>> For an industry stereotypically obsessed with all things skinny, fashion sure has been packing on the pounds lately.  If hauling around your handbag-on-steroids doesn't kill you, your beefy Vogue might.

>>  The fall campaigns have just come out, and the spring collections haven't even debuted yet, so I find this news to be a little suspect.  Madonna is reportedly "very interested" in being the next face for Louis Vuitton.  But the real question is:  Is Louis Vuitton very interested in Madonna?

>> I know the theme of the season is Goth, but did we have to make the purses large enough to be body bags, Marc?

That said, it's kind of freaking me out that the model has such a smirk on her face.

>> Never thought I would see the day that velcro showed up on not orthopedic shoes, but Chloe shoes.  (But then Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava loves her orthopedic shoes, so maybe velcro's a new designer fascination).

>> Shoe-a-holic that I am, the covered platforms I've been seeing lately are really making my blood boil. My two picks?  The Chloe version available at Satine (right), and Tara for Easy Spirit has a yummy suede version. 

>>  Speculation, speculation... PageSix is reporting that Olivier Theyskens may now be going to Nina Ricci to take Lars Nilsson's spot, and Lars Nilsson may be going to to de la Renta.  Seems just the other day Theyskens was going to de la Renta.  We need an official announcement here!  I'm tired of biting my fingernails. 

  >> Their fall collection caught my eye a few months ago, but now that my two favorite dresses from Eventide are for sale online, I have absolutely no excuse not to talk about them.  New York designers Christian Stroble and Sarah Spratt were influenced by Tim Burton's aesthetic for their most recent collection, so you have goth, goth, and more goth.  Which means love, love, and more love from my end.  Especially because there are blouson sleeves and high waists.

>>  What a character Diana Vreeland was.  I read her memoir D.V. the other day and it is just phenomenal, even twenty-two years after first being published.  She takes you on a whirlwind spree of her life, from Paris to London to New York and back again, dishing out tidbits on Balenciaga -- he used "short-limbed, plump models" because he liked Spanish women -- and imparting gems like this:

A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika.  We all need a splash of bad taste -- it's hearty, it's healthy, it's physical.  I think we could use more of it.  No taste is what I'm against.

I spent the entire book wondering if the experiences she details were really her life -- she knew everyone who was anyone, and went everywhere that was anywhere.  Or maybe she was exaggerating just a tad to make it all seem more interesting.  But when it comes down to it, it doesn't really matter -- a good story is a good story, and D.V. is a good story.

>> The collection may not have been my favorite, but these Lanvin ads are kicking everyone else's ads to the curb.  The drag queen look really works for me here, especially on Amanda Moore (middle photo on the top).  If the background wasn't the glossy black it is, this just wouldnt have worked.  But this, this is perfect. 

Row 1: Stella Tennant, Amanda Moore, Malgosia Bela
Row 2: Amber Valetta, Natasha Vojnovic, Missy Rayder