As H&M gets older and wiser, their collaboration launches get bigger and better.

Stella McCartney launched her line with a Gwyneth Paltrow and Dita Von Teese attended bash in an old schoolhouse, Matthew Williamson rocked a ship in the Hudson River with Grace Jones and now, Sonia Rykiel will celebrate her collection for the Swedish mega-brand with a parade and runway show in Paris on December 1.

It’ll be in the Grand Palais, home to Chanel’s runway blow-outs, and feature both the lingerie, debuting for holiday and the knitwear which launches next spring.

No word yet on who will sit front row, but given the star power of Sonia’s 40th Anniversary bash, we have big expectations. And with Lara, Caroline and Anne in the ads, we expect big models, too.

Paris withdrawal has officially set in. So we find ourselves looking for things that take us back there. We’ve always been big fans of Bourjois’ little round pots of eyeshadow, in no small part because they remind us of one of our other French favorites, treats from Ladurée.

But the photos that just entered our inbox of the new Rendez-Vous A Paris collection are especially mouth-watering thanks to a collaboration with artist and illustrator, Nathalie Lete. The covers depict scenes from the City of Light and look totally chic, and not cartoonish at all. We haven’t had a chance to play with all the colors yet but already we have our eyes on the purply-black shimmer and the pale rose.

Though much like a macaron, we doubt we’ll be able to settle for just one. The collection is only available at Ulta and it’s limited edition so don’t procrastinate.

Also, we’ve just realized that we’re very hungry, thanks to all these food-centric posts this morning. Must get lunch soon!

Meet Blue Logan, if you haven’t already.

A couple of years ago a friend dragged the soft-spoken Brit to a show at London Fashion Week, Aquascutum he thinks, and he started to draw the models as they walked down the runway. Within a few shows he realized the people in the front row were just as, if not more, interesting.

Now his drawings pop up in Vogues, both UK and American, on Style.com and a bunch of other fashion-loving sites. He’s been in New York this summer preparing his sandwich shop, Cheeky’s, sketching the cool kids in the Hamptons or at the Jane and starting a project he might call, “I’m on the List” about the nature of waiting in lines in New York.

He was in Paris before this and counts India as his favorite place, but he’s in love with New York right now and we’re happy to have him. How he works, after the jump.

MariaSole, 22, shopgirl

Got Her: Strolling around the Palais Royal Boutique, taking a breather from work.

Stalked Her: It was girl crush at first sight. I’m obsessed with that blue, especially when it ruffles so perfectly. And once she started talking I wanted to listen to her exquisite accent forever.

Shot Her: Because she’s somehow managed to make DSquared2’s pointy shoulders and her own antique gems look daytime appropriate. Also, it’s really hard to pull off matching so well.

She Said: “Each person has a color that truly represents their soul. I love primary colors a la Castelbeljac and blue is mine! Oh and this jacket is my little mascot for the year.”

We Say: Can you be our mascot?

—MONICA AINLEY

What’s the only thing better than Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière?

Balenciaga by Cristobal Balenciaga re-interpreted by Nicolas Ghesquière.

Too much?

What we’re trying to say is, the French house has picked nineteen pieces from their archives and re-constructed them with modern techniques for the latest ‘collection’ of Balenciaga Edition (an on and off concept for the past few years). The inspiration pieces date from 1932 to 1967 which means that no matter which decade’s vintage makes you dreamy you’ll find something. Though first you’ll have to get to Paris. The designs will sell at Le Bon Marche from Septemeber 11 to October 5.

Bon chance!

There’s nothing worse than the morning you have to drag your laptop to work or class or in our case, fashion week, and zip it into that ugly synthetic black protector pouch that totally cramps your style.

Well there might be something worse, but it is annoying.

So Paris-based, Italian and New York raised designer Gabriele Corto Moltedo developed a solution. His “pop-art luxe” creations have been catching our eye since 2004 and keep getting cleverer. His AW09 collection features the brilliant “Big Cassette Clutch” inspired by old school tape cassettes. They’re beloved by Giovanna Battaglia and Lindsay Lohan alike and they come in a handful of delicious colors and textures.

