New Look, the British high street shop that’s done collaborations in the past with everyone from Luella to Giles to Tatty Devine, plans on hopping back on the London Stock Exchange.

The second-largest women’s retailer in the U.K. wants to raise money—about $1 billion—in order to spruce up its existing stores and also build new ones both in the UK and abroad. (That means, possibly, the US.) The company was taken private by UK equity firm Apax partners in 2004.

If you’ve never been to New Look, it’s kind of like a junky Topshop. The clothes are mostly knock-offs and really, really poorly made. However, I was living in London when the Luella and Tatty Devine collections hit and I have to say, they were stellar.

But would New Look succeed in the US the way Topshop has?

That, I’m not so sure of, but with a bit more thought and money put into the stores, it’s possible.

Ashish’s leopard print wedges are still sitting on the shelf of New York’s Topshop, but his second collection hits stores next week, February 3rd.

There are massive wedges - this time gold with three buckles - and enough spikes to prevent you from ever getting on an airplane (especially if worn with Louise Goldin for Topshop shoes).

But why are there sweatpants?

If, as a mega-store, we hired a young talent to design a capsule collection and he came back with a cropped sweatshirt, sweatpants and gym shorts all in the same grey jersey (that’s three out of a seven piece collection) we’d be pissed.

Though if you haven’t already snagged a pair from Isabel Marant or Alex Wang or American Apparel or J.Crew or Target or anywhere else, now’s your chance.

Pictures of Mark Fast’s diffusion line Faster, which bows next month, have popped up on the internet in ones and twos, but someone just sent a link to the whole (short) lookbook.

We’ve posted the pictures after the jump.

While we wait patiently for this and his Topshop collection, we’ll help spread this:

Interview: Can we expect to see some voluptuous mannequins working your Fall 2010 runway?
Fast: Of course! Those women are here to stay!

After SS10’s curvy-gate, a handful of people accused Fast of pulling a PR stunt, a one time gimmick to grab attention for his young brand, but Fast tells Interview he’d planned to include plus size models as early as three months before his show - and they’ll be sticking around.

His reasons for not dressing Lady Gaga are similar, but who is his dream client? Carine. Duh.

This morning the British Fashion Council released a shortlist of designers up for the first ever BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund - the CFDAs for Brits.

Richard Nicoll and Nicholas Kirkwood are on the list, as well as Marios Schwab, Erdem, Clements Ribeiro, E. Tautz and Angel Jackson.

No major surprises, except for the inclusion of Christopher Kane. He’s hardly new or struggling, he’s done three collections for Topshop, designs Versus for Versace and is, probably, sick and tired of still being labeled up-and-coming since Anna plucked him out of Central St. Martin’s four years ago.

Plus, Kane’s had a very public mentor, Donatella, for over three years. Surely someone else could use a hand?

Rumor has it Christopher Kane’s working on a fragrance.

Unless it’s a collaboration with Dover Street Market or Six Scents, we’re not sure why.

When the decision’s made to expand the brand into mass markets (Topshop doesn’t count) we’d expect shoes or bags at the start, and then perfume.

But if there really is a scent, what will it smell like?

A gingham clad Lolita rolling through the grass? Gorillas swinging from trees? Or will influence from Versus carry over to brew a sweaty, up-all-night, 80s-inspired smell?

And more importantly, who will land the campaign?

Louis Vuitton’s Fall 09 bunny ears were delightful.

Katie Grand topped off almost half the outfits with some variation of peaked ears, whether bow-like or bunny-like, for at least a week post-show (or until my feet landed firmly in New York) I was convinced that yes, I would wear bunny ears.

Though the charm didn’t wear off, I came to my senses and unless a package arrives from Marc tomorrow saying, “Dear Britt, Please wear these daily,” and I have a few Katie Grand styled outfits to wear, too, I won’t be wearing bunny ears. Which makes me wonder about all the bunny ear ‘knock-offs’ (yes, I know you can’t knock-off bunny years, but the LV show kicked off their non-Halloween related revival) arriving in stores.

