo so it’d be strange, but cool, to see them wearing something different.

Now if only they’d give us a wink.

Kim Cattrall is the newest celebrity to take part in PETA’s Fur Coat Donation program, having just agreed to donate all the furs she’ll wear in the upcoming Sex and the City movie.

According to PETA representative Michael McGraw, “the only people who can be excused for wearing fur are the homeless - to keep warm during the winter,” and that’s exactly where Kim’s furs will go in a few weeks.

The donations sound noble, except for one piece of information: The New York Post reports that the “donated skins will be marked with a red X on the back”.

It’s good to know that PETA’s charity only goes so far - it’s okay for the less fortunate to keep warm in winter, as long as they’re stigmatized with PETA’s self-righteous version of the Scarlet Letter, right?