I knew exactly who I wanted to interview for my first Life With column as I soon as I got the job here at Fashionista, my old friend Elizabeth Kiester (pictured here with one of her besties, Loven.) I’ve been very blessed in my 11 (gasp!) year career in this business to be able to work with some amazingly talented and wickedly smart and funny people. Eliz pretty much tops that list. And I was lucky enough to get to work with her twice, at Jane and YM.

But it’s not because she’s my friend that I wanted you all to meet her. She truly has had one of the most interesting careers in fashion—going from magazines to trendspotter for A&F to creating collaborations with Stella at LeSportsac.

As of late last year, she is a full-fledged designer, selling her wares at her incredibly colorful store, Wanderlust, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Yep, Cambodia.

Unfortunately, a trip to Cambodia isn’t exactly in the Fashionista budget, so I talked to Elizabeth via email about how she ended up where she is today and how a life in fashion in Siem Reap is so very different from the one she used to live in New York.

Monday, we’ll chat more about what’s selling out in her store, what she misses most about New York, where Wanderlust is going next, and how to rock 5 inch Marni pumps in a Cambodian village.

Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli took some serious hits from critics after their first couture showing in January.

But the press seems to have warmed a bit to the collection they presented yesterday in Paris.

There is definitely a new vibe at the house. While an occasional bow did make an appearance, the looks were dark, almost entirely black. And for the most part very short and sexy. There were no splashes of color and definitely no Valentino red to be found.

I will admit to not being the biggest Valentino (the clothes, not the man) fan in town, though I’ve always had a great appreciation for many things about the line. But this collection actually speaks much more to my personal taste. I think it looks young and hot and current.

Carlos Souza is going to be able to take this collection and run with it…all the way to Hollywood.

What say you about Valentino’s new direction?

In the Trenches: Sasha and Malia are about to cause another round of skyrocketing coat sales at J. Crew - this time of the khaki trench variety. {Politico}

LVMH Making Moves? Christian Lacroix was spotted at the Givenchy show just after his own (perhaps final) presentation. Tongues are wagging that the Arnaults might just step in to save the house. {FWD}

If She Could Turn Back Time: Holy photoshopping! Britney Spears looks like it’s 1999 in these shots for Candies. We bet she wishes she could revisit that past too. {StyleWatch}

Who’s the Man? The chicest of the chic stay at the Ritz in Paris. This guy makes their loves run smoothly while they’re there. {W}

Mr. Schuman is across the pond, shooting around France and Italy, and we’re in l-o-v-e with this all-gray Parisian he posted yesterday.

We’ve been noticing a lot gray around the streets of New York ourselves, and think it’s a great color. For us, light gray, light brown and white are very summery - exuding calm and relaxing vibes. But we’ve never seen it put together head-to-toe quite as well as this woman did it.

A monotone ensemble requires careful planning. Not all shades of the same color look good together. And unless you buy all the different pieces at the same time, it could get difficult to mentally match your shades.

Not that we wouldn’t be jealous on a regular day, especially one that’s drizzly and rainy in New York, but today we’re even more so.

First, Nina Ricci is selling off the last of Olivier Theyskens’ final collection for the house, along with clothes and accessories from past collections too—for prices as low as 40 euros. That’s just crazy and quite possibly worth a flight to Paris, in our opinion!

In other Parisian news, Galeries Lafayette is opening a 34,500 square foot shoe department. We can’t even begin to wrap our brains around how big that is, but we can’t wait for our next trip to the city. There’ll be over 150 brands, along with an in-house cobbler and a a pedicure station.

Vive la France.

I think I spent an entire month watching over-the-knee boots march down runways.

From Rodarte in New York, to Pam HoggLondon in and Louis Vuitton in Paris - and about a million in between - they were everywhere, but aside from Lauren Santo Domingo’s turn in custom-made Brian Atwoods, we’d placed stretchy leather up to one’s butt cheeks in the runway-only category, along with everything sheer from SS09.