Topshop’s selling theirs for £18.00 (almost $30) and we spotted a pair in the window of Forever21 last week, but they’re not online which could mean they sold out? There’s a pair at H&M for around $14 and we saw a bunch at Ricky’s circa mid-October, though that was for Halloween.

So if these are selling, does that mean you’re actually wearing bunny ears?

I usually look forward to holiday parties, and not just because I love a nice glass of champagne. But I hadn’t really been feeling it this year, especially when it came to my closet…until today.

Earlier we hit the press preview for the Target-to-Go pop-up just below the Highline and I picked up a very pretty Rodarte for Target dress in a nude color I almost never wear. (And yes, the three dresses they have available only served to feed our hunger for the entire collection.) Not only did I rediscover my party dress mojo, but apparently I also became obsessed with neutrals.

Cruising around the internet this afternoon, I was surprisingly struck by this sparkly Topshop number in a light rosy shade. It’s so perfectly fun and flirty, I can’t stand it.

Now I’m all sorts of ready for some yuletide cheer. Thanks Topshop and Target!

Accessories designer Aleksandra Olenska’s CV makes our heads spin.

The London based stylist trained under the legendary Camille Bidault Waddington, and has since created accessories for designers like Peter Jensen and Roksanda Ilincic as well as bespoke pieces for Kylie Minogue, Heatherette and Bjork. She also styles for magazines like Vogue and Exit, teaches at Central St Martins and, in all her spare time, consults for Vanessa Bruno and Topshop.

Phew. We are tired just thinking of it.

We’re not, however, too tired to attend the class she’s teaching next Wednesday, December 2nd at Frame Dance Studios. What’s she teaching? How to create the perfect headpiece. For £20 Olenska will offer her DIY wisdom. They’ll provide materials: bands, beads, feathers, crystals and advice on how to choose the perfect colors which is perfect for those of us (most of us) lacking the budget for a whole new holiday outfit.

That £20 includes wine and gossip, naturally. Click through for details!

Good Romance: This TUSH editorial of Siri makes us want to run off into the woods and dress up like a fairy. Unfortunately, we are not supermodels, nor five year old girls, so this seems less than logical. {FashionGoneRogue}

On the Traina: Erin Kleinberg sure does love her famous daughters/socials as models. First it was Theodora Richards. This season, it’s Vanessa Traina. {Nylon}

Rent-a-Dress: Topshop’s latest initiative will let consumers hire a dress for a day from the likes of Kate Moss, Freida Pinto, Sophie Dahl, and Christopher Kane with their Dress Me Up campaign. Then they’ll be auctioned off for two of their favorite charities for the elderly. {VogueUK}

In the spirit of Friday, here’s something absurd.

In Topshop’s “New In” page, it’s not the horrible Blake Lively-esque side-braid the model’s rocking, it’s her sweater. Or more specifically, what’s on her sweater.

At first, I wasn’t sure which animal I was looking at. A skunk? A hamster? It was cute, but creepy. Upon further investigation - or clicking - I discovered that the critter’s a guinea pig, which is probably one of the most random things I’ve ever seen.

Sure, Miuccia scattered kittens all over Miu Miu and Giles went dinosaur crazy. I’ve even seen animal-centric sweaters in Topshop before (adorned with large cats, for example), but out of all of them, I think I prefer this guinea pig (it lacks the “crazy-old-cat-lady” stigma).

I’m not the only one drawn to the cuddly creature, the top’s sold out in almost every size. If yours is gone, don’t fret. This clip of Stephanie Pratt will more than fill your guinea pig quota for the day.

From Blogs to Billboards: Next Model Management just announced their representation of BunnyBISOUS’s Julia Frakes in New York. Julia isn’t their first fashion blogger client — they signed Fashion Toast’s Rumi Neely to their LA branch in April. {Fashionologie}

Baby Face: Claudia Schiffer just doesn’t age. Vogue UK featured the supe in a retrospective. And it’s simply stunning. {Vogue UK}

Book It!: Leave it to the beauty experts to find the best venues for you to schedule your Halloween makeup appointments. They give you addresses, phone numbers and even rates! Your fake lashes woes are officially over. {Style.com}

