photo courtesy WWDWhile we love everything bespoke, we’re probably more excited about Z Spoke—something we can indeed afford.

That’s the name of Zac Posen’s new line launching at Saks this spring. And get this, the price point starts at $78. The 60 pieces include tons of separates and are all about sportswear.

Zac told WWD, “To me, it’s more appropriate to build a whole brand and collection around this price point. Chic sportswear should be at this price point. Designer dresses and cocktail pieces should be at a more expensive price point.”

The inspiration is much more LES than UES as Zac had pics of Nike Dunks and Travis Bickle on his inspiration board. We love the idea of this expansion and not only because it’s going to offer us a little bit of Zac to wear in our daily lives, seeing as we’re not the frequent fancy dress wearers. But also because he sounds so excited and serious about the project.

“I treat a T-shirt as a T-shirt should be treated. With a lot of love.” Well said, sir.

Last night Louis Vuitton debuted their first US lifestyle boutique at Saks in NYC, hosted by Maggie Gyllenhaal, LV’s Daniel Lalonde, and Saks’ Steven Sadove. (Lifestyle boutique = every product category offered at their own stores is now available at Saks. The only other one of its kind is at Harrods.)

The invitation called the party “Le Jardin Louis Vuitton” but for some reason I was still expecting a lovely, but typical, department store event. Um, no. First clue: the entry bracelets were properly LV embossed leather. Second clue: The greenery was out of control in a very awesome way that also smelled amazingly delicious.

We all know Ali Hewson and that guy, Bono, she’s married to are kind of saving the world—one microdebt and cause at a time. But seriously, they do really good work that makes me feel like a total loser for not doing enough.

But I’ve got a little something we can do. Starting today exclusively at SaksFifthAvenue.com and edunonline.com, a special series of Edun tees that Ali designed in collaboration with artist Jo Ratcliffe will go on sale to benefit the War Child projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

War Child’s mission is to protect children in dangerous war zones around the world. I mean, if you’ve got a problem with that cause, you may just be dead inside.

So, no buying a really fun zebra t-shirt does not even close fulfill my requirements for being a better person. But hey, it’s a start.

I wear out my shoes like nobody’s business. This is the curse of New York. You don’t need a car, but you’ll spend a gazillion dollars at Shoe Service Plus, constantly fixing the soles and the taps on the heels that you already spent a chunk of a paycheck on. And then there comes a sad, sad day when perhaps that once gorgeous pair just doesn’t look acceptable anymore and they are retired. Sniff, sniff.

If this has ever happened to you with a pair of Jimmy Choos, this is going to be very good news for you. The company just today unveiled, Choo 24/7, a capsule collection of 28 classic styles, with updated lasts, colors, and finishes. Hooray!

I was walking through Saks yesterday, overwhelmed by the perfection of Helmut Lang’s pre-fall collection, when I saw the BCBG skirt at left.

It was hot pink in the store, so it jumped out against the greys and blacks, and perfectly banded. The piece was tiny and stretchy with a zipper up the back just like Herve Leger’s signature bandage skirts. At this point, you can find Herve rip-offs everywhere, but it made us wonder what Mr. Azria, the man behind both Herve and BCBG, stands to gain from ripping himself off - like when Topshop ripped off Kate Moss for Topshop’s dress.

We are so excited for September.

While the official list won’t be released until August 17th, we just received a huge rundown of events for Fashion’s Night Out, the New York City fashion celebration this September 10th. Over 300 retailers in all five boroughs have already signed up to party from 6pm to 11pm. We’re a little overwhelmed by it…in a good way.

We already told you about Alex Wang at Barney’s. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Also at Barney’s? The Olsen twins (girl crush times two!), Jonathan Adler and Lisa Perry, on hand to teach you how to knit. After you learn, you can knit a square to be included in a blanket to be sold to benefit the September 11th Memorial Fund.

This September doesn’t just mean Fashion Week, fall and my 25th birthday (yikes!), it also means the first ever Vogue Night Out.

Mayor Bloomberg and Anna Wintour announced the initiative in May, hoping for a revitalization of fashion and retail in New York City. The event’s taken on international proportions, with counterparts in London and Paris on the night of September 10th.

The best part of the night’s shaping up to be something other than endless promotional tees and charitable tie-ins: the presence of the designers themselves.

Today, Vogue UK lets slip that Alexander Wang will be on hand at Barneys teaching customers how to walk a runway which means we’re left wondering how the the other participating designers will feature. If it’s cold enough, can Vera Wang teach ice skating at Rock Center? We’d like Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren conducting traffic at 57th and 5th and Donna Karan drawing horse carriages from Bergdorf to Saks.

Is that too much to ask?

This morning’s inbox is flooded with sale announcements.

While no one’s hit 75% off quite yet, except for Selfridges which sadly we can’t make, spring prices are being slashed left and right.

Saks just announced 25% off all women’s denim (on top of their already 40% off sale), for two days you can take an extra 20% off sale at Shopbop and Barneys added inventory to their sale while knocking everything down another 25%, too.

J.Crew’s having a ‘secret’ sale - enter SECRET at checkout for 20% purchases over $175 and Net-a-Porter’s sale section’s already disappeared which means we expect it to be further discounted on the Outnet sooner than later.

