Inspired by Target’s GO Collaborations, Macy’s is creating a men’s private label line called Threads & Heirs that will tap guest designers to bring their work to the department store’s customers.

Durand Guion, Macy’s vice president and men’s fashion director told WWD, “Target has had great success taking higher and more advanced designers to the masses. All of us have been studying this [Target] and looking at what would be the right combinations.”

First up for Spring and Fall 2010, Ruffian’s Brian Wolk and Claude Morais. The boys have obviously been focused on women’s wear as of late, but we, like Macy’s execs, have no doubt they’ll translate their aesthetic nicely into men’s again. Brian said that the collection will Americana by way of Williamsburg-inspired with many layers, striped button downs (with white collars), blazers, classic knit polos, and lots of pocket detailing and pleating.

So, are you interested in another collaboration? Will it translate as well in the men’s market at this more mass level? Time will tell.

If you’re lost without loads of Fashion Week fêtes on your calendar, you need a ticket to Wednesday’s MAD Paperball.

It’s the first, hopefully annual, benefit for the Museum of Art and Design and one of the few of its kind targeted toward a much younger audience - hence the seriously fun fashion names on the host committee including Rogan Gregory, Chris Benz, the Ruffian boys, Coco Rocha, The Misshapes and Rose McGowan (Mad Men’s Bryan Batt is hosting, too). It starts with a dinner and ends with a dance party DJd by Harley & Cassie, Leo Fitzpatrick and Paul Sevigny - so you really actually can pretend it’s still Fashion Week.

All of the money raised goes toward MAD’s education program for kids. They’re hoping to raise that money with a youthful crowd of fashion and art enthusiasts which is why tickets start at just $150 (which may sound like a lot, but isn’t for a benefit, a party and a good cause).

You can buy your tickets here or here if that doesn’t work. And my dream dress here.

(Photos and Nails by CND)

We think Ruffian’s show is always such a hit because, a) everyone loves Claude and Brian, b) the boys know how to cast their models and c) they make cute clothes.

This season, the first two held true while the last one fell a bit short.

Their “Les Demoiselles de Ruffian” collection for Spring 2010 was a little bit Louis Vuitton AW09 - watered down - with a dash of military mixed in. There was layered lace, sheer swiss dot blouses and ruched ruffles at the neck, collar, anywhere. Coats featured tails and gold buttons and the last few looks featured that brightly colored Picasso inspired print.

Meanwhile, the hair and make-up were amazing. The girls—Iekeliene, Irina L., Eniko, Liu, Arlenis—positively glowed. And their colorful, slighty rock n’ roll eyes were balanced by soft pulled up hair.

Otherwise, it could’ve been the weather, but the mood on the way out of Exit Art was pretty gloomy.

This week of fashion parties continued with last night’s celebration of Ruffian’s new book, Ruffian Inside Out.

Though the book, written by Style.com’s Executive Editor Nicole Phelps, officially launched in April, we’ve been loving it since their AW09 show in February. Jamie Isaia’s photographs of Brian Wolk and Claude Morais are basically fashion porn.

Thus the party was a celebration not just of the book, but of the talented designers themselves. John Demsey, Group President of Estée Lauder, played host, even offering up his own home for the night and we spotted everyone from Simon Doonan and Rachel Roy to MAC ûber makeup artist James Kaliardos.

MAC has a special relationship with the brand and the book — they created a limited edition, just-for-Fashion-Week, not sold in stores lipstick shade for the Fall 2009 show called Ruffian Red, (which Britt obsessively rocked throughout Fashion month) that they so generously handed out again last night.

I also got a sneak peek at those fabulous Jin Soon-created polishes we mentioned last month and I can tell you, judging by the gorgeous orchid shade I saw, the collection is going to be fantastic.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

New York Fashion Week may have been sparse with retro hair and makeup looks, but that didn’t stop designers from having some serious nail nostalgia.

Ruffian, Thakoon, ThreeAsfour and FORM all went retro for their runway manicures, taking inspiration from a look featured in a 1936 issue of Vogue. The original look consisted of a coral nail bed and bare moon, but nail artists for CND updated the old idea using blacks, whites and reds for a look that was both classically mod and slightly futuristic.

But more importantly, would you wear it?

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

[IMAGES FROM CND]

Mention Ruffian to anyone in the fashion industry and they’ll squeal, “Oh my god, I just love those boys.”

