Last year, Alexander Wang won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award and this year he’s won the Swiss Textile award.

The prize, which comes with 100,000 euros (about $150,000) was given to Rodarte last year. The money’s meant to help younger brands develop their international presence though really, aside from the runners up who are given Swiss fabric vouchers, it can be used for anything. The judging panel included Isabel Toledo and i-D’s Ben Reardon.

Alex said, “I’m so honored to take this award…This year has been an amazing year for us as a company and as a family. Taking it forward and growing as a business has helped us realize a lot of things. The monetary component [of this prize] is always a big help, no matter what size business you are. The most important thing is to keep improving what you do and keep on moving forward. [It’s] like the cherry on the cake.”

Is there anything else left for him to win?

“Our Dad said If we used our own last name for our brand, we might be mistaken for an Irish pub.”—Kate Mulleavy at the press conference for the 10th Anniversary of Swiss Textiles (via Business of Fashion’s Twitter)

Thanks to the magic of television, I’ve seen Rachel Zoe die after Diane von Furstenberg told her “she’d become the woman she’d always wanted to be,” and watched Whitney Port stare blankly as the fashion icon dished out invaluable career and relationship advice. Now, thanks to Teen Vogue’s Fashion University, I’ve heard DVF for myself.

As the program’s keynote speaker, Diane walked out to so many flashbulbs that she had to tell her overly-eager audience to cut it out and listen. Here are some highlights of her lively, inspirational speech.

1. She takes pride in understanding women. Diane believes that clothes should be like close friends: “When you’re standing in front of the closet in the morning, and you feel like shit, you should go for the reliable one that makes you feel good.”

2. She always has a camera with her. Her close-ups of leaves, bark, or anything else she finds beautiful in nature can end up a pattern in one of her collections.

Last March, a few designers embraced the one off ad.

Ads are expensive, and if you’ve got the momentum of a Rodarte or a Phillip Lim, unnecessary (for now). Unless of course the economy tanks.

One of the designers who gave the idea a shot, Zac Posen, shot this ad just for Fanzine 137, but the buzz must’ve been worth it because now he’s done it again.

This time around he hired a superstar model, and good friend, Coco Rocha, and Ellen Von Unwerth to shoot two different, very stylized ads to run in the same magazine next month. The ads - luxe, colorful, fun - pretty much sum up the Zac Posen brand and Coco looks perfect, as usual.

1. Nina, can you hear me?

2. Lifetime, you’re kidding about those “most talked about season” commercials, yes?

3. As far as bridal challenges go, could you have picked a worse week editorially? Nope!

4. The rest of you also thought Tamara was going to be a bigger bitch, right?

5. Would Anja have totally killed in Gordana’s dress? Of course. Sorry for the rhetorical.

6. MK, did you just bring up Cher? Yep, you did. Thank you for balancing out the bad and the Nina-less with a little bit of diva - even if it wasn’t your pithiest moment.

Dear Stella McCartney,

I still check eBay about once a month hoping to stumble onto the horse pants you did for Chloé. I have dreams about the beribboned wooden espadrilles you sent down your SS05 runway and I guard my chain print dress from your SS06 collection with my life, even though I’m still not quite sure how to wear it.

What I’m trying to say is, I love your clothes and always have, but this season was so perfect that I can’t stop thinking about it

When people ask what I do and I answer, they always ask one of two questions - “What do you think of my outfit?” or “Who’s your favorite designer?” and I always answer McQueen or Vivienne Westwood, lately Christopher Kane. And I really do love all of them, but if I had to wear one designer and one designer only, it’d be you, hands down.

Tired of doodling on paper or the soles of your Converse? How about your arm? Your thigh? Your chest?

Rodarte kicked off the body art trend in New York, covering their models with Sharpied tribal shapes to complement their primitive, deconstructed collection. James Kaliardos pulled from a variety of inspirations to come up with the black curvilinear designs that ended up the perfect armor for Rodarte’s futuristic warrior girls.

The great thing about a Phillip Lim show is that you know you’ll love whatever comes down the runway.

It might not be revolutionary, but it’s cute, comfortable, flattering, easy to wear and pretty, which is probably why Leighton Meester sat front row bobbing her head to the music, laughing with Hamish and waving to Alexa Chung across the aisle - Lim has that effect.

Along with, at least yesterday, a “Woah, what’s going on” effect when he sent out five dresses that might as well have had Rodarte labels sewn into the neck. A quick scan of the front row’s eyeballs made it clear how blatant the ‘inspiration’ was.

But other than that there were sequins and sequins and more sequins, an adorable red patent trench and, I’m sorry to say, a handful of crop tops. No pants I can do, but crop tops will never happen (for me I mean).

The gold sequin romper Hanne wore toward the end though? That will most definitely happen.

Of course we’re all kinds of excited about the clothes we’re about to see next week. But I get almost equally pumped about the new hair and makeup trends I’m about to see. I love going backstage and watching the very, very best in the business do their thing on the top girls.

We just got word that we’re going backstage to get an up close and personal look at what Odile Gilbert will be concocting for Rodarte. She does the show almost every season and we are never, ever disappointed. She is to hair what the Mulleavys are to clothes. Her work is intricate, delicate and powerful all at the same time.

Francois Nars is coming back to do Marc Jacobs. No word yet on whether he’ll be creating individual looks for every girl again this season but we think it’s a very distinct possibility. Also on my ones to watch list: Diane Kendal’s makeup at Proenza Schouler, Laurent Phillippon’s hair at Rad Hourani, and Stephane Marais’ makeup at Zac Posen.

