Bravo to Sarah Jessica Parker for being brilliant at leverage:

Mere months after the Twilight series gets pegged as the next Harry Potter, and mere heartbeats away from its first movie release, the movie star releases a perfume called… Twilight.

Coty Inc. said in WWD today that the fragrances are based on “moments in time,” but we know the reality:

They’re based on a catchphrase that’s already made millions, and can stand to make even millions more.

Sadly, SJP probably won’t make a cameo in the actual Twilight, which is really a bummer - put her in some midnight blue McQueen and she’d be a perfect goth princess.

We have trouble with bracelets.

The perfect one is hard to come by. It can’t be too big or too heavy, or else you have to take it off all the time. It can’t be on everyone else’s wrist, because that’s just boring. And it has to work perfectly from day to night, because that’s just the way of our wardrobe.

Luckily, this set of bangles by Jennifer Rose meets our rigid bracelet criteria. They come in both yellow and rose gold, either of which will work perfectly with Spring’s neutrals - they’d compliment Givenchy’s nudie frocks quite nicely.

If only they came in silver for the days we’re feeling more Alexander Wang than Tisci.

Oh, and did we mention they’re on sale?

—ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION

Fashionista Debate # 749

Once again, the office was in heated debate over a super important issue: Do you have a fashion icon?

As usual, Natalie’s adamant: no, decidedly not. But I wonder, how can this be possible?

Everyone should have an icon, someone to look to when you can’t figure out which socks to wear, someone to grab ideas from, someone that just makes you smile.

When the topic came up, I stared at Britt expecting an immediate, “Gwyneth Paltrow.” But she didn’t say it, so I did. To my surprise, she didn’t say “Duh” in that funny Cher Horowitz way she has. She was on the fence about the whole icon status. Sure, she writes love letters to Gwyn, but never thought about how she loves Stella and McQueen and structured blazers and white t shirts and major shoes the same way the super mom does.

And okay, so Hayley has a Holy Trinity (Kate, Jane, Brigitte) that she loves to look at and I can’t stop staring at Ezra Koenig every chance I get, but who’s in the majority?

Do you have an icon, a couple of icons, do you even know that you have an icon, or do you march to the beat of your own stylist?

—BRETT KANE

Chanel just unveiled a new line of bags and accessories under the label Chanel Unlimited.

The bags are made of a “glossy gray canvas material.” Though our first thought was, “These are totally Karl’s answer to Prada’s nylon bags. But worse, because they’re plastered in not just one, but many logos.”

You can have hobos, clutches, mini and maxi bags, even a large garment bag littered with words like “Coco,” “Paris,” “31 Rue Cambon,” and of course, “Chanel.” They feature “exquisite details” like inside pockets, leather reinforcements and invisible zip fastenings. Details that are, you know, so hard to find in other purses.

So essentially, they’re like LeSportsac with Chanel price tags.

Karl, how could you condone this?

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Dear WWD,

We love you, and respect you, and can’t wake up without you.

But when you read a piece of important information on our site, or when we email you news stories we’ve broken, it would be great if you could credit us.

We know you mean us when you say, “Our Sources,” but not everyone else does.

We don’t mean any disrespect, but you’re not the only one who breaks news anymore.

xoxo
Fashionista

“Back in the day when they were teenagers, they had status but they probably had pagers!” —Go to COACD right now. Can you name them all?

Yesterday, we suggested that Men’s Vogue is the new Fashion Rocks - a rather irrelevant supplement that pops up twice a year in the back of your actual Vogue and gets relegated to the bottom of the magazine stack, if not the garbage.

Well, WWD confirmed our analogy this morning.

Fashion Rocks and Movie Rocks are no more. And no Fashion Rocks supplement means no Fashion Rocks concert. Did Justin Timberlake know this before the rest of the world and sign up to host the Met Ball as his fashion event replacement?

We also suggested Conde cut back on coffee runs and black cars. But we don’t think we’ll be reading confirmation of that in WWD anytime soon.

Stella McCartney needs interns!

Not in London? Not a problem. It’s the US Press Office that needs stocking up.

They need someone, many someones, who are available three to four days a week from 10am to 6pm.

You should be motivated, punctual, experienced and possess a heretofore unseen devotion to the world of fashion because it will make your life much easier.

You’ll handle credit requests, scour magazines, run around the city, probably meet Stella and maybe have to buy underwear for Kate Moss.

You’ll also get up close and personal with the Spring 09 collection and that should be enough motivation.

Email your resume and cover letter to stellamccartneyintern@stellamccartney.com. Make sure to include all contact info and your availability.

Good Luck!

Jeremy met a boy.

His name is Joey Kirchner.

He shot him for Nuke Magazine.

Here’s a sneak peek.

Joey’s signed to Major Model Management and Jeremy thinks he’ll be pretty major, no pun intended.

He has hockey sticks and his number tatooed on his right arm.

If this is outside the box, remember, it’s Friday and we’ll use any excuse to post a cute boy playing with pool toys.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

Even Bollywood’s been hit by hard economic times.

India’s answer to Hollywood, (though so much bigger), has been suffering at the hands of less willing theatregoers. But, like Shirley Temple and the Great Depression, it looks like India’s movie-lovers just needed the right reason to get back in their red velvet seats.

Madhur Bhandarkar’s blockbuster film, Fashion, is about a small town girl who moves to a big city to become a supermodel. The model, played by Priyanka Chopra, makes her way through managers, publicists, designers, stars and agents until she finally takes to a runway.

Though the movie claims to be a work of fiction, it’s being heralded as a realistic portrait of the industry. From the things a girl must do to make it to the top, to the shady practice of label switching among Indian designers, it’s being regarded as a more digestible version of many truths.

The film opens stateside today and movies are the perfect cure to a Halloween hangover.

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.

“Am I still going to be alive in 2009? I really hope so. I am a designer; I will go on designing until I die. This is my way of talking about 2009, 2010…” —Yohji Yamamoto on the future of men’s fashion.

This just in:

A clue as to who wins Stylist (and no, we really can’t drum up the words for the guy who hyperventilated like he was a hostage last night).

But since we know what crabby pants people can be over spoilers, it’s hidden after the jump!

From an ELLE staffer:

So, we found this video.

It’s called “Where’s Rogan? with Raymond Uberhoff” and it’s on New York Magazine’s website.

We don’t know what it’s for, where it’s going or how it got here.

It chronicles Rogan Gregory’s humble beginnings, a la E! True Hollywood Story, through to his fashionable success story. But then suddenly, he disappears and Uberhoff dedicates himself to solving the mystery.

Along the way, we meet two men who run a store called Opening Celebration and a girl who’s positively beside herself when she learns Rogan’s missing. We also see the designer hand sewing jeans with a needle and thread in a cage. The episode ends without a solution, but apparently this is just the beginning.

All we could think was, “Is this why his runway show got canceled at the last minute?”

The cut backs we reported first at Men’s Vogue this morning just got some new details via a statement Conde Nast released to Media Week:

Not only is the magazine definitely cutting down their issue count to just two per year - a Spring and Fall addition - but the magazine will also be “absorbed” into Vogue.

Translation? It’ll probably become a small version that’s bagged with the regular Vogue, kind of like Fashion Rocks.

Meaning? There must be a lot of lay-offs at 4 Times Square today, especially since it’s just now been announced that Portfolio, Conde’s business magazine, will be cutting its own issue count to just ten per year, which will inevitably lead to some people being let go.

This is all coming to a head after Conde’s announcement of a company-wide budget cut of 5%.

You’d think they could dig into that by cutting back on car services and multi-day department Starbucks runs.

Want to save 40% on dresses today? Of course you do.

So, go to Owl’s Lab, all dresses will be 40% off - sale and regular price.

All you have to do is type in the magic code at the check-out (DRESS40) and voila, that Vena Cava zipper dress we’ve been dreaming about is now 40% more justifiable.

But click quick because this promotion only lasts until tonight at midnight!

Sharing is caring.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Men’s Vogue might be dying but baby Vogue’s on a roll.

The magazine’s sponsoring a pop-up store in Short Hills Mall, the high-end shopping destination for all Juicy wearers in Northern and Central New Jersey, all to encourage spending and offer a fun place for teenage girls to hang out.

It’s a branding move - nothing’s actually for sale - meant to provide “a place for girls to relax, try on clothes and drink smoothies.”

There will be snacks, music, make-up, clothes, a faux runway, and even occasional visits from actual Teen Vogue editors dishing life and fashion advice.

Basically, the magazine’s reigning in their “impressionable and aspirational” audience as tightly as possible before things get any worse. This store, The Haute Spot, will be followed by two prom-centric stores this spring and two back-to-school versions the following August - assuming all goes well the first time around, we’re sure.

We haven’t been to a mall in ages, but if Teen Vogue had a store while we were in high school, we probably would have lived there.

If you happen to be a college student in Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis or Los Angeles, and a fan of the Lauren Conrad Collection, then you’re in luck.

Lauren’s kicked off a college-tour of her line, The Lauren Conrad Collection College Tour, bringing a runway show to each school along the way. Apparently, she’s figured out that her key customer is young, in school, and probably in a sorority, and much more likely to buy the clothes if she graces the middle of class schedules with a fashion show.

Confirmed schools include Georgia State, Georgia Tech, University of Texas at Austin, University of Minnesota, Brandeis and BU, and shows will go on through the next month.

In other celebrity-design news, have you seen Nicole Richie’s first line for House of Harlow? Because we have to say, Kitson or not, we’re pleasantly surprised, and picturing that Pyramid Bangle with everything come Spring.

This just in:

Another one bites the dust - kind of.

We just got word that Men’s Vogue has been cut down to just two issues per year.

And apparently, it went down with much emotional fanfare on the part of its editorial staff, including the Editorial Director “welling up”.

Call us naive, but we thought Conde would be sort of immune to these problems.

Guess anyone can go down in this climate…

A reporter way up at The Burlington Free Press, is hot on Karl’s Chanel-shooting trail.

Check out the first of her videos stalking the Kaiser GG style (ok, murderer style), and her thoughts on whether “Vermontonia” will influence Chanel Fall 09, and on the house itself (no one seems to realize that this “Lake Champlain” home on Grand Isle is literally on Rte 2.)

Buffalo plaid hunting caps in one year? …

Maison Martin Margiela’s finally diving into the world of pre-collections.

Pre-fall and pre-spring collections are arguably, according to many buyers at least, becoming more important than their runway counterparts. They’re delivered to stores earlier, are often less expensive, and the clothes are usually easier to wear in real life.

Margiela’s “Avant Premiere” debuts in stores this May. The collection offers sixty styles each for men and women, including shoes and bags. The purpose, aside from offering the customer consistently new product, is to give “an introduction to what we’re going to show for the rest of the season,” said a spokeswoman.

The other unspoken purpose is to catch up with the times. While the man himself can stay hidden forever, the revolutionary, well-respected, underground brand needs to compromise their ridiculously niche position to survive financially.

