>> INSIDER WIRE —It's not unusual for a designer or two to drop off the Fashion Week schedule — think Rogan last season — but in light of Fall 2009 being a "make or break season," it's a shame to see another designer follow Peter Som.  Sari Gueron was originally planning her usual runway show, but has decided to forego it all and will be taking showroom appointments instead; the decision is said to be recession-related. [Style File]
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>> Fall 2009 is "the make or break season" for small designers, according to Eric Wilson of The New York Times.  Stores are reducing their orders by 20 percent or more for Fall, and some are already trying to cancel their Spring orders, which puts small businesses, especially those without independent financial backing, in a tenuous position.  Basically, Wilson points out, "The more stores that close, the more designers will follow."  And in show season, the cost of samples and putting on a show doesn't help with the strain.

"We're just trying to survive." »

>> IN PRODUCTION —Last night, Doo.Ri launched her 12-piece lower-priced secondary line, Under.Ligne, full of her trademark draped jersey with some leather pieces mixed in.  The line has been a year in the making and hits stores in July.  For now, it only comes in gray, black, and white, but she plans on rotating to new colors every season. [Style File, Elle News, Fashionista]

>> Last season brought shoes and a diffusion line, and for Fall 2009, Alexander Wang is branching out into jewelry as part of a collaboration with Brooklyn-based designer Paris Kain of AbraxasRex, who worked with Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein in the past.

The collection is small — four pieces — and includes silver cuffs and earrings that Alex says are neither worn pierced nor clipped on. "We’re working with ways of wearing earrings that aren’t typical.  How they work on your body, how they hang."

The vibe of Wang's Fall 2009 collection as a whole is a departure from his past work — more sleek and streamlined, more constructed and tailored, less "throw-on slouchy."  But it will still be pure Alex.  His after party may be canceled, but he plans on bringing the spirit to the runway with a Belvedere-sponsored open bar before the show and "the most theatrical beginning we’ve ever done."

Same goes for the jewelry's appearance — pure Alex.  “I wanted something very industrial," he elaborates. “But also animalistic. [The inspiration] started with the idea of Tina Turner in ‘Mad Max.’”  Pieces will wholesale $350 to $975, partially due to the tiny diamonds Paris Kain worked into the designs — it's his trademark.
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Girl Woman Beauty Brains reports that the FDA has approved a beauty product, produced by the makers of Botox, which will lengthen eyelashes...

Kingdom of Style finds comfort in the highest of high platforms from Giuseppe Zanotti. 

Beauty Junkies Unite reviews a facial peel, called the Suki Spa Renewal Bio-Resurfacing Facial Peel, that contains pumpkin enzymes. 

J'Adore Couture reports on the men's preview from Olsen twin-designed line, The Row. 

>> IN PRODUCTION —Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are expanding The Row into menswear and have an Elizabeth and James footwear collaboration coming out with Steve Madden in mid-2009, but already they're thinking ahead to the next step for The Row.  A store is still a few years down the line, Ashley says. "I’d love to get into china.  But leather goods will probably be the next step." [WWD]

>> Now that PETA got their most recent target, Donna Karan, to vow not to use fur, they've turned all their attention to Giorgio Armani.  The organization took a full-page ad out in today's Variety depicting Armani with an elongated nose, urging Oscar attendees to shun Armani's designs on the red carpet, since the designer apparently broke a promise to avoid using fur.

A year ago, Armani told reporters before showing his Armani Prive collection: "There is no fur in the collection. Many years ago I actually made a declaration that I wouldn’t use fur. I used some fur in some recent collections, and the organization PETA, whom most of you are familiar with, discussed this particular issue, and presented some information to [me] and [I'm] not using fur in [my] collection."

PETA's "taking it to where he's most vulnerable." »