An Early Xmas Gift: Don’t forget! Kate Moss’ Holiday line for Topshop launches tomorrow. As always, she models part of the collection on the store’s site, looking gorgeous as ever. {Topshop}

O-Style: For anyone who wants to truly follow Michelle Obama’s style choices there’s been one go-to site, Mrs-O.org. Now, blogger Mary Tomer’s got her own book on the First Lady that looks to be equally well-done. Also, we love the Alaia in this first official family portrait. {StyleFile}

Hands off our DvF: For shame, criminals of Madrid. Diane von Furstenberg was mugged this weekend in the Spanish city. Though we’re sure AmEx hooked her up with some new cards really quickly. {Jaunted}

Phew! Sesame Street is not, repeat not, collaborating with Amercian Apparel. Thank god, because we don’t want to imagine what Dov was dreaming up for the ad campaign. Shudder. {Stylelist}

We’ve had a few themes that seem to have organically emerged on the site today: Rock ‘n Roll (grunge included), photography, and now the moustache, thanks to a couple of Hamish references, Ruben Toledo’s work, and this t-shirt we just happened upon over atTopshop.

Random? A little. But also fairly culturally on trend. Kitschy? Definitely. Wearable? Totally. We’re planning to work it under our now ubiquitous blazers.

Also we just really, really like a moustache. When we see one, we smile. And sometimes write poetry. So there’s that too.

All students know that Wednesday is the worst homework night of the week.

That’s why tonight’s Student Shop at Topshop is the perfect distraction!

From 7-10pm, the Topshop store at Broadway and Broome is offering a 20% discount with student IDs.

Aside from the excellent savings, there will also be a DJ and hidden prizes - fun times.

I’ll be stopping by between writing my French essay and doing my million pages of art history reading to grab this Christopher Kane for Topshop dress (that looks all the better with a discount) and this casual blazer that’s perfect for fall.

Grab your ID and meet me in Soho for some chic procrastination!

I need Style.com like I need my morning coffee.

But I’ve been clicking on Vogue.com more and more lately, in part because I’m anxiously awaiting obvious changes and excited for Condé Nast to really truly enter the digital age (I’d never actually say that out loud), but also because it lets you see a totally different side of Vogue’s editors.

Hamish has his sphere and Candy has her cast, but some features, like Meredith Melling Burke’s Most Wanted, feature a rotating cast of Vogue-ettes listing their current favorite things.

Sometimes there’s a theme, like Devon Schuster’s wedding or Jane Aldridge’s shoes and sometimes there’s not. Like this week’s list, from features associate Stephanie LaCava, is basically because she has ridiculously great style. She’s mixed Proenza shorts with Topshop boots and a Band of Outsiders toggle coat; it’s fun to see the thought process behind style we consistently admire.

Surprisingly, Vogue.com’s the best place to go if you ever forget that even the most major fashion people have a sense of humor.

Georgia Peach: Just in case you don’t have as massive a crush on Georgia May Jagger as we do, which is kind of inconceivable, here’s a mini-portfolio from Vanity Fair. We like to say we knew her when. {VanityFair}

Herm-Asprey?: Maybe Hermès thought no one would notice if they bought Asprey’s massive New Bond Street store since the whole fashion world’s on a plane to Paris. But they did, and now word is they’re not just buying the store, but maybe the whole company. Interesting…{VogueUK}

Kane Control: From the second I left Heathrow, I was bombarded with Christopher Kane for Topshop. For every fifteen pieces, an original ape popped up, but for the most part with was crocodiles (alligators?) everywhere you looked, as captured here. {Streetpeeper}

The fashion world’s been waiting for ages to get a glimpse of Christopher Kane’s Versus collection for Versace.

Last season, the duo teased us with a peek at killer shoes and bags, as black and studded and sexy as expected. But this Sunday, he and the boss lady finally revealed the whole thing during a presentation in Milan.

In the video, he talks to The Guardian’s Jo Jones about the process, the importance of Donatella, and why he steers clear of too much color (to showcase his almost manic attention to detail). A few of the dresses actually bear a striking resemblance to Kane’s Topshop collection, with their lace panelling and detached sleeves and of course all of them sort of scream sex.

Red carpets should be flooded in no time.