And as long as there’s never a Margiela it-bag, we think everyone will understand.

Another message, from 10:36pm last night:

Hi Ladies,

Just got home and saw the comment madness over Blake Lively and thought I’d clear the air. I’m interning in PR for a luxury designer, and we had a request for some samples for her last week. For Vogue.

The request came for MMB’s assistant (who happens to be, strangely, Tory Burch’s step-daughter, Izzie). I don’t remember if it was for MMB’s Index or for another shoot, Izzie also handles the American market requests for any fashion shoots.

But the samples were definitely for Blake Lively and definitely sent to Vogue last week, dropped off at 4 Times Square on the 12th floor.

Night!

Then, from a friend at 12:08am:

To: tips@fashionista.com
From: pop_secret@condenast.com

Dear Fashionista,

We work at one of Conde Nast’s publications, (can’t say which, obviously), but we know which cover she’ll be gracing soon. We saw the W mock up in the elevator this morning.

It was on its way to the the imaging dept. Hope this helps settle your commenters’ debate!

You know you love us, xoxo

Well, we’re really not sure why Blake would have been at 4 Times Square if it really was for W, and we’re pretty sure the entirety of W is on one floor anyway, so that elevator thing doesn’t sit quite right, but, we share nonetheless.

Dear Natalia,

You’re basically the prettiest person we’ve ever seen, ever, and we smile every time we see you in the David Yurman ads or posing for DVF, or as the lone model on the cover of Vogue.

Having said that, we were all kind of freaked out by the faux-pastoral scene shot by Mario Testino with your family because, isn’t it sort of creepy to have beautiful you holding your terrified children on a horse? And it’s also rather disconcerting to see all of you looking in different directions, dazed.

Plus, this isn’t the first time you’ve done the whole ‘look at my gorgeous family’ thing in Vogue, but at a time when ostentation couldn’t be more inappropriate, this seems out of place.

We do have fond memories of the shots of Stella Tennant with her family, but that had an interview to accompany it, and was all about personal style, which made sense. But just seeing the Portman clan hanging out and playing dress up looking like Peter and Wendy grown up is just awkward.

I’m sure if you asked him nicely Mario would have done this shoot just for you.

Just saying.

—BRETT KANE

Last week, you might remember that ELLE Accessories kind of folded, along with a few more print magazines, and CosmoGIRL! died just before that.

Now, Time Inc’s announced that they’re cutting 600 jobs from their company, instituting a total restructuring of the management of their titles (which includes In Style, easily the most widely-read fashion women’s magazine on the market) and will now be regularly lending writers between magazines, presumably to save on pay. And Time’s the world’s largest magazine publisher with 130 books on its roster.

For now, they’re saying that none of their titles are folding. Whether anyone should really believe that remains to be seen. But here’s a thought:

Time is widely regarded as one of the best companies to work for. Anyone who’s ever worked at In Style will go on and on about the hours, the pay, the benefits, and especially the general culture of super nice people who are all sans ‘tude.

But what happens when you strip staffers of their sense of security and inevitably make everyone more competitive for their jobs?

We were going to show you the new commercial for Fendi’s Palazzo fragrance.

It stars Raquel, Brad, sheets and nipples. But then we found this video documenting the making of the commercial, which also stars Karl. And everything’s better with Karl.

So here you go.

Raquel tries to look sexy in her white boyfriend tee. Well, she doesn’t actually have to try. She just does. And Brad gets to sleep while she poses against the wall, the balcony, the Italian Palazzo.

If only life were more like fragrance commercials, directed by Karl and full of perfectly smoked eyeliner all the time.

His and hers towels make us giggle.

His and hers underwear ads positively thrill us.

We think this might be history in the making. From now on, for every nakey David Beckham for Emporio Armani Underwear ad, Victoria will get one to match.

WWD reports that Mert and Marcus have already shot the Spring 09 campaign starring Posh, whom Giorgio calls a “style icon, a dynamic lady whose influence and recognition will add great excitement to the continued international growth of our Emporio Armani women’s underwear business.”

Her body should also add some “great excitement” - we haven’t seen Posh in her underwear since that steamy W shoot over a year ago, since which her fashion cred has skyrocketed with a starring role in the Marc ads, a well-received line of Roland Mouret, ooops, her own, dresses and front row seats on major runways.

On another note, whatever happened to the Beckham reality show?

Our Tom Ford wardrobe dreams have been slashed much too soon.

Arianne Phillips, best known as Madonna’s personal stylist, will be dressing the cast for A Single Man. Her past film credits include Walk the Line and Swept Away. Her past Madonna credits include the icon’s last four tours, loads of Givenchy and an influx of Gucci leather jackets.

While we might not always love Madonna’s sartorial choices, we did love June Carter Cash’s and can’t wait to see what Phillips does with another 1960’s cast.

Meanwhile, Ford’s said to be collaborating with a couple of Mad Men’s production designers on the sets.

So if Tom can convince Don Draper to make a cameo, this should be the best looking film of the year.

Because we know you were wondering what’s happening with that Sean Avery movie that Sean said might be happening, here’s an update:

In an interview with The Dallas Morning News yesterday, Sean divulged that not only is the movie definitely happening and in pre-production, but that he himself is an executive producer on the film, and “talks to the writer weekly.”

Indeed, someone somewhere has opened an IMDB entry for the film, set to hit silver screens in 2010. So it all seems about as real as his internship, so far.

But so many questions, like: Who will play Sean? Will Andre make a cameo? Will it be called something like, Seamless Summer? Which inevitably leads to, who exactly is this film targeting? Hockey fans? Is somebody out there hoping for a Devil 2?

And most pressing, will the Anna character wear a bob and nude mules?

This just in from the caf:

“Blake Lively spotted lunching at 4 Times Square, with a certain fashion assistant and her manager in tow. She was there for a fitting, but with which magazine, I’m not sure…”

A little math: Couldn’t be Lucky, since she was just on their January cover, and she was just on Teen Vogue’s March. Realistically, that would only leave Glamour, Allure and Vogue.

Oh yeah, the rest of that conversation:

“I think the assistant might have been that girl from Vogue”.

But we highly doubt it could be for the cover - right?

It might be because we love the man blindly, but for some reason we don’t balk at Tom Ford designing a movie the way we balk at Jessica Simpson designing shoes.

Vogue UK reports that the busy man’s starts production on his first film, A Single Man, next month. He adapted the script from the novel of the same title with the help of screenwriter David Scearce and he’ll be directing, too - someone likes to be in charge.

Though we bet directing the likes of Colin Firth and Julianne Moore will be quite different from directing the Sophie Dahl’s and Carmen Kass’s of campaigns past. We’re expecting, ok, hoping, for at least a bit of behind the scenes drama what with Ford’s diva ways, a Los Angeles set, a dramatic story and a stellar cast.

Of course, we’re also hoping Ford has a hand in the set and costume design, too. Anyone who sees the movie, who knows Tom Ford directed it, and who knows who Tom Ford is, will be paying more attention to the aestethic details than the story line anyway.

It’s been far too long since Ford’s had a hand in dressing women and as far as we’re concerned, there can never be too much of the man.

Maintaining a contact database can be excruciatingly boring though often necessary, depending on what kind of job you have.

So here’s some great news for all you assistants out there:

Rhonda Richford and Kristen Calavas, formerly of BPCM, have created an incredibly extensive online directory of PR contact information for pretty much ever fashion brand / stylist ever, called TheLookBook.com. Need to get those Margiela jeans in the office stat? Try James at Staff International. Want to ask Annabel Tollman which designer Scarlett was wearing last night? Try her through Magnet.

The truly incredible part is that all this information is free, at least for now, though a little dangerous if you don’t feel like getting random e-mails from people looking for work, no?

We get the sense that Burberry hasn’t exactly been affected by the credit crunch.

Their profits are up 20% so far this year, they just opened up their new west coast flagship in the company of Kate Hudson, their refusal to use models associated to drugs in any way keeps them in the news and in conversation, and now, they’re taking over a bit of our sky line.

Next March, Burberry’s moving their US headquarters to 444 Madison, a 49-story skyscraper topped off by three illuminated signs from the olden days. Right now, they still say “New York” on them (that’s where New York Magazine operated from until they moved further downtown last year), but as soon as Burberry takes over the space, the signs will glow for the brand - and they’ll even give us the time and temperature, too.

(Burberry’s also throwing around the idea of opening their third New York store location there, but nothing’s set in stone.)

And now if only Topshop could get their own issues in order, we might be able to declare a new British Invasion - can’t wait.

And this Spring’s theme for the Met Ball is out: Models.

Next year’s gala, “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion” will explore how models have changed fashion, by inspiring the designers (and we’re thinking photographers are going to play a big part in this one) who’ve dressed them, and sometimes designed for them, through seventy looks handpicked from the Costume Institute’s collection.

The exhibit kicks off May 4th with the usual big party, this time co-chaired by Marc Jacobs, Justin Timberlake and Kate Moss, in addition to Anna Wintour.

Yeah - Justin Timberlake? Please don’t say it’s because the Met’s trying to bring sexy back… Though Harold Koda did say it would be a “hot gala”.

While perusing the Salt Lake Tribune (don’t ask) we happened to come across a news item that really tickles.

Apparently, a woman was apprehended by the Utah Transit Authority at 7:30 am after numerous complaints from fellow riders about her lack of pants. After being booted from the train, the woman quickly explained that, in fact, she wasn’t pantsless at all but wearing a micro miniskirt that was covered by her blazer, only giving the impression that she was pantsless.

Given this happened in Salt Lake - we can’t imagine the chaos that would ensue if NYC Transit Authorities decided to crack down on inappropriately dressed subway-goers - we still wonder: Is there a level of decency which should be upheld, enforced even, in public dress? Sure, no one really wants to see the woman-next-to-you’s upper-thigh to crotchal region, but can we really stop her from wearing her booty shorts, and if so, should we?

—HAYLEY PHELAN

No doubt you know all about the Olsen frenzy at the Union Square Barnes & Noble today, complete with special rules for those hoping to get a minute in front of each twin while they sign their new book, and the requisite PETA protesters outside.

But you’re probably wanting more, no?

So here it is. Just for you, we’ve scanned Mary-Kate’s handwritten Proust questionnaire, and transcribed Ashley’s introductory essay - NYLON’s got MK’s version - after the jump.

So don’t say we’ve never done anything for you.

Hugs.

ps. We really do highly suggest ordering the book for yourselves.

About that Stella shoot, Angela Lindvall was there, too…

Mark Haddaway and Katy Rodriguez, the brilliant duo behind Resurrection, have been working on a project.

We’re so jealous, we might cry.

They’ve assembed what The Telegraph calls, “the most important [collection] to come up at auction.”