I was wrong, of course. Byrdie Bell broke hers out for a party a couple of weeks ago and as fall merchandise creeps its way into stores, we’re preparing for an onslaught. Stuart Weitzman’s square-toed versions, in both suede and leather, hit Shopbop this week and StyleFile is even contemplating thigh high clogs.

I remember the first time I wore almost knee-high leather boots to my suburban Catholic high school and gave everyone a heart attack. Even if this is New York City circa now, I imagine a similar, if not more dangerous reaction with those six extra inches of leather. I love the idea, am obsessed with the look, but I’m pretty sure I’d look like a hooker regardless of what I wear on the rest of my body.

Abby, however, can’t wait to rock a pair. Thoughts?

Flora, sales girl

Got Her: She works at Noir Kennedy, a great punky, Gothic store in the Marais that sells everything from vintage classic navy and white striped French shirts to acid wash rompers and Cheap Mondays.

Stalked Her: Because those purple suede booties are screaming for attention. The studded jumpsuit isn’t exactly subtle either.

Shot Her: Because we immediately love anyone who wears kitten eyeliner to work.

She said: “I wear mostly vintage, mostly 80s. But I’m dying for a pair of patent YSL mary-janes.”

We said: If we had a pair, we’d trade you for the booties.

—AMANDA GAVLICK

Sarah, 21, Publicist for American Apparel

Got her: Shopping in Le Marais, where we find all the cute girls!

Stalked her: Because her wool camel coat did something miraculous to the shape of her shoulders. Also, it matches the perforated saddle shoes.

Shot her: She’s wearing a thin leather jacket under the wool one which makes for pretty killer layering on the cloudy springtime day. She’s pulling off six different pieces of clothing without looking like a bag lady.

She said: “I’m en route to buy dresses for summer and sandals, too! Swedish designers are my favorite.”

We said: Do you layer your way through summer, too?

—AMANDA GAVLICK

Fay, 21, design student at Parson’s in Paris

Got her: On the way to play model for a friend’s senior project.

Stalked her: Because she’s wearing full length everything, which is super difficult to pull off, and makes it look perfect with boots.

Shot her: Because her dress isn’t just full length but nude which usually spells disaster. It hails from Brooklyn and was clearly made for this girl.

She said: “But I feel like I don’t look good at all today! I think I’d say my style is as if a British dandy were to become a Native American.

We said: That trumps every style description we’ve ever heard.

—AMANDA GAVLICK

Name: Elodie, 18, Fashion student

Got Her: Enjoying a glass of wine outside La Perle, Paris’s hipster watering hole.

Stalked Her: Because her poppy-red blazer was a welcome repose from the sea of black and gray.

Shot Her: Because we love her chunky silver accessories. Plus, her necklace was originally a belt, as we later learned.

She Said: I love preppy pieces, but I’m always trying to break down the boundaries between hippie chic and classic. This weekend I’m showing my first runway collection- which I’m really excited about!

We Said: Bold prep-sters are right up our alley.

—EADDY KIERNAN

Maimoun, 27, student

Got her: In a petit park in the sixth on her way to an afternoon drink with her friend.

Stalked her: Because I spotted those Nike high-tops from a mile away. Also, I’ve been thinking about jean jackets for a bit now and hers was the best I’ve seen.

Shot her: Because I didn’t even realize her slashed leggings until I got up close and they really made the outftit.

She said: “I tend to identify with the bobochic style in Paris.”

We said: We tend to identify with that jacket.

—AMANDA GAVLICK

Name: Nathalie, 23, actress

Got Her: Strolling down Rue Vieille du Temple on her way home from the gym.

Stalked Her: Because her wrapped scarf was so quintessentially French. And nothing beats a pumped up retro-style ponytail.

Shot Her: Because we love the abundance of Givenchy-esque lace-up wedge boots on Paris girls. Though as much as we love them with tights, we can’t wait to see them with bare legs and shorts and summer dresses.

She Said: I guess I have a lot of style influences. I really love Isabel Marant, Balmain, and Martin Margiela.

We Said: Who the hell looks like this post-workout?

—EADDY KIERNAN