So maybe it’s because of that or maybe it’s because they always use stellar models that their show is such a good time. Once I stopped eavesdropping on front row conversation - “But I don’t understand Tom Ford! For the price of one blazer you can get two suits made on Saville Row!” - the intimate show started.

Brian and Claude were inspired by Paris this season, or “the aesthetic archetype of New Yorkers in Paris and the French romanticism of Americana” which came through in their point d’esprit hosiery, nipped jackets and silky dresses. There was silence when Arlenis popped out from behind the curtain and a quiet clap for Vlada’s jacket. Ikeliene got to wear sequined leopard print and Liu Wen rocked ruffled cuffs.

I loved the clothes - but I spent most of the show coveting the red lips and towering Louboutins and jumped for joy when my gift bag held a tube of MAC’s Ruffian Red lipstick which I promptly applied.

Let’s just say it was a very happy Valentine’s day - thanks boys.

It’s all happening:

Starting next week, Ruffian takes over the back room at Earnest Sewn’s store in the Meatpacking District, hyping their insane ‘08 line (needlepoint graffiti cocktail dresses, skinny denim suits) and collaborating with artist Anne Koch on a new visual installation.

The space and the clothes are based on the Boarding-School-Rebel theme, with scribbled chiffon, shredded silk, and teeny black neckties all echoing the idea.

To celebrate, the Ruffian boys are throwing a party at Earnest Sewn on May 27 -

No word yet on whether muse Agyness Deyn will make it over.

Can you connect John Singer Sargent and Andy Warhol in one step?

Sure - they were both obsessed with society girls.

Now the painter David Foote takes his shot at stardom - or at least a steep commission from a wealthy family.

David’s drawn Patrick McMullan regulars like Jessica Joffe (left) and Olivia Palermo, and he puts them all up for exhibit next week at the L Gallery Studio, with a party hosted by Brian Wolk and Claude Morais of Ruffian.

We expect the portrait subjects will attend their big unveiling, but which socialite will lend her patronage to Mr. Foote for a future painting of herself?

Like the Spring ‘09 collections, that’s still TBA…

What wasn’t floral or plaid last week, was most definitely sheer. And actually, sometimes both.

There were transparent blouses at Ruffian, wispy dresses at Cynthia Rowley and Marc Jacobs, lacy gowns at Temperley - we finally have a use for those vintage slips we always buy.

But what about tops? What’s the perfect undergarment for a see-through blouse?

We’d love to just wear a bra underneath, though that would require the perfect one for each top. Not to mention the perfect body to show off.

And throwing a cotton tank underneath kind of kills the image - it’s like saying you can’t quite commit to wearing this really sexy blouse you had the courage to buy in the first place.

The best thing we can think of is a camisole or a super thin, super low cut tank. So does this mean we have to buy a bunch of new tops to go with our tops? Any amazing top recycling ideas we’re not aware of?

We got lost on the way to Ruffian, it was dark and a little sketchy. Thankfully, we saw the president’s daughter turning the corner with Derek Blasberg and followed them to safety.

Agyness opened the show, which the designers wanted to be a tribute to both underground youth culture and their New England boarding school experiences.

Their collection was definitely school boy meets rock n’ roll, with skinny plaid blazers, skinny ties pinned with pocket watches and pearls, skinny denim pants (they collaborated with Earnest Sewn), and anything but skinny antique gold belt buckles.

The boyish shapes were paired with tulle skirts overlayed with glitter polka dots, crocheted lace cuffs and collars, and needlepoint detail for feminine touches. Christian Louboutin custom made the gladiator-like platforms and all the girls wore perfect fuschia lipstick.

If you had a uniform in high school, break out a bedazzler, start studding it, buy a pair of leather pants, add some glitter and you’ll be set for fall.

We’ve always loved being backstage at Ruffian’s shows, because the vibe is so fun:

There’s salad and scones, Irina and Chanel Iman, and lots of ’70s rock while the girls get ready.

But this year, there’s something even more exciting happening behind-the-scenes:

We hear James Kaliardos, the worshipped makeup artist and co-founder of V Magazine, is the lead makeup artist on the show.

Will he coat all the girls in gold shimmer, as he did with Gemma Ward on Halloween (left)?

Probably not - but they’ll still be gorgeous anyway.

For S/S ‘08 it’s looking like stormy weather for hair.

Designers like Marc Jacobs (right image) and Roberto Cavalli (left image) showed coifs that seemed to literally float down the runway, gently resting atop the models’ heads.