It includes original 1970’s Vivienne Westwood from both the legendary Seditionaries and Pirates collections. There are Paco Rabanne dresses and leather jackets from the 60’s and an entire, unworn look from Yves Saint Laurent’s 1968 Safari collection. There’s a 1986 zippered, hooded, green mini Alai that was in fact worn, but by Grace Jones, a python skin Ossie Clark coat and a few slinky Versace dresses circa Gianni.

Are you emptying your piggy bank yet?

If not, there’s also a group of dresses from Marc’s 1992 Grunge collection for Perry Ellis.

We’re kind of speechless. So in the words of Rachel Zoe, (since she’s probably the only one who can justify shelling out thousands for these pieces right now), “I die. D-I-E.”

In light of this morning’s musings on Shame Shopping, we bring you something hot off our Inbox:

Net-a-Porter is now offering “discreet packaging” for all New York Premier orders.

Translation? They’ll ship you your $16,000 Alexander McQueen coat in an unbranded, recycled brown paper bag if you so choose, and that way, your neighbors / roommates / boyfriend won’t have to know you’ve been Shame Shopping your little heart out in the wee hours, and you can just casually explain that you’ve had a meatball parm hand-delivered to your door.

How thoughtful.

(Full e-mail after the jump)

We don’t know if Project Runway will ever return to small screens, especially now that yet another lawsuit’s been set in motion, nor do we know whether it will ever return to it’s once glorious place if it does indeed come back to life, but here’s a fun fact:

Looks like that copycat version Bravo’s trying out, Fashion House, really is happening since they’ve posted the dates for their nationwide casting call (full details after the jump) on their site.

On a side note, does anyone else think it’s weird that the GenArt site’s linked at the end of the application rules for the show? Does this mean they’re helping with the castings, just like with seasons one and three of Project Runway? Because then, well, this Adventures in Copyrights might have a chance.

Tough times mean shoppers favor miniature splurges, if any at all, which means loads of designers are quickly shifting their focus to accessories, (even more than usual).

Today, Yigal Azrouel announced that the shoes from his Spring 09 runway will be available for purchase in just his two stores while Miuccia Prada is introducing a line of costume jewelry.

Yigal’s shoes include, or are actually limited to, a caramel colored ankle bootie and a black and white thick-strapped sandal, both with wooden stiletto heels. Though a shoe is by nature more structured than anything Yigal’s ever made, they somehow manage to work perfectly with his flowing neutrals. He’s also upping his scarf quantity, “With my clothes I’m all about draping, and scarves are an extension of that.”

Or, more explicitly, it’s a lot easier to justify a $300 scarf you can wear everyday than a $1000 dress you can wear twice a year.

Prada’s prices range from $390 for earrings to $750 for a necklace, which is about $500 less than a bag and infinitely less than a lace dress which, again, means the brand can grow while the economy shrinks.

Or at least, that’s what they hope it means.

“I often dream of Gwyneth Paltrow — aspirational dreams where I am her good, good friend and we make precious lunches in her legacy beach house, laughing. Then I help her with her lines, she gives me a sweater and we hug.” - Mike Albo, on his Critical Shopper piece on Tod’s, in the Times. Or, his unknowing impersonation of Brett, whichever.

Let’s talk about Jenny’s outfits from last night, shall we? Because, in a very true to life manner, Jenny’s turned 15, picked up a huge attitude in the process, and is diligently reflecting her newfound not quite a woman self with over-the-top outfits and almost as much eyeliner as Jodie Harsh.

Her new look? A cross between Betsey Johnson, to channel that young designer vibe, and 80’s Madonna via gobs of wannabe Gothic jewelry and a new don’t-mess-with-me walk.

We love that Eric Daman goes so out of his way to reflect what the characters are up to sartorially (got to love Blair’s Communion Day white socks in thigh-high form for Chuck seduction), but gray, fishnet knee-highs? In public? At work?

Quite a jump from her polka-dot socks / headbanded curly hair / big bag swinging from her elbow days, no? But maybe, since she’s in high school, that’s what makes it so real.

A little birdie told us that Miss Moss was down in Puerto Rico last week.

Not for vacation, not with a boy, and not with Lila Grace, but with three other models.

The girls took to the beach to shoot a Spring ad campaign. We don’t know which yet, but we do know they’re following a major spring trend by using groups of girls instead of a single face.

So far, we know three of the majors - Prada, Balenciaga and Givenchy - couldn’t pick just one model. Or maybe it’s that they can’t pick just one outfit? Putting four girls in four different looks on one single page must save some serious ad dollars, (which they probably spent on getting Kate, but whatever).

If you know which label we can add to the list, you know what to do.

UPDATE: WE’RE HEARING IT’S FOR STELLA, SHOT BY RYAN MCGINLEY…ALSO HEARD, THE SHOOT GOT KIND OF WILD

No one can stop talking about how bad the retail outlook is. Everyone’s worried that no one will buy everything up this holiday season, and already there are reports that buyers are putting in much smaller orders for Spring 09 as compared to past seasons. So this fact might sounds strange: Online shopping is up. In fact, overall, it’s up 12% over last year.

WWD attributes this to consumers saying they can find better deals online, can do more comparison shopping, and that the price of gas has informed how much/far they’re willing to go for a party dress. Indeed, one could even attribute designers suddenly offering up previously unavailable e-commerce opportunities to their customers (Lutz & Patmos just launched a shopping component to their site, as well as Pucci, and Net-a-Porter continues to score site-exclusives from designers like Preen and Richard Nicoll) as an accommodation to this trend.

But we have another, not at all scientific theory to propose: Shame shopping.

Looks like even Anna couldn’t save Bill Blass from Peter Som’s departure.

WWD confirms this morning that our initial reports are now absolutely cemented. NexCen, Bill Blass’ financially troubled parent company, could not sell the Bill Blass label in time (we’re guessing this has something to do with the cash-strapped state of, uh, everybody), meaning Peter would have to have gone on designing the collection in adherence to way too many constraints to fit his vision for the nearly 40-year old brand, and so he’ll just be sticking to his eponymous label from now on.

So what does this mean for Bill Blass? Well, in addition to their current sale being some of the last Peter Som-designed duds to go for less than retail (we heard there’s a $30 rack - yes), the design direction of their Fall 09 collection will be helmed by Prabal Gurung, Peter’s first mate, who will now have the added pressure of bringing the next collection to the runway, a feat even Peter couldn’t get NexCen to budget.

And what happens if the economy doesn’t pick up at all, and NexCen isn’t able to sell Bill Blass to better owners? Stay tuned…

“Sorry J, but in the real world, you can’t take a note to the principal when the drunken model eats your homework.” - Gossip Girl, after model Agyness (we can play) leaves wearing the design Jenny’s given up to Eleanor.

Fact: Cathy Horyn says Karl Lagerfeld will be in his new house in Vermont (presumably for the first time), this weekend, to shoot the Spring 09 Chanel campaign in his Victorian house on Lake Champlain.

Better fact: It just so happens I will also be in Vermont this weekend - originally just to nap in the hills, but now, with a mission.

See you at Parker Pie, Karl.

We don’t think Daisy Lowe means curvy.

We don’t think putting Jourdan Dunn on every runway means diversity.

And we don’t think Italian Vogue will save the world - but we do think it’s single-handedly given the fashion industry good face.

Just a few months post-“A Black Issue,” comes “The Africa Issue,” but this time around it’s November’s L’Uomo Vogue and the issue isn’t just dedicated to the continent. More importantly, and more timely, half of the issue’s ad revenues are promised to Africa-related charities.

Before you picture starving children sinking beneath their Burberry bibs, (which scarily, after the Indian Vogue debacle, doesn’t sound impossible), Sozzani’s quick to point out the magazine’s use of people wearing their own clothes and discussing their own style - think Michelle Obama, Forest Whittaker, Matt Damon - while outlining their relationship with Africa.

Robin Givhan points out in The Washington Post that Sozzani “runs magazines that are notable for their political incorrectness.” Basically, so few people read Italian Vogue, that Sozzani can publish pretty much whatever she wants. So no, it won’t reach the world. But the people who do read ItalianVogue - the stylists, editors, models, designers - who in turn work with the more omnipresent American fashion magazines, can hopefully translate the message to the masses.

Which will hopefully translate into more diverse ads since flipping through editorials full of black models peppered with high fashion ads full of Lilys and Natashas is like seeing a J.Mendel ad on PETA’s own website…

After not going to the Chanel Exhibit this morning because the line was far too long, we noticed Darth Vader staring at us through the window at, of all places, GAP kids.

Apparently, Junk Food’s been making shirts for the baby giant, though their undeniable cuteness has escaped us until today.

Junk Food’s faux-vintage tees were favored by Lindsay Lohan during her Kitson phase, but we have a feeling we’re going to start noticing more of these on the backs of little kids (and big kids who can still fit into little one’s sizes), because we’re sure we’re not the only ones oddly excited at the idea of “Batman for President” as a political fashion choice, or maybe an Indiana Jones t-shirt to help us forget how bad the movie was.

—BRETT KANE

—and if you tell them you heard it from Fashionista, you’ll get an extra 15% off—

Holiday shopping this year will either be really fun, because everything’s on sale, or really gloomy, because everyone’s still broke.

Regardless of whether you’re spending your few extra pennies on yourself or someone else, we’d suggest spending at least some of them at the Phillip Lim store on Mercer Street.

Why?

Because you’ll walk away with serious credit card charges, pretty dresses, flouncy skirts, amazing boy cardigans and a totally free, totally Phillip Lim tote bag.

And if later, you freak out and have to return your pretty things because you have no money left to spend on Mom and Dad, you’ll still have your tote bag.

“They’re lauding the ample, sexy behind of Joan, Mad Men’s smoking-hot secretary, and beginning to reject the boniness of eastern European skinny-minnies. Could it be that, finally, we can put those two incendiary little words, “size” and “zero”, behind us, and that Lowe and her softly cut ilk are the poster girls for a new aesthetic of womanliness and personality that lies ahead?” - Kate Spicer, on what she thinks is ‘the death of size zero’, in the London Times.

ps. Just wondering, when did it become ok to make fun of eastern European girls’ looks in such a blanket way, something we’ve seen a lot of lately?

Sad face: Dernier Cri, arguably the best store on Washington Street, is closing. No, this isn’t like when they closed for a month this summer to clean shop after Scoop flooded, but an actual closing, as in, somebody else bought the place for “an offer [Dernier Cri] couldn’t refuse”.

Sheepish face: So they’re having a going-out-of-business sale. Everything is 50% off through November 25th, like even right now.

In case you need a reminder, Dernier Cri carries Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Isabel Marant, Preen and so much more - and we’re sure you’ve been scheming how to afford a huge building of a Vivienne coat. We know we have.

On a side note, this couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the rumored new Barneys near the corner of 13th and Washington, exactly where Dernier Cri is currently located, could it?

Vogue UK stumbled on a very fun(ny) fact recently:

That Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes approached Richard Prince about “a project” they’re working on, and were rejected because Prince said there was “no connection” for him.

So of course, the big question is, what is this project, and could it be a fashion collaboration with the artist a la Louis Vuitton? After all, Katie’s been seen out and about sporting outfits she co-designed with her stylist, Jeanne Yang, (at left) so her designer dreams are already evident, thought it would be curious timing since some people are already calling the time of death for celebrity clothing lines, Heidiwood having died quietly last week. (Though, yes, Katie Holmes and Heidi Montag are two very different types of celebrities, who obviously design two very different types of clothing.)

Or maybe Katie and husband are just trying to commission an artist who happens to be very tied to the fashion world?

Let the guessing game begin.

Anyone watching Model.Live knows that in the fashion industry, “you have to spend money to make money.”

But spend too much and you end up stuck in the recession glut - a prospect making some agencies cut back.

A model at Elite told us that her prestigious bookers just slashed 60 girls, the ones it didn’t think could recoup on their plane tickets / apartment fees / etc.

Still on their roster, of course, is Coco Rocha, along with Australian up-and-comers like Alice Burdeau, Emma Beam, and Stephanie Carta, and socialite It Girls such as Harley Viera Newton and Victoria Traina. Damaris Lewis, left, is also still on their boards.

But what about all the newly signed Top Model rejects like Anya and Katarjyna? They’re currently listed as “out of town.” If they’ll ever come back, guess we’ll see…

Bendon, the New Zealand-based lingerie company, is coming to America. Except, they’re coming via The Limited, which we’re all familiar with via trips to Limited Too in fifth grade. And apparently, when we buy lingerie from Elle MacPherson’s Intimates (a personal favorite) and Stella McCartney (a browsing favorite), we’re really buying Bendon re-packaged and repriced via licensing deals.

There are two interesting points to be taken from these facts.

1. That The Limited’s version of Bendon will retail between $35 and $38 for bras, and $14 to $16 for underwear - less than half the price of Elle’s versions, and nowhere near the price stratosphere of Stella’s - meaning, The Limited might pose some stiff competition in the lingerie department very soon, and this may or may not be related to the fact that The Limited is no longer owned by Limited Brands, the parent company of the very overpriced Victoria’s Secret, and so now they’re free to expand in that market.

2. That The Limited has been around since forever, and just now they’ve decided to put out their own lingerie, right when Brian Reyes has decided to do the same, and right when Marc’s decided to put out his first full swimwear line under Marc by Marc. All new ventures in a decidedly shaky market / economy, all new ventures including itty bitty non-clothes.

Coincidence? Or has everyone decided that true shoppers will find a way to drop at least $50 every couple weeks and have just figured out the best way to truly service the price point?

*Editor’s Note: Sorry! Changed that fact at the end of point 1 - The Limited is no longer owned by Limited Brands!

Hamptons boutique Bellhaus brought their newest sample sale all the way west to Manhattan, so it really would be polite to at least stop by, no? The details:

What: 40% of all Fall 08 clothes (men’s and women’s), and 85% of all Summer.

Where: The Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street

When: Today (it started yesterday!), from 11am - 7pm, and that’s your only chance.

Why: Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Bottega Veneta, Nina Ricci, Christian Lacroix, Pierre Hardy…

Go.

Ouch.

What seems like seconds after the demise of CosmoGIRL!, 02138, and Radar (though we’re not sure that last one counts), comes the news that Hachette is “suspending” publication of ELLE Accessories for at least a year, putting a handful of people out of work during that time.

Add to that all the retail lay-offs in WWD this morning, and this almost sounds like a Bloomberg version of the fashion industry.

Beginning of a trend?

If so, we worry for who’s next…

Halloween is exactly one week away, and we bet you’re clicking all over the place trying to find Karlesque shades, aren’t you? Yeah, we know.

So we thought we’d get the ball rolling for you.

Here we go:

White shirt + neck-tie chain charm + fingerless gloves + black shades = Karl

Pirate hat + eyebrow pencil (for tiny moustache) = Galliano

Floppy bow-tie + black-rimmed glasses = Alber Elbaz

Orange hair spray + loads of buttons + asymmetrical blazer + anything with a union jack on it = Vivienne Westwood

Fake tan + blonde wig + tight dress = Donatella Versace

Wrap dress + teased brown hair = Diane Von Furstenburg

Costumes are so much easier when designers dress like pirates everyday, isn’t it?

—HAYLEY PHELAN

This just in:

To: Tips@Fashionista.com

From: Kermit@begreen.com

So, I am not going to this party hosted by Kate Moss next Friday (I WISH!), but I just wanted to let you know that it is indeed a Halloween-themed event and I hear that it will not only be hosted by Kate, but by Naomi as well!

Makes me wonder if it has something to do with French Vogue, then? As they did do the cover together. But I guess we’ll have to just wait and see!

xo S

Uh, no idea if this could be true, but if you have any insight yourself, you know what to do!

We’re not sure of the nutritional fashion value of posting this clip, but we know you saw it, and we feel compelled to point something out.

Amidst the Lauren Hutton news, Influence hype and semi-awkward self-interviews, Oprah found time to ask the Olsen’s about their breakfast habits.

Three minutes and thirty seconds in, Ashley Olsen says she loves Murray’s bagels, scooped out, double toasted and smothered in light cream cheese.

Well, Ashley, the first time we ever saw you, before we worked in the same industry and kind of saw you everywhere, was at the Murray’s on 6th Ave. So we know you really go there, but we also know that you didn’t order any bagels, just the biggest coffee we’ve ever seen.

If you had ordered a bagel, you would know that Murray’s doesn’t toast. Ever. Like, no matter how much you beg, even if you are an Olsen, (which no one seemed to realize but us). It’s like Murray’s entire backwards bagel philosophy. So they definitely don’t double toast.

It’s cool. We still love you. Just thought we’d let you know so that next time someone asks you what you eat for breakfast, your answer will be flawless.

We won’t be buying diamonds anytime soon.

First of all, we’d probably lose them. Secondly, we can barely afford trips to Barneys.

But, we are going to buy a couple of these diamond solitaire rings from Erica Weiner as a belated birthday present to ourselves.

The quartz stones, which are a bit rough around the edges, sit in a four-pronged silver setting. The rocks are kind of dirty, and each one is a totally different shape, which means the joke is obvious, and no one’s going to think we’re actually trying to pass our rocks off as you know, those kind of rocks.

Plus, we love all things stacked - rings, heels, bracelets - and these will go perfectly with everything in anyone’s closet.

We kind of picture them to be the perfect accessory to a Riccardo Tisci/Alexander Wang/ Alber Elbaz collection. It’s Friday, we can fantasize.

Yesterday, we heard from a nightclub owner that Kate Moss was hosting an event - somewhere, for someone - next Friday.

Next Friday, of course, is Halloween.

So let’s unravel this trick-or-treating mystery, shall we?

Kate Moss was on the cover of Interview, so it could be their Halloween party. More likely, she’s hosting it for V Magazine, because their Halloween bashes are always legendary to the point of “You’re making that up, I swear.” Or it could be someone she’s contractually obligated to play with: Agent Provocateur, perhaps. Or LVMH.

If you know something we don’t, give us an air kiss at tips@fashionista.com

And if you’re planning on dressing up as a fashion fixture for Halloween, we want to know that too - tell us in the comments section. Two years ago, Faran dressed up as Diane Von Furstenberg, which was all well and good until she showed up at the same party as Diane Von Furstenberg…

“A Brooklyn girl loves her mother and her grandma — and their wardrobes!” - The Brooklyn Paper, on “Brooklyn girl style”.

Dolce & Gabbana’s having their Fall / Winter Sample Sale next week, so we hope you’re still in the market to shop -

What: Both Dolce & Gabbana and D & G Dolce & Gabbana

Where: At the Metropolitan Pavillion, 123 W. 18th Street, near Sixth Ave. The sale will occupy two full floors! (the fourth and fifth)

When: Monday, October 27th, through Friday, Halloween! Monday (1 - 6pm), Tuesday and Wednesday (9am - 6pm), Thursday (9am - 8pm), and Friday (9am - 5pm).

Why: So much more fun than sifting through all the slut costumes for halloween, we think.

Is Lauren Hutton kind of having a modeling comeback?

First she smiled for Mango’s Fall 08 ads, and now Mary-Kate and Ashley have announced that she’ll front one of their own labels, too (we think it’s safe to assume it’s The Row - and yes, we’re going solely by age.)

The twins picked Hutton, who’s also one of the subjects in their new book Influence, not just for the campaign (so we guess there’s going to be a campaign - for Spring?) but also for “catwalks” - So the The Row’s going to have a fashion show? Does that mean they’ll show at Fashion Week?

So many questions.

In any case, Hutton’s quite a change from the girl used in their promotional video for Holiday, no?

Have you seen the posters for Zac and Miri Make a Porno?

They have little stick figures and say something like, “Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks made a movie so steamy/outrageous/titillating that this is all we can show you.”

We thought it was cute. But then we read that the original posters were just too scandalous for America, which is why they had to scratch the real life pictures and go with stick figures.

You can see the original at left, and we’d hardly call it “titillating”. Especially not compared to the gigantic Calvin Klein ad featuring a naked, writhing Eva Mendes outside our office, or the pages of men wearing Dolce & Gabbana skivvies in every magazine, or even the pictures of Angelina Jolie in this month’s W.

What would’ve happened if, when Tom Ford’s toe-sucking fragrance ads got banned, he broke out a sharpie and drew a stick figure’s toe in another stick figure’s mouth?

Um, hope you’ve already had lunch.

Also: Last week’s answers are up!

If we didn’t love our own grandfather, we’d want Manolo Blahnik to take his place.

He sat down with China Chow to talk shoes, of course, at his favorite LA diner. He goes there because he loves the french fries and is obsessed with milkshakes.

In fact, by the time this video starts, he’s on his second because he doesn’t “care about his body”, which makes us love him even more.

He talks crazy fans and crazy shoes, all the while rocking a crazy polka dot bow-tie.

At the end, we kind of want to hug him, and we kind of want to go buy shoes.

It won’t be held in a funeral parlor or anything, but Imitation of Christ’s having a sample sale tomorrow, and we really insist you go.

What: Sample sale (\ˈsam-pəl - ˈsāl\) - as in, stuff for up to 80% off retail

Where: 201 Mulberry Street (between Kenmare and Spring)

When: Tomorrow (9am - 8pm) and Saturday and Sunday (12pm - 8pm.)

Bonus: There’ll be other labels, too (Chris & Jaime, Orthodox and Margaritasaplala), but whatever - gather round in the street, Jesus Freaks.

Spaghetti after?

From last night’s Hugo Boss store opening.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

Anya Hindmarch’s getting into the Halloween spirit.

No, her bags aren’t coming filled with candy, but they might be coming your way for free and then you can spend your money on candy.

If you go to her site and click on the Trick or Treat square in the bottom right hand corner, you can enter for a chance to win a handbag, purse, clutch or key ring.