I. Can’t. Wait.

And the news gets better and better for Rodarte.

We jumped for joy when Target announced their collaboration with Kate and Laura Mulleavy and we pouted all day when we found out they’d be curating Colette when we’re not in Paris; but today news is entirely different.

The sisters just signed to William Morris Endeavor Agency. Obscure Japanese horror films and not so obscure American horror movies have almost always figured into their inspiration, so we’re not surprised that they have other creative mediums in mind for the future.

William Morris also says WWD they’ll help the brand move into publishing.

Rodarte books for Christmas please!

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.

If there were a fashion retail scale, Target would be on one side and Colette the other.

And yet, just weeks after announcing their collaboration with the former, Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte announced their work with the latter.

This October, they’ll curate an exhibition of their favorite things for Sarah Lerfel’s concept store in Paris. The sisters have consistently boasted the most impressive, obscure and yet still viable list of inspirations and we’re guessing this project will do a pretty good job of encapsulating what, in their lives, produces such dreamy clothes.

At left we have two examples of brilliant, not-recession friendly pieces of fall fashion: the bomber jacket.

On the far left, the classic’s perfected by Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte. On the right, Christopher Kane comes pretty damn close. Both retail for almost four months worth of rent for a decent New York City room, two tickets around the world, or a Vespa.

Over at T, Anne Christensen favors the Rodarte. While the bondage-wrapped Rodarte makes us weep, the Christopher Kane one is slightly less on-trend and saves you a few dollars for the peanut butter & jelly you’ll have to eat for a year.

If we’re playing fall fantasy wardrobe, we’d throw the Rodarte jacket over this Chris Kane dress. In yours?

Now You’re Talking: Here’s a peek at Numero’s September issue. R’el Dade and Mélodie Dagault were shot by photographer Greg Kadel. It’s super hot & super NSFW. {Models}

How to Glam: Glamour’s launching a new video feature on their site. It’s called 20 Outfit Ideas from America’s Most Stylish People and includes commentary from Phillip Lim, Karl Lagerfeld, Rachel Zoe, Jason Wu and more. You can watch the preview & sign up for the daily videos now. {Glamour}

On Repeat: Keira Knightley’s latest Mademoiselle ads for Chanel look a lot like the last ones- pretty, and strategically naked. {Egotastic}

Lucky Duckie: Style Rookie, Tavi Williams, video taped the Rodarte for Target preview this morning while editors were sworn to secrecy. {Lucky}

SORRY DUDES. REMOVED RODARTE PICS AT THEIR REQUEST, BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM & WE’RE PRETTY SURE YOU ALREADY SAW!

WWD’s “Rodarte a ‘GO’ With Target’ headline made us fall out of bed with shock.

Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the Pasadena based sisters who took home this year’s CFDA award for womenswear, have designed a 55-piece holiday collection for Target’s GO International (not Designer Collaborations like McQueen).

The clothes launch December 20th and range from $9.99 to $79.99 instead of Rodarte’s usual $3000 to $21000 and Target’s spokesman says the key to maintaining that Rodarte feel is layering.

Rodarte’s clothes are the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in person - seriously, they belong in a museum alongside great works of art - but maybe 1% of America’s heard their name which we imagine makes it hard to turn a major profit which in turn makes the PR they’ll get from Target pretty brilliant.

We don’t expect the clothes to look anything like Rodarte’s past collections. We do, however, expect them to be well thought out and whimsical.

Maybe if we buy Rodarte for Target clothes we can justify Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte boots?

I’ve spent almost three of the past four weeks in California which means I’ve worn pretty much nothing but old Levi cut-offs, white James Perse tees and my red Saltwater sandals.

It’s been wonderful.

But yesterday it was back to reality, which means gearing up for fall, for fashion week, for September issues etc. and while dicking around online, I changed my mind. Now, I want, need, must have a pair of thigh high boots. The problem is a) which pair and b) will anyone make a pair for under $1000 that don’t scream Pretty Woman and then of course c) what do I wear them with?

The thing is, while they were on almost every runway, I half expected them to elude the actual market given the state of the economy, as if fashion would pay attention to a reality other than its own. Sure enough, the boots are everywhere. Ideally, of course, I’d have a spare $1,470 for the Brian Atwoods which I’m tempted to call the originals. And if those didn’t fit over my slightly-larger-than-LSD-thighs I could always go for a flat version from Chloe for $1,235. But I’m barely 5’4” so I’d probably do better in something like these Pradas. In my dreams though, I’m wearing the Louboutin-meets-Catwoman version (though they might me higher than thigh) because I don’t know if the Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte masterpieces are even being made. The only high street ones I’ve spotted are suede, Topshop, and called the Brittany - a sign?

Maybe, but as of this morning they’ve already disappeared. What’s a girl to do?

Have you made plans for the Fourth of July yet? We hope you’re going to be catching some awesome fireworks or grilling out at a sweet barbecue. The American patriotic spirit has even gone global, thanks to Obama-mania.

The latest in the ever-growing category of Obama-inspired fashion (see: Rodarte for Sonia Rykiel) comes from Italian shoemaker Cesare Paciotti - an Obama Tennis Shoe. It’s very simple: a white sneaker emblazoned with the good ol’ stars and stripes.

We don’t mean to be anglophiles, but in the past if we thought about wrapping a flag around our bodies, we’d usually choose the Union Jack.

But now we’re thinking twice about it thanks to Cesare’s cool American look. While the president served as inspiration, the flag detail pretty much embraces the whole country.

So come the Fourth, let’s wave—and wear—our flags proudly.

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE