A glimpse at J.Crew’s fall collection

While I’ve long been a high-heels-wearing girly-girl, lately there’s been moments when I’ve secretly envied the male sex. Between the possibility of being Clooney-cool and the likelihood of earning 30% more per paycheck, sometimes modern-day manhood—especially the dapper clothes that come with—can look pretty appealing.

Come September chances are that you’ll be singing the same tune, as J.Crew unveils its fall menswear line most of which, I just found out, can be categorized as Portland-ified version of boarding school classics. Hefty knit ties! Slim Cary Grant-suits! Morrissey-inspired casuals! (Oh to wear those sharp styles and not be viewed as an Annie Hall copy-cat!) Best of all though, these affordable high-end finds will be available online and at J.C.’s soon-to-be opened Tribeca outpost—which will no doubt attract dozens of Wall Streeters who want bespoke-looking pieces at recession-friendly prices.

Of course, if the tomboy look doesn’t appeal to your ladylike sensibility, there’ll be plenty of sexy secretary pieces in the womens collection to choose from too. Just the sight of the floral-accented cardies and sleek pencil skirts cured my wardrobe-envy and reminded me how much (in the words of Rodgers & Hammerstein) I enjoy being a girl.

Highlights from J.Crew’s Fall ‘08 Womens line

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Moschino’s Ghost Dresses for Kartell 

First came bedskirts, now it’s chair dresses; furniture has never been so fashionable. For Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2008–the interior design crowd’s answer to fashion week–Moschino created a line of filmy slip-covers for Philippe Starck’s iconic “Ghost” chair.  So while philosophy majors still wrestle with Plato’s “What makes a chair a chair?” question, fashionistas now have to wonder “Can a chair make the International Best-Dressed List?”

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Sean Lennon & Kemp Muhl photographed by Jenny Gage & Tom Betterton for NYTimes 

Is fusion the new boho? As seen in a rather fantastic photoshoot for the NYTimes Magazine, today’s up-and-coming tastemakers favor a look that could be considered the 2.0 version of uptown-downtown style. From ballgowns and bandanas to Windsor knots and Vans, the clothing combinations du jour place tony elements next to rogue accents. Now, thanks to the Times, members of this sartorial tribe have a new moniker, but since the style is all about mixing old and new, does the term fusion really fit the bill? Mull it over and let me know. Also, an unrelated (yet Times-related) question:

Who is Frederick Cook?

A.) 19th century arctic explorer or B.) Patron saint of Freeman’s Sporting Goods

C.) Both 

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Rise, shine, & read away!

Girl on the go: Winehouse to ditch Lagerfeld for Cavalli [Vogue UK]

Like fashion, eh?: Get your M.B.A. in Luxury [Business of Fashion]

Sorry boys: Why fashion has banished the bosom [Daily Telegraph]

Congrats to Net-a-Porter & TopShop! UK online retail market trumps Europe’s [Drapers]

Acne store opens: The 411 including what A-C-N-E actually stands for [CoolHunting]

Recall Luella & Giles Deacon endearing group-studio concept? Well, now the Aussies are edging in[CoolHunting]

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That It-bag of yours might be roomy, but is it ready for the long haul? That’s the question you might have to ask yourself after reading the NYTimes profile of Bottega Veneta’s Thomas Maier, which highlighted the rising trend of anonymous—and timeless—bags. Maier, as you may know, made his name on engineering subtle luxuries—from woven leather totes to deceptively simple dresses—whose appeal could only be recognized by a small, elite circle.

Of course, the same can be said of other players in the handbag arena, including Comme des Garcons, Martin Margiela, and Vanessa Bruno who unveil low-key, logo-free carryalls season after season. As the inevitable backlash to the It-bag and sluggish economies, more and more designers are following this design M.O. as more and more shoppers are seeking out whose style half-life will last longer than 6 months. Should you choose to embark on a similar quest this spring, here’s a cheat sheet to the chicest anonymous bags around.

The best anonymous bags come from designers few have heard of, like this butter-soft suede hobo from handbag newcomer Veda. $565, at Intermix.