When you do enter, because we already have about three times each, you’ll be emailed a trick. Like this, “Say this tongue twister five times as quickly as you can - ‘Inside Hindmarch handbags hide hellish Halloween horrors’.” Actual winners will be announced November 1st, so you’ll have to hold your breath until then.

It’s a shame, really, because I’m dressing as Mrs. Lovett and I could really use a black patent something to hold my faux human pies.

Want to know how to pose perfectly on a bicycle, wear this season’s Stella McCartney jumpsuit, or gaze indifferently like Carine?

Scott Schuman can help you out.

The Sartorialist is joining forces with a big publishing company (we’re hearing Harper Collins, but we’re also still drunk from last night…) to put out a giant coffee table tome of his greatest and coolest shots.

Sadly, we don’t think the Gap ad will make it, but maybe all those great Fashion Week shots of our former Fashionistas will!

Like you, we watched the premiere of Stylista last night. And probably like you, we were left… unsettled.

Can we be frank? Good. Because this is getting kind of weird. It was all fun and games when Nina Garcia decided to be a judge on a show that used to be genuinely good, and all she did was give her professional opinion while sitting neat and tidy in her director’s chair, occasionally trading jokes with Michael and Heidi, which was cute.

Then when Kelly Cutrone joined the Hills cast, it was just like “ha ha” cool, because, after all, she is a publicist - as in, publicist - and she truly did not attempt to act any differently than she does in real life, which on MTV, is admirable. (We’re not even touching The Fashionista Diaries at this time - and ANTM never felt shocking since the judges on the show are hardly industry members anyway.)

But now what was once fun and games has hit a bona fide fever pitch, with the Style Channel’s new The Stylist, MTV’s Model Makers, and of course, Whitney Port’s new spinoff, The City, in which she works for an actual designer who’ll probably be on camera a total of ten seconds by season’s end. But we doubt any of these will hit home the way Stylista did last night.

Because the thing is, everyone knows these people. You’ve either seen them out, seen their work, worked with them or maybe for them, and you definitely know what they actually walk / talk / look / dress like, so watching them play their own caricature was a little like seeing your little sister’s Facebook - disturbing.

(And can we just add here that when it came out that contestant Megan is co-owner of Addict on 12th St, we literally involuntarily yelled, “WHAT?!” to the screen.)

No one expects reality television to be real, so these real, recognized people with real jobs playing their tele-real versions is kind of like getting robbed in your home - you can’t believe it’s happening, and you keep asking yourself, “is this really happening?” Because dear reader, it’s not. At least, not really.

If the recent barrage of fashion-based reality TV makes you wish for some more reality with your TV, tune into the Sundance Channel tonight, when Stella McCartney appears on Iconoclasts (you know, the show where famous people interview each other) alongside artist Ed Ruscha.

We especially love the clip at left (just for you!), where Stella actually explains the meaning (and point) of creating organic clothes, something that would probably make our uncle say, “please keep that hippie crap to yourself”, in a way that pretty much anyone can understand.

The show airs at 10pm EST. Don’t forget.

Looks like that Interview-style flashback profile of the Mulleavy sisters in yesterday’s WWD had an edge of psychic to it, rather than just the fun and random we thought it was -

Beloved LA boutique, Presse, is reviving some archival Rodarte pieces to go up for sale on their site November 3rd, including at least one piece from their Spring 06 collection (a rough crystal necklace designed by their mother, whose maiden name was loaned to front the label), the first season that pretty much everyone actually knew who they were.

We can’t imagine how much the seven handpicked pieces will go for - some of the pieces were never intended for sale, having only appeared on the runway. But anyway, it’s kind of incredible that Rodarte literally did not even exist four years ago, and now they’re having an archival sale like they’re Valentino and they’ve reached the culmination of a decades-long career.

A sign of so much more to come? Or, perhaps, a little early in the game to claim such victory over time?

Which bizarrely reminds us, where’s all the follow up news on Rochas?

To: Tips@Fashionista.com

From: Huffing@postearrings.com

Spotted (everywhere): Sarah Palin’s daughter carrying a fake Speedy.

I can only assume the girl was just hanging onto her mother’s purse for her, but either way, this means Sarah Palin doesn’t care about American designers (think that bag was made in Alaska?) or counterfeit goods (what would Bush’s new copyright czar say to her? Or the judge that just awarded LV $3.5 M?).

At least it couldn’t have been too big a chunk from her $150,000 allowance..

Think it’s too late for her to carry a FEED bag?

xo

Kate Moss has famously made a bundle off of reappropriating designs from her closet for the masses of young girls that love her style.

So we were kind of surprised when we saw one of her latest re-designs, the Rose Puffball dress, which looked oddly familiar.

Does Kate, just like her young girl fan base, take her style cues from the infamous Blair Waldorf?

Maybe it’s a fluke (ok, you know we don’t really think that), so watch out for bows and headbands if you need further proof.

We’re pretty split on children in this office. Natalie loves them, Alexandra thinks they’re adorable and Britt thinks they’re obnoxious. We’re kind of sure Brett agrees with Britt, but he’s not here right now.

However, we all love kids’ clothes, especially J.Crew’s crewcuts collection - those kids are better dressed than most adults west of the Atlantic.

We felt the need to explain why we were browsing through the children’s section of J.Crew’s website and how we came across the $248 Ivory Tweed Coco Jacket.

We don’t feel the need to explain why we’re bringing this to your attention. But we would suggest taking note of the catalog description which oh-so-subtly admits that, “this little jacket is a nod to vintage.”

It is indeed. As well as a nod to Karl Lagerfeld and the team of couturiers who continue to produce Coco Chanel’s signature tweeds.

Tangentially, even if you’re disgustingly obsessed with your gorgeous kid, do you honestly buy them a $250 white jacket?

Upon searching for the Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton documentary on Netflix (one of the main reasons I got a subscription), I came across some other fashion fun.

It turns out Netflix really does have everything. Aside from Prêt-à- Porter, Lagerfeld Confidential, and Richard Avedon : Darkness and Light, they also have some more literal fashion DVDs available, too.

Type in “fashion” and you’ll get a series by Fashion TV split up by type of clothes (haute couture, RTW, menswear, leatherwear, etc), city and season (though right now, they seem to only have 2004 and 2005), so you can reminisce about collections past from your couch.

These probably shouldn’t be moved up to the top of your queue, but they may make for a nice visual to fall asleep to. Dreaming of tulle, male models, and Paris never hurt - it’s kind of like Fashion Trance, which yes, we’re still mourning.

—ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION

Blake Mycoskie, the beautiful brains behind Tom’s, is showing his Spring collection right now.

But they’re just Tom’s, you’re probably saying. Do they ever actually change?

Yes, they do.

For Spring, the sole has been re-built out of rope and rubber so that they last longer than a month on actual city streets. This time around, there’s also a vegan range, which looks the same but lacks the leather insoles and details. The collection rounds out with a handful of wrap-around knee-high boots that we don’t think are very cute, but you might.

And, for those of the preppy persuasion, Ralph Lauren’s collaborated with Blake to create a handful of Rugby designs including a black pair with embroidered skulls and colorful striped versions with rugby numbers. It’s the first time Ralph’s done a design collaboration outside his own empire so it’s, as Blake says, “kind of a big deal.”

Now if only Blake could teach Ralph a little something, we might see a donation of five cable knit sweaters for every one bought at Rugby to children in need.

Speaking of the the Twin’s new book - which, we should note, seems to be a hit already - here’s some great news for all you stalkers out there:

Mary-Kate and Ashley are following in Isaac’s recent footsteps, and making a real-life appearance at the Union Square Barnes & Noble this Tuesday (October 28), at 12:30pm, to promote Influence.

They’ll read from the book (we expect them to switch off), and everyone in the crowd will snap away like good little Gossip girls and boys, and we’re totally going to sit front row if it kills us.

It’s like Fashion Week, but with books. See you there!

Britt rode the subway to work this morning, sandwiched in the middle of six strapping male models. The three from England, signed to DNA, ran into a group of three from New York, signed to Red (of course they all knew each other). They entertained her from Bedford Ave to Union Sq. with this conversation that’s too good not to share:

Model 1: Hey dude! How’s it goin’ man?

Model 2: Sweet man. I just got back from Japan.

Model 1: Sick! How was it?

Model 2: So sweet dude. I mean Japan’s awesome. You just drink all night and shoot all day. I mean, no one cares if you show up drunk as long as you’re on time. It’s all about being on time there.

Model 3: Did you see the new Japanese Dazed?

Model 4: Yeah man! We’re in it, fucking blitzed out of our minds. Can you tell? That shoot was amazing.

Model 3: Yeah dude, it’s sick. The only good magazine over there. They launched Vogue Hommes last week but they put Ash on the cover!

Model 5: Ash and Josh, dude. They’re everywhere. I was back in London and everywhere you look in the Tube it’s Josh in the Levi’s campaign. I mean, it’s like, really?

We were quietly going through the most recent T: Style with Eva Green on the cover, when we noticed something so incredibly strange.

Another high fashion bunny. But with a mean face. Made out of mink. Designed by Rick Owens. (Translation: It’s $700.)

You’re supposed to be able to put your necessities into it (“keys, cash and compact”), so we guess it’s like an animal backpack, except, made from an actual animal, and missing the straps/handles that usually come with accessories called bags.

Could this be the first animal clutch? Apparently.

On a side note, Stella’s moved on from bunnies to deer, though made of recycled polyester rather than venison. We should all get out our monkey-topped pencils and take note.

“Nowadays you start to model because you’re young. Now the girls are sixteen, seventeen, fifteen, and Russian. They are like from another planet.” - Karl Lagerfeld, in the Olsen Twin’s new book, Influence…

If you, like us, are finding yourself sitting behind a stack of invites that’s growing faster than your wallet, you might be in the market for a dress with a slashed price tag, no?

Enter Castle Starr, who’s having a sale you shouldn’t miss if you’re worrying over what you’ll wear to the non-stopness of the next month:

Where: 494 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor - Entrance on 35th St

When: Tomorrow and Friday only, 9 am - 9pm

Why: 40 - 60% off regular prices, so a $600 dress is now $290.

Consider it the Marchesa sale alternative.

WWD has been documenting the downfall of our economy, and all the fashion roadkill that’s gone with it. Today’s reported victim? Cashmere.

According to their research, knitwear manufacturers are producing much less cashmere for Spring because it’s probably too expensive for most people right now. They say companies are trying to put out more wallet-friendly cotton blends, and Qi Cashmere has even dropped the “Cashmere” from their brand name.

So here’s something we just realized: If people start buying less cashmere (though we admit, we love it), and more cotton-based clothes, that probably means a whole lot less dry cleaning, which means a cleaner environment (perc, the solvent typically used by dry cleaners, is considered a hazardous air contaminant by the EPA), not to mention one fewer monthly bill.

And it doesn’t stop there - If people still want to shop but want to keep the per-instance footprint on their checking account as small as possible, they’ll probably avoid expensive furs and leathers (so we guess PETA members can sleep a little sounder), too.

