—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

Fashion’s Mystery Man, 28, Journalist & Stylist

Got him: Just before Viktor & Rolf in Paparazzi Alley (our new nickname for the walk through the Jardin des Tuilieries, the necessary route to the Espace Ephémère).

Stalked him: Because he’s at every show at every fashion week, almost always front row, and no one knows who he is.

Shot him: Because he’s all about the color in a world of bondage shoes and peaked shoulders.

He said: “I am a stylist and journalist in China”

We say: Sorry, between your whisper-soft voice and strong accent we can’t quite understand you. But that’s okay, your look speaks for itself.

—REBECCA SUHRAWARDI AUSTIN

Which beloved designer was barely admitted entrance to the Viktor & Rolf show (he dared arrive without a ticket)? Once inside he was forced to stand until a communal voice rose up from the section reassuring security that he was in fact quite important and didn’t belong among the masses.

Whoa, the Viktor & Rolf show. Talk about sensory overload and a spectacle to behold

A giant, sparkling globe rotated on one end of the stage as Róisín Murphy (in what we can assume is the designers’ version of maternity wear) belted out tunes from a raised platform on the other and models dressed like candy emerged from between the two.

The collection was beyond colorful and the designer duo has probably caused a worldwide tulle shortage considering how much was used in the show. It was interesting how they utilized the material, though: it was like geometry in tulle. The designers constructed layer upon layer of the fabric and then strategically cut into it with laser-like precision. The attention grabbing, debutante-esque ballgowns exhibited a parade of shapes, from beyond perfect circles to lines that sliced through the circumference of the dresses.

The other half of the collection was not quite so dramatic. The more ready-to-wear selection included dresses, jumpsuits and jackets in an off-white palette with black trim.

Whatever was going through the minds of those two when they dreamed this up doesn’t matter (thought wouldn’t we all love to know), because the show was the best thing about my day and made me fall in love all over again with what I do.

—REBECCA SUHRAWARDI AUSTIN

A very pregnant Róisín Murphy will be performing live (with new material!) at the Viktor & Rolf show in Paris on Saturday. We are sure she will not disappoint and cannot wait to see how they outfit her.

“We are attracted and inspired by what we call mega-women: strong women who follow their own path and are uncompromisingly themselves,” said the designers. “Róisín Murphy is a source of inspiration for us. We share with her the need for theatricality and performance in our work. Róisín personifies a power of transformation. On-stage she easily morphs into a beautifully fierce character, while off-stage she is the counterpart of her theatrical self: soft-spoken, modest, even quiet.”

As for the singer: “I have been known to go to some extremes in my fashion choices but the Viktor & Rolf dress that I wore for my ‘Overpowered’ promotion had its own sound and lighting rig incorporated which tops them all.”

This is a perfect pairing as far as we’re concerned. And it sounds like it might be the kind of performance that makes Gaga a little jealous, non?

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.

We’d gotten so used to waking up every morning to the news that yet another designer would be returning home to London for Spring 09 that we don’t know what to do with the news that Giles will be showing in Paris.

First, we should congratulate him for winning the ANDAM award, the same €160,000 endowment that sent Gareth Pugh to Paris one year ago. The prize, given by France’s National Association for the Development of the Fashion Arts has been previously bestowed upon designers like Margiela and Viktor & Rolf putting Giles in even higher company.

But really we’re kind of devastated. His clothes and spirit are so thoroughly British that the grand celebrations of the BFC’s 25th Anniversary will be lacking without his presence, not to mention that despite the crazy fun that is British Fashion Week there really are just a handful of internationally known designers in town - Luella, Westwood’s Red Label, Chris Kane and now probably Marios Schwab which makes Giles’ show one of LFW’s stars.

Meanwhile, we are excited to see how or if his designs change for such a different atmosphere and probably audience. Can we expect Anna’s presence?

Ever heard of Arnhem? It’s a perfect summer vacation destination for the fash-obsessed this year.

The Dutch city is hosting The Arnhem Mode Biennale. It’s their third one, but it’s bigger and better this year and from the photos we’re betting that it’s going to be very exciting, with big brands such as Viktor & Rolf (alumni of the city’s art academy), Balenciaga, Calvin Klein and others like Klavers van Engelen (his work is pictured) having donated pieces to the show.

Apparently, the whole city gets behind the production. And it’s always exciting to see places other than the big four of fashion getting in on the action.

It makes us wonder, what other cities—European, American, Asian or otherwise—are poised to work their way up to major global fashion recognition and love, and more importantly, what their staying power will be. Scott Schuman and Garance both made trips to Sydney and Melbourne last month. TMagazine did a beautiful shoot combining Spring looks and the city of Chicago for their Spring 09 Travel Issue. Mainland China’s on the move, and Hong Kong is already a powerful fashion capital.

Variety is what makes fashion, or any art, interesting and engaging. Every city has a unique personality, and we want to see more of them contributing and flowing into the beating heart of the fashion world.