Or at least that’s the charitable interpretation; some say the styles look like what would result if Lily Donaldson stuck her finger in an electrical socket.

We talked to Michelle Fiona, a Bumble and Bumble editorial stylist who created cloud-inspired hair for New York shows like VPL and Ruffian. Here are her tips for doing this style at home (without electrocuting yourself):

-Hair needs grit to achieve that much volume, so the best bet is to start with hair that hasn’t been washed for 2 days or so.

-If you’d rather not go sans shower, you can use B&B Surf Spray a (a salt-infused spray that gives texture) on damp hair to achieve a similar grittiness.

-For extra impact, you can crimp your hair or do small individual braids.

-When your hair is completely set and dry, it’s time to do lots of backcombing to achieve the fuzzy texture.

-Finally, sprinkle on B&B’s Hair Powder to achieve even more volume and the desired matte, cotton candy effect.

Now you can get that perfect puff of hair for your Amy Winehouse Halloween costume!

—ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

The theme of Ruffian’s Spring ‘08 show was “Pomp,” but we’d rather discuss the circumstance:

The dresses were gorgeous to the point of swooning, as usual, with their silk dolloped sleeves and new signature print - a Tea Saucer floral in bright pink and purple.

But finding the right place - or circumstance - to wear them is important, as these are signature dresses that will not only get you noticed but put you, categorically, into the Ruffian Girl slot of smart, artistic, and sharply sophisticated women who enjoy their outfits.

To wear this latest runway, you have to embrace the idea that you like dressing up.

Some women love that idea. And then there are some women - some in LA, some in London, some on Ludlow - who want their evening wear to look like a t-shirt.

Ruffian will never look like a t-shirt, and this collection could convert those still addicted to jersey knits to drop them completely.

But just in case they can’t, Ruffian did make a piece this season that could pair with a long cotton top:

Chiffon floral leggings that zipped up the side, in the same rosy pattern they used on the dress. They’d look incredible with a simple sweater dress and some deep gray booties, but they also pair nicely under a sheath.

Here’s some pre-scoop from the Ruffian show this afternoon:

Opening the show is model Masha Novoselova, a fairly recent discovery housed at Storm in the UK and Marilyn here.

Masha just got a shout-out in V Magazine, but her agency’s keeping her on the way down-low, only sparing her to walk three American shows:

Ruffian, Calvin Klein, and you can guess the third.

Usually, making a girl scarce in New York means she’s already got a European exclusive - and we know how Miuccia Prada loves the Russian girls. It could also indicate that she’s booked a big Spring ‘08 campaign… or that she’s a terrible walker.

“No, she’s amazing,” Ruffian’s Brian Wolk told us last night. “She’s really beautiful and really smart; she’s very Ruffian.”

Their last two runway shows opened with Irina Lazareanu.

Like the t-shirt, the trench coat was originally a military invention that slid into the masses between World War One and World War Two.

It’s traditionally made from khaki fabric, but recent memorable editions have come in pink (Burberry, Gap), silver (Gareth Pugh), and red (Ruffian).

To celebrate the staple, which may be the only piece of outerwear that’s never hit an “out” list, the designers at Aquascutum have released a new book on the coats.

Written by style critic Nick Foulkes, the book has 250 color photographs of trench coats throughout history.

Alas, unlike its subject, it is not waterproof.

We heard something fun from designer Claude Morais at Ruffian last night:

Their smoke gray trench coat for Fall hasn’t even hit stores yet, but they’ve already sold out of its inventory twice.

Why?

“It was Chanel,” says Claude - the model, not the label. “She wore that coat down our runway, and poof, it was gone. Chanel worked that coat so that everybody wanted it! We love her.”

In fairness to the coat, it was gorgeous and gorgeously made, but still…

We hear Ruffian aren’t the only ones who’ve realized that when Chanel wears an outfit, its demand goes zoom.

Christina, 23, publicist

Got Her:
At the New York Observer’s “papier soiree” for Ruffian

Stalked Her: Because her dress was a perfect mix of Breakfast at Tiffany and Tiffany, the ’80s singer from the mall.

Shot Her: Because a Ruffian outfit + Erickson Beamon jewelry + plain black pumps = default “I need to be amazing and I have five minutes” outfit.

She Says: “Parties are my job! So all my clothes are party clothes… and I thought this necklace would be heavy, but it’s not!”

We Say: “But I am mad about Jose. I honestly think I’d give up smoking if he asked me.”