And who knows, maybe this will turn into more farmers planting cotton to get in on the trend, which would only make its price drop further for everyone.

But back to this economy-environment relationship - could what happens to us financially impact what we do to our environment? Guess we’ll find out - Unless of course, we get a Zoot Suit effect, in which case, prepare to see certain ladies strolling Madison in full-length mink capes.

Yesterday, a boy asked if I was going to anything for CMJ.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“It’s like Fashion Week, but for music,” he said.

Well, my music connections pale in comparison to my fashion friends, unless of course the two come together, so he was out of luck.

Until now. The Ralph Lauren Rugby store on University Place will play host to a couple of different bands each day this week for the College Media Journal Music Festival. I’ve been meaning to stop by the store for cable knit tights anyway, so now I can shop while listening to bands like Chester French and Tally Hall play live.

Anyone can go: music people, fashion people, unemployed-during-the-day-people.

Schedule after the jump.

We just swung by the new MiH showroom, and we think we just found our new favorite jeans.

Chloe Lonsdale’s in town to show off her the Spring 09 collection and we had to sit on our hands to stop from grabbing each pair and bolting.

She’s been selling in America for a little over a year - think Intermix, Barneys, Ron Herman - but she’s ready to take the brand’s presence to the next level, hence the two-week old New York showroom and new cuts alongside the brand’s classics.

And so, our favorite? The Lisbon jean. It hits at mid-waist, has teeny-tiny pleats, cuffs at the ankle and doesn’t require a super skinny body. There’s even a denim skirt we’d wear - and we have personal issues with jean skirts.

Flip through for the lookbook. We decided it’s prettier than our digital showroom shots.

Exactly two months ago, we told you about Whitney’s departure from People’s Revolution to DVF, and from there, it came out that she was getting her own show.

Here’s the first clip from it, The City, which debuts December 29th, conveniently placed in the time continuum that is Winter Break for so much of MTV’s bread and butter, just a few days after those new Christmas toys lose their shine - not a bad effort on DVF’s part either, to try and brand themselves with the younger set who have yet to actually buy their first wrap dress. Perhaps there really is a television-related reason for having positioned Lauren’s clothes in the midst of Diane’s at Bloomingdale’s - to show young girls on camera perusing not just Laurent’s duds, but Diane’s, too?

Anyway, here’s our early verdict - This looks exactly like The Hills, except now, you could potentially make a game of spotting where the cameras take her on the grid. On the upside, maybe Diane will make an appearance.

Reader Claire, from Sydney, drew our attention to this Slow & Steady Wins the Race bag, at right.

Though it could never pass as one of the actual 2.55’s hanging at the Zaha Hadid exhibit in Central Park right now, we all know the association this bag is trying to ride on.

Even though $100 seems like a lot for a canvas bag, we can’t help but think this could be a hilarious purchase, especially if you attached a little lego man where the double C clasp would go (like in the earlier versions of the bag, anyway) - we suggest Band of Outsiders’ (or, Toys”R”Us).

But anyway, Claire wonders: “Somehow I feel this is more an attempt at irony rather than a lame ploy to rip off luxury labels.” (We’re guessing it’s the canvas for her, too.)

And so she asks, “What do you think?”

“That tights aren’t pants?!” - Blair, reprimanding a crying underclassmen (and sending a cryptic message via prime time to Lindsay), over her front steps outfit of choice, on last night’s Gossip Girl.

Converse is looking for a PR Administrative Assistant, to work on a six month-long contract, and who already has at least a year or two of experience in PR.

You must be cool with assisting a team of about six people, working in NYC, drafting / filing / copying / mailing all kinds of documents, booking travel (and never screwing that up), mastering the basics of PR from top to bottom, and working for Matt, the nicest PR guy in all of Converse (and PR) history.

Interested (and qualified) candidates: e-mail pr@converse.com with a brief cover letter in the body of the email with relevant office/PR experience, with a subject line that reads, “PR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT RESUME”, and obviously, your stellar resume attached.

Good luck! And if you see any size 6, low-top, purple chucks lying around..

Marchesa’s having a major sale which opens to the public tomorrow, so in the event that you’re looking for a discounted gown to wear to that ball you have next week, you’re in luck!

Who: Both Marchesa and notte by Marchesa

What: A “sample and stock sale” (somehow, the way they worded that makes us think there’ll be actual samples..)

Where: The Warwick Hotel, 65 West 54th St, at 6th Ave. The Essex Suite, 2nd Floor.

When: Tomorrow, 8am - 7pm; Thursday, 8am - 6pm.

Why: Prices are marked down between 50 - 80% off, at $195 - $3,500.

No exchanges. No refunds.

Way back in May, PPQ announced that Peaches Geldof would be designing a capsule collection of mostly dresses for their line, all based around the colors black and peach. After that, news about it simply did not exist - until today.

Vogue UK now says the collection is complete, and will hit the racks at Selfridges later this month.

We love PPQ, so it’s a shame Peaches can’t use her new found semi-celebrity over here to make like Rihanna and try to bring the label to the US, but maybe that’ll happen when California native Cory designs her own capsule collection, because really, can it be that far off?

On a side note, Peaches’ collection with apparently include bags “complete with everything you need for a night out already inside”. So, lipgloss, mints, a hand mirror.. we wonder what else Peaches thinks is necessary for nightlife..

I went to today’s screening of Valentino: The Last Emperor, even though it was in the middle of the day / I don’t think pugs are cute / it was way above 14th Street.

But then there was free popcorn, and Andre Leon Talley sat in the seat behind me. The movie started, and it was awesome.

The documentary opens with Valentino’s Spring 06 collection, looks back on the Dolce Vita days and ends with his three day Roman blowout and retirement.

It’s part love story (him and Giancarlo), and part tragic end of an era (of couturiers that simply won’t exist again). It’s about a man who’s wants nothing more than to make women feel beautiful but who can’t, or won’t, find a way to fit into a changed industry, and I totally cried at the end.

But the best bits, which happen all though the movie right up until that final runway bow and Valentino’s heartfelt tears, are all the hysterical Odd Couple moments between Valentino and Giancarlo. They bicker over sets, over models, over pleats, and when Giancarlo asks Valentino why he’s using pink for his finale dresses instead of red, Valentino responds, disgusted, “Enough with the red! The red dresses are the most simple, the most stupid!”

Giancarlo says, “To be with Valentino as a friend, as a lover, as an employee - it’s all the same. You need a lot of patience.” And then he tells Valentino he’s too tan, which was, I think, Andre’s favorite moment.

Mine? When Karl Lagerfeld congratulated Valentino, “This is how it’s done. Compared to us, all the rest are making rags!”

“Oh. My. God. We just got the new GQ. And Scott Speedman wears Rag & Bone. And Joshua Jackson wears Tom Ford. And I feel fifteen, but better.” — Britt, to Natalie, just now.

We’re kind of wondering what happened to Kate Moss’ vow of silence.

Thirteen years ago, when she was dating Johnny Depp, one of his PR people suggested she avoid future interviews to build an air of mystery.

She made it through childbirth, Pete Doherty and a nasty cocaine scandal without saying a word but now, she’s everywhere. Well, she was always everywhere, but now she’s actually speaking everywhere.

You know we love Kate - love her, loved her Interview interview especially - but we don’t understand why she’s suddenly so press happy. At first we thought, “Ok, well, she has to sell her Topshop line.” But then this weekend, she spoke to the Times UK about how she gets ready to go out. She suggests putting “keys and money” in your purse for a night of fun and loves “vodka tonics.”

Sometimes, we like to know that famous people are just like us, but sometimes, they’re better off with that air of mystery - and that’s the meanest thing we’ll ever say about Miss Moss.

Wondering who’s taking Vlada’s spot as the face of DKNY’s Spring 09 campaign?

According to NYLON, it’s New York it girl Harley Viera Newton.

The pint-size NYU student/British rock/fashion offspring might not like being called an it-girl, but she’s definitely not a model - yes, she’s signed to Elite, but that does not a model make these days - so we’re guessing she likes being an it-girl long enough to land a lucrative campaign.

She has great style and apparently great DJ skills, but we’re kind of confused about who she appeals to. Aside from those who caught her I-tie-my-scarf-on-my-bag piece in Vogue, do most consumers know who she is? And how can she sell jeans?

Maybe they’ll shoot on our street again and she’ll pleasantly surprise us.

Vogue UK got a sneak preview of the Preen exclusively-for-Net-a-Porter Resort collection, and a few details left out in the initial news:

The six dress-collection hits the super site this Wednesday, and will be “metallic black, blue and fuchsia,” including the Power Dress, at left.

No word yet on when Richard Nicoll’s collection goes up, but in the meantime, enjoy Preen’s half-page (Richard’s got one, too, so we guess his collection can’t be too far off either.)

Ok, obviously not, but if you’re into buying $1,500 dresses online, book it.

(Though offer does not include a Personal Pan Pizza - sorry!)

Like FORM? Love cocktails? Think a good sale should be on par with an event?

You’re in luck:

What: the FORM Fall 08 sample sale, one night only.

Where: 402 West Broadway, 2nd Floor (at Spring)

When: This Wednesday, October 22nd, 6 - 9pm.

Why: Because you’re dying for a good Fall sale, and what better way to find your winter coat than by shopping and drinking with friends?

RSVP to Jasmine at jasmine@williamsonpr.com.

Shop on.

“She’s a model! They’re like cockroaches! Stamp one out and a hundred look-alikes show up in her place!” - Shauna (Debi Mazar) to Vince (Adrian Grenier) on Entourage… ps, did you see Whitney Port make a cameo?!

Here’s one for you modelizers out there:

We hear DNA Models is absorbing Public Image, the guys’ modeling agency that used to be IMG Men.

The “news” makes sense, considering PI’s primary investor was recently murdered, and - according to one model familiar with the news - “because DNA’s all about pretty boys, and Public Image has tons of them.”

So what does this affect?

Basically nothing, but we thought you’d like to know before WWD told you.

Meanwhile, have you heard the rumor about Nadia, the mysterious fourth founder of Women/Supreme, realizing she actually owns a part of the agency and wanting to sell her shares of the company?

Oh, silly models. The things you tell us…

Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman, (remember, Keren’s just the co-founder), is the new “guest designer” for Garrard.

The long term partnership starts now, but the first collection drops during Spring 10’s New York Fashion Week, probably around the necks and wrists of models wearing very pretty dresses.

Georgina said, “Jewelry is so interesting because, like fashion, it has a history. People have long been ornamenting their bodies.”

We picture the jewels big and extremely girly - the kind of thing that screams costume but costs millions. They will pair well with the dresses, whatever they’ll look like a year from now, but we kind of wish Georgina would separate the two and continue to feature new, and sometimes contrasting, jewelry designs on her runways, (or in her presentation spaces).

Also, on an entirely different note, isn’t this when Rachel Zoe’s jewelry line will debut? She and Georgina will make for the most glamorous competition ever.