What’s your favorite, less obvious, fashion city?

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

An Vandevorst and Filip Arickx showed their Fall 09 collection at this garage in Le Marais that a few designers choose every season despite the fact that it’s far away from everything else and the models literally have to stomp up and down a parking ramp to reach the runway.

Their collection started with pretty tunic-like dresses in patches of navy and forest green with huge bags draped across the body. Then came bits of fur, jodhpurs, boxy skirt suits and coats. There were a couple of blankets, which were only more wearable than that Viktor & Rolf comforter they inevitably brought to mind.

But we were too distracted by the nude nylons wrapped around the models heads to even contemplate the blankets. In fact, we were so into the hose headbands that we didn’t even realize, until half way through, that their arms and hands were also stuck inside neutral nylons which made everything a bit creepy.

I made a new friend on the way out who said, “It’s really great that they have such a vision, but people can’t really afford to wear blankets right now.”

Though when you look at it from an economical point of view, blankets might not be so bad.

She’s the perpetual face of Fendi and a favorite of Vogue, but now the expensive blonde smile of Raquel Zimmerman is going for a more approachable market:

She’s booked the latest H&M campaign.

The Brazilian bombshell, who plays guitar on the side, was already the poster girl for Viktor + Rolf’s diffusion line, which debuted at the Swedish chain.

Now Raquel ditches the boys and goes solo, appearing in a series of really cute bikinis and tropical prints in their upcoming resort (or is it Cruise? We can’t keep this stuff straight…) advertisements.

Past H&M faces include Fashionista’s mascot Cintia Dicker (that’s her Polaroid on the top right of our blog), plus Anja Rubik, Daria Werbowy, and once Madonna posed for them, too.

And who’s never had an H&M campaign?

Kate Moss. Stella McCartney chose the model when her own line was in stores, but once Kate was (publicly) caught with drugs, they rescinded their offer. Reportedly furious, Stella handed the Polaroids of the ad shoot over to several newspapers and also Dazed and Confused. Does anybody have a scan?

H&M just launched their high-end range, COS, with a store opening in Copenhagen. With it comes this fun video, of everyone waiting for it to open.

We think it’s sort of adorable, and hysterical, and random - it reminds us a little bit of a Vanessa Beecroft installation.

But maybe it’s also indicative of how foreign fashion addicts shop, and how the American shopping experience has a different kind of urgency:

When Proenza for Target launched last year, there was a line around the block, a few tourist shoppers with glittery signs, and a noise so loud from the street, we briefly thought we were at a concert for The Rapture. We’ve seen similar scenes for Phillip Lim / Uniqlo, H&M / Viktor & Rolf, and of course Kate Moss / TopShop at Barneys.

In Copenhagen, it’s a little calmer - but if COS ever comes to NYC, we’re expecting madness… again

We joked with some editors today that we had to hit Viktor + Rolf, just to see what the models would have to do next.

Two seasons ago, it was tango. Last season, it was balance their own light and sound systems on their heads.

But this season, it was the editors who had to work. There was rain before the show started, which meant the Tuileries had something in common with Glastonbury besides beaucoup de skinny jeans.

It was muddy. It was everywhere.

Whomp! There’s Grace Coddington, plodding through the gravel.

Sop!! There’s Bill Cunningham, wading in puddles.

Whish! Anna Piaggi and Hilary Alexander, shaking off droplets.

Meanwhile, Anja Rubik and Agyness floated blissfully down the runway in white tiered dresses screened with black lace print, and little violins stitched or seared on everything - the collars, the hems, the bodices.

That ’70s song “Close to You” played overhead - we spotted Derek Blasberg mouthing the words with the Russian Vogue team - and though we were very, very far away from the runway, it was the first time we ever felt a connection with Viktor & Rolf.

Most of it was lovely, when it didn’t veer on the side of pastry, and best of all, no models were harmed in the making of the collection.

But Julie Gilhart’s chic black shoes? They might need some intensive care - she bravely hiked up to the Tent like she was on safari.

Italian designer Roberto Cavalli will be the next designer for H&M!

Cavalli follows Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, and Viktor & Rolf - oh yes, Madonna too - in the H&M diffusion club. British Vogue reveals his designs are expected to hit stores this winter, right between Temperly for Target and Erin Fetherston for Target.

While Cavalli’s recent cowboy kick might translate well into a mass market line, it’s tough to see his signature dresses, which are skin-tight and often stuffed with feathers, becoming something cheaper.

It’s also fun to wonder who will model this collection - Kate Moss was supposed to do Stella’s H&M line, but then the cocaine happened and H&M vetoed her.

Raquelle Zimmerman helped out Viktor & Rolf by wearing their giant wedding dress in the print campaign. And now Kate Moss is the face of Cavalli… but it seems unlikely she’d front an H&M collection, especially since her designs for TopShop will continue hitting stores through next year.

Maybe Heidi Klum, whose family vacations with Cavalli’s, will strike a pose?