Or alternately, this gently distressed leather satchel from a brand named Boyv. $792 at Shopbop.

Short, squat, and sans embellishments, this Jil Sander bag is ladylike yet not prissy. $1140 at Yoox.

Though best known for their delectable shoes, the folks at Loeffler Randall also apply their exquisite urban taste to handbags. How fortunate for us. $725 at Shopbop.

With no flashy hardware to tarnish or cease being trendy, this black Malababa bag is one to have and to hold for years. $690 at Shopbop.

J.Crew’s versatile (shoulder and arm straps) and fresh (bright white leather) offers high-style without a precious price-tag. $235 at J.Crew.

“Understated and yet utterly distinctive,” is the tagline that comes with this nude leather Vanessa Bruno bag. $628, at Shopbop

With a nod to other iconic canvas totes (L.L.Bean and Jack Spade) this In God We Trust carryall puts a rugged twist on the unisex style. $75 at Refinery29

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I like clothes. And I like dogs. I do not however, like dog clothes. The fact that the latter will be in no way involved in this event’s festivities makes it O.K. for me to mention here:

On Saturday, in a tiny, canine-friendly hamlet of NYC, there will be an opportunity to shop and adopt. Adam Lippes–a self-professed dog lover–will hold an all-day adoption party at his new ADAM Meatpacking store. Co-hosted by the ASPCA, the pet-fête will offer plenty of opportunities to play with and take home puppies of all sizes, breeds, and shades. (Expect to hear lots of “How much is that doggie in the window?” jokes.) Plus, with plenty of free booze and milkbones on hand, tongues and tails are sure to wag. Details below:

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For her March 26th arrival at Heathrow Airport, Bruni opts for Dior

Put down the binoculars: The search for the Jackie O.’s sartorial successor is over. This week, while accompanying her husband on an official state visit to the U.K., the new Mrs. Nicholas Sarkozy—a.k.a. former covergirl Carla Bruni—showed off her politically correct fashion prowess. By opting for head-to-toe Dior for every occasion—from de-planeing meet-and-greets to hitting up Westminster Abbey with the royals—Bruni transformed her role of France’s leading lady into an ambassadorship of Parisian fashion. Her suave, patriotic choice of Dior’s more conservative pieces is so spot-on that there’s really not much else to say except Merci Mme. Sarkozy et encore.

Mme. Sarkozy wears Dior fall ‘08

French Power Couple: Carla Bruni and her husband, President Nicholas Sarkozy

Snaps = Splashnews

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Though it may seem otherwise, this is not an ad. This is a public service announcement, aimed at directing you (shoe-crazy shoppers) to good deals (like this one). ($150 in play money after snapping up 2 pairs of heels? Why, it almost justifies the splurge. Nice.)

Also, it’s as good a time as any to my testimonial of appreciation to Saks, specifically the now-famous zip code shoe floor in their Fifth Avenue flagship. Shopping in NYC department stores isn’t usually my bag (the crowds, the top 40 soundtrack, the cheerful barrage of things I can’t afford) but Saks’ shoe selection, sales, and staff really can’t be beat. If you’re in town, swing by the store and ask for the charming Dennis (who has an editor’s eye for shoes, knows what’s going on sale next, and won’t lie when you ask him if your feet look fat) and he’ll help you out. In the meantime, put your heels up and hop online for some affordable retail therapy.

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Click to watch

Ok. Maybe it’s because my computer’s streaming video capabilities aren’t quite up to par, or maybe it’s because my comprehensive skills aren’t fully up and running, but I can’t wrap my head around this video clip. A fashion friend raved about it yesterday but I’m not sure exactly what’s going on: Could this really be the legendary long-locked Steven Meisel in his early, pre-genius years? If so, where can one find images from that lost Gem and the Holograms shoot? Or, alternately, did some die-hard sartorialist really wake up one day and say “Hey! I know what I can do with that new eyeliner and my mountains of American Apparel! I’m gonna make a Meisel mockumentary!” Speaking of waking up, be sure to watch the eye-opener yourself and keep me posted on your take.

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