Today, we found out that Carol Alt will be posing for Playboy. Weirdly, this is not surprising - we’ve been tracking the naked chick trend for a while, ever since French Playboy started to get all high fashion on us.

Nakedness doesn’t bother us (obviously) - we think you should be able to take off your clothes as you please. But what’s with all the excuses?

Carol says she’s taking it off to send the message, “eat healthy, look healthy and be healthy.” And Lily says she wrapped her knee-socked legs around a plush teddy in the name of “art”. Neither mention paychecks, but then again, neither mention the word “porn”, so we guess it evens out.

But when you think about it, models and famous faces have been baring it all for PETA for about a decade, which is obviously for a good cause, but would we think so if it was Traci Lords baring her business on every newsstand claiming it’s for the animals?

Because the only message we’re picking up on is that nudity is great as long as your publicist has a boatload of excuses and maybe a cause behind it.

And on a not-really-side note, where the hell is James Franco’s PETA ad? Because then we might really believe that people are earnestly using nudity to say something other than that tits sell.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Built by Wendy’s designed a clothing line just for you, with shirts, dresses and jackets made exactly to your specifications and measurements. The only catch is, you‘ll be the one sewing.

Wendy’s selling the patterns for all her clothes, so if you know how to sew, this is kind of a jackpot. Of course, the designs are adorable - comfy mini dresses and go-anywhere tops that have the same feel as Wendy’s own line.

We don’t have to tell you that picking your own fabric, colors, prints/stripes, means totally flattering clothes. Plus, each package includes instructions so you can change up designs with Peter Pan collars, rows of buttons, or whatever you want to make your perfect piece.

At $14.99, even with the fabric you’ll have to buy, this is about the same cost as any rayon number you’ll pick up at H&M, not to mention you’ll be able to reuse and remake it as many times as you want. Economic and cute - we like it.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

P.S. if you don’t know how to sew, or you need a refresher - Wendy also sells a basic sewing how-to book called Sew-U.

There’s a store on our street called Linda Derector.

Their window’s always full of super awesome sunglasses, both new and vintage, that make us wish we had a few hundred dollars to spend on something we know we’ll lose within two years.

It’s this thing we have with eyewear, whether it’s a $4 pair of Forever 21s or a $300 pair of Stella McCartneys - they never last more than two years.

But we finally went into the store today, and lo and behold, they’re having a 40% off sale which means $195 vintage Raybans are $117 and $200 vintage Bulgaris are $120. Which means we might be able to justify a purchase.

Which means you should swing by, too.

(It’s on Mott between Prince and Spring.)

The Starter Wife’s teaming up with Shopbop for a “chic co-promotion” this season.

Basically, there will be Shopbop commercials during the show, contests for viewers to win featured items and a list of “Molly’s Picks” on Shopbop, (Molly is Debra Messing’s character). We’re not sure how they’ll make the commercials particularly “chic.”

However, we do know, from a single viewing of the thinly veiled Hollywood wife show, that the target audience consists of women of a certain age. And we do know, from going to college, that Shopbop targets women of a very different age.

We also know that the clothes featured in “Molly’s Lookbook” right now might not work on a forty-year old woman who isn’t Debra Messing.

Oh, and we remember how long it took to explain how to use Shopbop to our mom, so she could find our Christmas list.

Yesterday, while texting, we made a discovery.

We, like everyone else, already knew that iPhone has some issues with spell checking more uncommon words. But when we texted “chanel” to a friend, our iPhone turned it into “Chanel.” Impressed, we tried some more, and learned that iPhone has some eclectic taste.

iPhone knows to correct / capitalize: Chanel, Jacobs (but not Marc), Burberry, Stella McCartney, Alexander Wang, Alberta (but not Ferretti), Calvin Klein, Versace, Dior, Stuart (but not Jill), Halston, Hermes (though, in fairness, it also knows “Aphrodite”), Posen (but it turns “zac” into “sac”), Erin (but not Fetherston).

It did not know: Chloe, Gucci, Prada, Louis or Vuitton, Vogue, ELLE (in fact, it turned “ELLE” into “role”), Visionaire, Matthew or Williamson, Martin Margiela, Coach, Balmain, Balenciaga, Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, Mizrahi, Galliano, Gaultier, and it turned Hedi into “Jedi”, though we could go on (we did).

It’s Friday. Have fun.

“It takes a certain kind of lesbian to wear high-waisted jeans. No, I’m serious - all the girls I see wearing them turn out to be gay!” - Christopher Kane, to ELLE UK via the Guardian.

Back when I was an intern, I first encountered the buzz and mystery surrounding The Prada Friends and Family Sale. The people in charge would give editors certain time slots to come shop, and those editors would then saunter out of work, all, “Oh, I’m heading to The Prada Sale, back later” and everyone else would swoon in their wake.

But this year, Miuccia must be feeling democratic, because The Sale starts tomorrow, and it’s open to anyone.

Where: 609 West 51st Street, near 11th, 7th floor.

When: Tomorrow through next Saturday, October 25th, 9am to 7pm each day.

Exactly What: Prada and Miu Miu, past seasons, up to 80% off. Credit cards only.

We suggest a light, protein-rich breakfast in preparation.

No, that’s not Shakira, at left.

It’s Charlotte Ronson in her Sebastian Haircare ad!

When we saw the first look at the campaign in this morning’s WWD (ads hit print starting January), we had to do a double take. Charlotte’s almost as well known for her Kate Moss-y slept-in topped with pink lipstick look as she is for cute dresses with a whole lot of pink. In short, we love.

If we knew how to spell out a one of those gross guy whistles from the street, we would.

(We’d also like to point out that the trademark of a really good model is the chameleon effect - Charlotte Ronson for Charlotte Ronson ads? Let’s hope..)

Everyone loves to speculate what Hedi Slimane’s up to and whether he’ll return to fashion, and everyone includes us:

We just heard that Hedi has officially been picked up by Art + Commerce, the now IMG-owned powerhouse agency that took some baby steps into the fashion world this fall by starting their own casting division.

They’re representing him as a photographer, Hedi’s current career of choice, which he’s done without representation - until now.

So does this mean he’s officially a shutterbug rather than designer? Sadly, it looks that way, though we bet we’ll still see his name in Vogue Paris.

Fact: Michelle Obama loves to wear Thakoon on TV.

Fact: Thakoon’s collection for Target comes out Christmas Day.

Fact: Michelle Obama loves to wear Erickson Beamon on TV.

Fact: Erickson Beamon just scored a Target collection of their own, hitting stores the day after Valentine’s.

Future Fact: Maria Pinto for Target?

Doubtful.

But Michelle sure has the high/low down, doesn’t she?

So, I’ve been shopping a lot lately.

I’m doing my part to stimulate our poor economy, obviously trying to ignore the fact that I should probably be funneling my extra pennies elsewhere, but I’m also going through post-Paris depression, so it’s ok.

Anyway, I’ve been noticing a lot of what Hayley calls, “Trompe-l’œil, but for clothes.”

Like an Elizabeth & James blazer that comes with the sleeves pre-ruched and an Alexander Wang dress that’s supposed to make people think you’re wearing a t-shirt tucked into a skirt. There was a grey knit tank at Otte that came with a scarf sewn onto the neck, which really confused me, and a vest attached to the inside of a blazer somewhere I don’t remember.

I can’t, for the life of me, understand the point of this. I understand the initial thought of, “Hey, it might be easier if I don’t have to worry about the styling details myself.” But what if it’s cold and you want to pull your sleeves down, (even though I always wear mine up, too)? Or what if you want to wear that t-shirt with your jeans instead of the skirt it’s sewn onto? And what if you want to wear the tank top but it’s 75 degrees outside and you don’t need a scarf?

Wouldn’t it be easier to just show the pieces styled together to give shoppers the right idea but let them decide how they want to wear it? Someone please explain.

Thanks.

More on NYLON!

Last night, after getting heated watching the debate, we switched our TiVo to enjoy a lighter TV event - the Project Runway finale. Between rooting for Leanne and wondering why the hell Kenley had leaves stuck in her hair, we noticed something else - three America’s Next Top Model alumni.

Naima, Bianca and Danielle all made anonymous guest appearances on the runway. But that’s not all: Do you remember that Project Runway’s Season 4 finale runway included another ANTM trio? Bianca, Danielle - but this time Jaslene. And, Entertainment Weekly caught that another reality TV show model contestant - Shannon from Make Me A Supermodel (ANTM’s younger, low-budget cousin) - also walked the show.

Is there some kind of sorority for all reality TV models? Or could all this crossover be coincidence / a lack of budget / cross show promotion that somehow leaves out the promoting part?

Also, since Project Runway actually includes a model competition, wouldn’t it make more sense to have all the competing models walk the shows as a sort of consolation prize?

So much to think over..

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Forever 21’s over Marc. They’ve moved on from Diane.

Like department stores promoting young designers mid-recession, they’re focusing on copying smaller names.

OK, so it’s probably not such a conscious downgrade to lesser known designers, but they’re ripping off Nanette Lepore and she seems like the kind of designer you guys would get behind.

We’re not sure who’s shopping for business wear at Forever 21 - if we had important meetings with non-fashion people, we’d probably worry that a $17 skirt would split mid-presenation - but if you are, you should know this plaid ruched pencil skirt’s been poached from Lepore’s Fall 08 runway.

You can say it doesn’t matter, that it’s just a plaid skirt and it’s just coincidental that it’s the exact same shape, pattern and color as a runway design for this particular season.

But would you mean it?

“Mr. Tansky has projected that the fall season will end up with lower margins and higher leftover inventory than normal. (This did not dissuade Neiman from mailing its Christmas Book last week, an annual exercise in excessiveness that includes a $10 million thoroughbred racing stable in Kentucky alongside a $1,995 Prada lace bag.)” - Eric Wilson in The New York Times.

We don’t go to Bloomingdale’s that often. Department stores are semi-overwhelming and it’s about two blocks too far down Broadway.

But we did go right before Paris because we needed bras and we did go yesterday because we needed Marc. And while there, we noticed a change.

Diane von Furstenberg has had her own space on the third floor since the first time we went to Bloomingdale’s. It’s the same size and scope as the Marc by Marc area on the fourth floor. And it’s all Diane, all the time.

Or it was, until they plopped a rack of Lauren Conrad’s dresses in the middle.

We, or I, worked in retail long enough to know how much thought goes into merchandising. In the public eye, DVF now means Whitney Port which means someone at Bloomingdale’s is getting their giggles from imagining some sort of third floor fashion-reality-show fight.

Stay tuned.

If you love lamé maillots and sweatwear, you’re in luck! Norma Kamali’s PR department is looking for an intern.

Responsibilities:

1. Follow up with editors and stylists regarding samples

2. Maintain sample closet (steam, pack, unpack, label, love)

3. Scan and crop all press credits as well as add new press to press book

4. Assist with projects such as creating press kits or helping with lookbook shoots (steam, pack, unpack, label, swoon)

5. Regularly update editor / stylist contact list

E-mail resumes to Michelle [at] normakamalicollection.com, and we prefer our thank you’s in turbans - thanks!