And, someone emailed yesterday to ask why in the world Intermix is selling spring Rag & Bone for full price when it’s 50% off on Bergdorf’s 5th floor - we don’t know why, but we do think you’d like to know that if you have your heart set on that perfect romper at left you should probably head to 5th instead of Madison Avenue.

Happy shopping!

Pronto and Ideeli, two separate shopping sites, have joined forces to bring you that Alexander Wang bag.

It’s the black Donna hobo that every single model carried this fashion week. It retails for $795 but you can register to win it here for free.

If you need a pair of jeans to go with that bag, everything at Deisel is 30% off starting tomorrow, Friday April 17, through the weekend. You can print the coupons out here or just get them in store.

And lastly, you can win a $1000 shopping spree to Saks Fifth Avenue if you refer a few of your friends to CharityHapenings.org, a website that bills itself as the philanthropic hub of New York City where socials get their invitations to charity events and the chance to contribute to the philanthropies of their choice.

And let’s face, $1000 will buy you quite a bit at Saks come spring sales.

If you, like us, are getting impatient with summer’s arrival, these upcoming makeover freebies might help put some warm weather pep in your step.

Starting tomorrow and running until Monday, Nars is offering free mini makeovers at Henri Bendel. They’re busting out their just-launched summer color collection and will help you create a new look. The shimmery teal Tropic Single eyeshadow is definitely worth trying out - even if you normally shy away from brightly colored eye makeup. You’ll also get a free sample of Nars foundation with your consultation. Makeovers are by appointment only - call Bendel’s at 212-904-7954 to schedule yours.

And if you’d rather take a hands on approach to learning the art of makeup application, YSL’s Artistic Advisor Val Garland is teaching a master class at Saks on April 23. The class costs $50 but the fee’s redeemable in product.

If not, Garland will conduct one-on-one appointments from 10am to 7pm that same day. Call 212-940-2156 to book.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

Getting to the gym is a kind of universal New Year’s resolution, but if there was ever a year to forego a $100/month membership, it’s this one.

So Equinox is coming to you, assuming that in the midst of all this you’re still hanging out at Saks. This weekend, the fancy gym is sticking masseuses and personal trainers on the sales floor, handing out over 20,000 guest passes in goodie bags and e-mailing their current members a 15% discount code for Saks.

If you’re a SaksFirst customer (which we’re not so we can’t tell you what it means other than spending a lot of money), Equinox will waive their hefty initiation fee and give you free Pilates class.

And if you’re super into this idea, there will be yogis striking poses in the 5th Ave. Saks windows for four hours this weekend, so grab your Stella for Adidas gear and head uptown.

We, on the other hand, would rather cozy up with hot chocolate and POP’s ‘last’ issue. But, to each her own.

I finally went to Saks on Friday.

I knew things were bad - I live in New York, I work in fashion, I have lawyer friends and retail friends and finance friends, a roommate from Detroit and parents who aren’t too far, sorry, weren’t too far, from retirement - but seeing Saks in worse shape than Union Square’s Trader Joe’s on Sunday afternoon was, basically, horrifying.

Where YSL bags and Chloe clutches proudly sat are stacks of crumpled $50 cashmere. Rolling racks fill almost every aisle, so stuffed with this season’s merchandise that you can’t possibly see anything without ripping it from the hanger. Marc by Marc Resort 2009 is already 40% off and I found Alexander McQueen sequined leggings on the floor. Someone wrapped Alaia belts vertically around a pole by the Oscar de la Renta and I spotted the Miu Miu dress Isabeli Fontana wore on last February’s runway crumpled in a ball underneath a 50% off buffalo plaid Ralph Lauren coat hanging from one shoulder.

And the shoe salon, the shimmering bastion of exotic footwear so recently honored with its own zip code, looks tragic underneath tumbling piles of shoes that used to cost $1000. If you can wade through the Stuart Weitzmans to the scratched up Fendis, Viviers and Balenciagas, good luck finding your size because the defeated sales people are holed up in the middle of the room, the only place with regularly priced shoes and the only area without a single customer.

I still couldn’t find the handbags anywhere and not a single employee knew what I meant when I said they weren’t in their usual home - probably because they’re temporary employees, (who by the way are wearing jeans on the floor, which is a sign everyone’s pretty much given up).

I left, pouting, not even tempted by $200 Prada shoes. I should’ve skipped the trip altogether so that if, or more likely when, they finally close their doors, I remember the old Saks instead of the outlet version.

Because even though I know how important it is to “get it,” denial’s so much more comfortable.

The fashion industry’s been kind of obsessed with this election.

Everyone gasped when Michelle wore Thakoon, then again when she wore J.Crew. Everyone panicked when Palin spent $150,000 at Saks and Neiman’s and everyone cringed when she wore knee-high boots.

Sonia Rykiel and Jean de Castelbjac sent Obama dresses down their Spring runway, Nicole Farhi sprinkled her looks with Obama pins and Stella McCartney left personal notes encouraging her runway audience to “V.O.T.E. Obama.”

And now, with four days to go, Zac Posen’s making his message loud and clear. So far, we love his outfit best.