It’s not every day that we hear of a sale including the magic sneak-out-of-work number, 75% off, but today is one of those days.

So if you’re as in love with VPL’s contour-laden basics as we are - but as unwilling to pay $265 for leggings as we are - swing by their studio at 39 West 38th Street (between 5th and 6th) for major deals that could fundamentally change your Fall layering approach.

Further details: Sale starts today, ends Saturday, 10am - 7pm each day.

646-912-6142, if you are lost / have the guts to bother them about specific items’ prices.

As always, we suggest shopping early.

We finally remembered to check out the new Colette site, whose relaunch coincided with the end of the Gap x Colette here in New York, and with the renovation of the Paris store.

It’s kind of the same, but with a lot more components and way more shopping choices (think Lanvin by the loads).

But the best part? They’ve got a stable of blogs, one of which sometimes gives sneaks peeks of upcoming products for sale on the site, like the Andy Warhol Banana Sweets, at left, which we sincerely hope will be available before mid-December.

Because wouldn’t this be the best possible gift for people you don’t know what to get? Yes.

Market news these days usually goes like this:

Mid-tier company X’s same-store sales down 20%. Fast fashion brand Y’s sales down 2%.

So what are moderately (this is very relatively speaking) priced lines to do? Expand, apparently.

Today brings news that Brian Reyes will expand into lingerie for next Fall, and Marc Jacobs will launch his first full line of swimwear for Marc by Marc, under a licensing agreement with Swimwear Anywhere Inc., the same company that designs swimsuits for Carmen Marc Valvo for much cheaper than the designer name suggests.

Some people might wonder why designers would sink money into new ventures in such uncertain shopping times, but we think this is probably a good way for people to drop $150 on a cute purchase and still feel like they’re on the gainful side.

Because the Brian Reyes / Marc by Marc girl will probably find a way to shop no matter what’s happening in the stock market, so it makes sense to accommodate her new spending allowance, no?

DNA’s looking for a few good interns, but only ones that can whip piles of comp cards into freakish organization, are motivated, are not intimidated by a phone, and take direction well.

They need interns with a strong interest / background in fashion and modeling, but they are not looking for interns that want to be models themselves.

Send your resume and brief e-mail to shawn.men@dnamodels.com, and remember us years from now when you’re a booker for Teen Vogue.

Luck!

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

I’m not really a sneakers kind of girl.

But I did go to the Converse party last night because

a) Cute boys wear Converse, (usually).

b) The Young Lords performed, and we like to play groupie.

c) It was at Florent, or the space that used to be Florent, and I was feeling nostalgic.

d) The one pair of sneakers living in my closet are black Converse.

But now, I want these sequined ones, too. Even though sequins are everywhere and I don’t really like them - there’s something appealing about a sneaker sparkle partnership.

I might be in the right frame of mind, or they might be as amazing as I think they are. I just need someone to scribble on the soles with black Sharpie and they’ll be perfect.

I think you need them, too.

WHICH hot fashion protégé is getting more than just support from his mentor? He’s also getting “support” - you know, activities so not safe for work!

Megan, 21, Student

Got Her: On 13th and University

Stalked Her: Because we totally thought her pashmina was a jacket because of the way she had it tucked and pulled. Once she walked by, we had to know more.

Shot Her: Because her cuffed jeans and the scarf wrapped around her said it all - this girl was dressing for comfort, yet, looked adorable.

She Says: “I got the scarf off the street and I stole these jeans from my roommate, a boy.”

We Say: We’ve always wished we could wear actual boys jeans as our own. Well done!

—LEAH MELTZER

The one nice thing we consistently say about Coach is, “Well, they use really nice leather.”

But we don’t care if they use the nicest leather in the entire world, (which they don’t, because Rick Owens does), if they’re going to cut it up and paste it into this nauseating Prada rip-off.

They’ve scalloped, or at least waved, the edges of the strips of leather just like Miuccia, left out a single strip of magenta, added some extra gold hardware and their ridiculous little wagon plaque to make sure everyone knows you’re not carrying just any Canal Street knock-off, but a genuine seven-hundred-dollar Coach issued fake.

If you prefer your copies more subtle, go for the pea-soup colored one, because only the girls who looked beyond Sasha’s ads will probably recognize its Prada roots.

Then again you‘ll know, because we just told you.

“It’s a survival instinct. But I think, you know, they’re all as bad as each other. I mean, you look at the [art] dealers, it’s a heavy show you’re playing with there. That’s as bad as any retailer I’ve ever come across. It’s the same kind of thing, it’s selling, selling and selling.” - Stella McCartney, in an art world vs. fashion world conversation with artist Ed Ruscha, on an upcoming Iconoclasts.

Pat Field’s much anticipated one-off for Marks & Spencer is finally out, so everyone can finally see what she meant by calling it “Destination Style New York.”

Immediately, it just looks a whole lot like Sex and the City.

Take the Glamour Mac, reminiscent of the trenched outfit Carrie wore while darting through the streets with her shameful Vogue underarm. Or the Rose Puffball dress, an edgier version of one of Carrie’s uber-lady ensembles. Or the Sexy Strapless Catsuit paired with a gold belt, the exact outfit she wore to her rehearsal dinner. Pat even went as far back as the Burger days, bringing back to life the “stupid hat” we actually thought was really cute.

We don’t know why we didn’t see this coming - Kate Moss and Rachel Bilson have already sort of paved the way for designing lines based on already existing closets. But even still, we can’t help but wonder where Pat will go once even the most die-hard fans roll their eyes every time they hear “I couldn’t help but wonder”…

Are you really busy today? No, not really?

Good.

Because Mayle’s having a sale, and we know you want to get in on what is likely to be one of their last events.

What: Up to 40% off all Pre-Fall, including bags, silk camisoles, dresses and “some great pants.”

Where: At the Mayle shop at 242 Elizabeth Street.

When: Now until Sunday (October 19th).

Why: Aren’t you just dying for a little piece of history? Below retail?

See you out there.

This just in from NYLON:

Cory Kennedy will no longer be the hair of Sebastian. The new girl? Charlotte Ronson.

We’ve been sitting here trying to think of instances where real designers posed for real campaigns (Paris Hilton for Guess does not count), and we’re pretty sure Charlotte’s breaking the mold.

She gets to wear her own clothes in the ad, and we’re sure all her girls in February will be bouncing Sebastian-made waves down the runway, but does anyone else think Sebastian’s making some strange choices of campaign faces in terms of who most people in the country can identify in a line-up? Or maybe that’s the point…

As for Charlotte, between this and her J.C. Penney deal, we see many dollar signs in her very near future…

I have a pair of Chucks that I adore. They cost me $80 and I got them at a vintage shop after a 12-hour work day assisting a photographer. The $100 bill he handed me lasted for a whopping six hours before I pulled these beautiful black, high top Converse sneakers onto my feet. I love them, but they’re kind of bothering me. I feel like they’re not really mine.

I mean yes, I paid for them from my hard work, but these shoes are worn in, deliciously and beautifully beat up and special, not through my own hard wearing, but through somebody else’s. This might sound crazy, but I feel like I’ve stolen someone else’s coolness.

The truth is, I wouldn’t have bought them if they’d been brand new. Their discoloration and wilted state were part of their appeal, all thanks to the street pounding of their first owner, the length of their life (and my mother’s would-be reaction) be damned.

I’m not sure if this has to do with the fact that they’re shoes (insert proverb here) or the fact that I receive so many compliments on them whenever I wear them (my standard thought: “They’re not really mine!”), but I just feel like a phony wearing Converses I didn’t beat up myself.

Have you ever experienced guilt at not having worn in your vintage shoes? Or is my existential shoe dilemma totally unfounded?

—LEAH MELTZER

It’s not even fall yet - ok, well technically it might be, but our legs are still bare - and Shopbop’s already launched their autumn sale.

They have seventy-two pages full of Alex Wang tanks, DVF dresses, Marc by Marc jewels and our favorite Toms.

The best pick? The Black Halo dress Serena wore to the dean’s “gathering” last night. The deep-v, open back sheath is called the “Cutaway Jackie O Dress”, which we don’t think Jackie O would’ve liked very much. Only the all-black one is on sale.

It should probably be called the blonde starlet dress.

And it should probably be worn on a date or to a cocktail party instead of an academic occasion.

But maybe that’s just us. Happy shopping!

Four years ago, when they were still a quartet and I regularly drooled over their rack at Barneys, Trovata teamed up with Vans on a pair of limited edition, corduroy and leather Eras. They came in a wooden box and had sneaker heads and yours truly scrambling to pick up a pair. I missed the boat because I couldn’t shell out hundreds of dollars on eBay for them, but I still think about them til this day.

And so, I’m conflicted about seeing a nearly identical pair on Urban Outfitters this weekend.

On the one hand, I finally get to have the pair of shoes my younger self would have sold my soul to have, and better still for a mere $55 (sadly, those are not my feet, at left). And yet, I think I would see John Whitledge’s face staring back in shame every time I looked down at my pretty low tops.

So, what to do? Do I pick up the shoes and run (after all, the originals cannot be purchased anymore)? Or remember them fondly and stick with my beat-up authentics?

Also, it’s weird that Vans is really just reproducing an old Vans shoe that a designer made for them, expect, without the designer name. Think Whitledge is getting a paycheck for these?

—BRETT KANE

Lola, 22, Deitch Gallery Intern

Got Her: On Ave B, as on her way to the Beck / MGMT concert

Stalked Her: Actually, didn’t have to - a friend introduced us.

Shot Her: Her shoes, the cozy layering - but most of all, the fact that she’s wearing a jean jacket and we didn’t want to make fun of her. Bonus points for the adorable London accent, too.

She Says: “Hummm.. I love Mary-Kate, I love Burberry and Alexander Wang. I love the Sartorialist!”

We say: We would also just like to point out the watch - kind of fits the ‘97 vibe she has going - perfect!

—LEAH MELTZER

Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann is the new face, or body rather, of Italian lingerie line Yamamay.

What is it about kind of random foreign lingerie brands and super skinny daughters of important people that make such a good pair?

Well, according to Yamamay’s CEO, Gianluigi Cimmino, it’s Wiedemann’s “innate elegance” and perfect “curves” that make her the ideal face for their “sensual” underpinnings. He loves that “all women will be able to relate to her”.

Elettra’s gorgeous, but seriously? We thought lingerie ads were supposed to be aspirational, not relatable.

Which explains the long roster of pretty rich girls with well air brushed bodies fronting an international array of bras: Lydia Hearst for Myla, Kimberley Stewart for Adore Moi, Daisy Lowe and Peaches Geldof for AP and now Elettra for Yamamay.

So, Lou Doillon for Princess Tam-Tam? Because, she like totally reminds me of my BFF.