Young, Fashionable Italians in Love

This photo, taken by The Sartorialist, is one of the many reasons why I love Italy and, particularly, Italian fashion. Everyone dresses so well there! It never ceases to amaze me. This couple was captured in Florence, a city, while not as stylish or fashion-forward as cities like Milan and Rome, is still very stylish in its own way. I just love how in sync this couple is with one another's personal style, though I'm guessing that this look was not planned or coordinated. The young lady looks adorable from head to toe, and her boyfriend could certainly teach the wannabe J.Crew preppies a thing or two about style.

(**Photo courtesy of The Sartorialist at http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/61610BohoCouple_2218Web.jpg**)

Is that Barbara Bush?!

I never thought I'd see a Bush not named Lauren in a magazine as progressive, fashion-forward, and avant garde as V magazine. Not only is it a surprise to see a Bush in V, but a Bush photographed by Terry Richardson.Those two names just don't go together to me!

But, sure enough, here she is, styled with a nod to the 70s. I'm not too fond of this ensemble for her. I think she actually has pretty excellent personal style, and has looked much better than this. I met Barbara and her sister in person once and while everyone else was lining up to ask them questions about their father's campaign (*yawn*), I was quick to ask Barbara where she found those amazing shoes she was wearing (they were Jenna's).

The rest of the photos in this shoot are rather lackluster, too, though I was happy to see Lisa Airan engaging in fashion outside of the world of Vogue. The idea is also kind of stale (young society doyennes). Nevertheless, I'm happy to see Barbara getting out there and trying something new. Maybe she'll follow in the fashionable footsteps of her cousin, Lauren, one of my absolute favorite arbiters of style and taste.

(**Photo from V courtesy of nymag.com/daily/fashion**)

Cathy Horyn Can Make Tomato Sauce or Read Vogue

I really love Cathy Horyn's take on the September issues of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. In her August 20th blog post entitled "Big Sisters," she wrote that Vogue can be as "strange and dense and rueful as a novel" while Harper's Bazaar this time around is replete with "confidence, clarity, and directness." Quite a stark contrast, I would say! I definitely agree with her that Bazaar put forth a stellar September issue. The articles were readable, the editorials were whimsical and unique, and the subscriber cover was the most artistic cover I can remember in years. Well done, Glenda Bailey et al!

Maybe Horyn didn't give the September issue of Vogue a fair shake, though. Her main criticism of Vogue (not just the September issue), while undeniably veracious, is that the publication puts too much emphasis on class and, well, snobbery. She cited a quotation from an article featuring Charlotte Casiraghi by Vicki Woods that had Casiraghi "snootily" instructing the author to search for the name of her (Charlotte's) boyfriend on the internet if she wanted to know his name so badly. This was just one case in which Vogue seems to favor society and privilege above anything else (as Horyn mentioned in her article, Casiraghi was still "portrayed in the photograph as a class act"). I think Horyn is correct in pointing this out, but Vogue wasn't the only publication to have an article devoted exclusively to socialites and privileged European fashionistas.

Derek Blasberg wrote an article titled "The New Fashion Flock" for Bazaar in which he provided the readers a guide to who is filling the front rows at fashion shows these days. I'll give you a hint: these girls aren't plebians. They're young girls from uber-wealthy and privileged European families, much like Charlotte Casiraghi. Bianca Brandolini d'Adda, Eugenie Niarchos, Tatiana Santo Domingo (OK, she's not from a rich European family), Margherita Missoni, et al. So, I'm not sure if Horyn's criticism of Vogue was entirely fair since Bazaar has kind of been guilty of doing the same thing lately.

I hope Cathy Horyn will put off making that tomato sauce until after she has read both magazines completely.

My FNO Sample Itinerary

If you haven't been to the official Fashion's Night Out website, I highly recommend it! This is the kind of website that you could spend hours on, sifting through the myriad of options available to shoppers on September 10th when FNO goes down. You can even create a sample itinerary to help you organize your shopping priorities. There are just way too many options to chose from, though, so I had a very difficult time just narrowing my selections down to eight. Obviously, the place to be is Bergdorf Goodman, since that is where Hamish Bowles, Tom Ford, and Victoria Beckham will be. Yes, please!

Here's a look at a few of the (other) places I'd stop by on FNO (image designs courtesy of www.fashionsnightout.com):

01

Akris

835 Madison Avenue New York NY 10021

View Website

212.717.1170

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Twitter6-10pm at the Akris boutique to celebrate Fashion's Night Out with Claiborne Swanson Frank, Veronica Swanson Beard, Alexis Swanson Traina, and Vogue Photography Director Ivan Shaw for a special photography exhibition- Indigo Light: a collection of portraits by Claiborne Swanson Frank. A percentage of the evening's proceeds will benefit Baby Buggy.

02

Balenciaga

542 West 22 Street btw. 10th and 11th Aves. New York NY 10011

View Website

212 206 0872

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TwitterFNO Collection Available In-Store

Nicolas Ghesquière & Balenciaga present an evening of exceptional events for Fashion’s Night Out on Friday, September 10, 2010, at the Balenciaga NY boutique. For one evening only, from 8 PM– 10:30 PM, Balenciaga is proud to feature the US exhibition debut of the Cindy Sherman Untitled (Balenciaga) Series. At 9 PM Balenciaga presents a special live musical performance by Karen Elson, performing songs from her debut album The Ghost Who Walks, produced by Jack White. For full press notes and images, please contact Cynthia Leung at cynthia.leung@us.balenciaga.com or 212.279.4440

03

Banana Republic

Rockefeller Center 626 Fifth Avenue New York NY 10111

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212-974-2350

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TwitterJoin us for a celebration of style, co-hosted by The New Yorker. View an exclusive exhibition of fashion covers from The New Yorker’s extensive 85-year archive. From 6-7 p.m., meet the magazine’s covers editor Françoise Mouly and Banana Republic creative director Simon Kneen. Plus enjoy sparkling wine, hors d’oeuvres and shopping incentives on full-priced merchandise all night long. One night only – only at Banana Republic Rockefeller Center.

04

Bergdorf Goodman

754 Fifth Ave at 58th Street New York NY 10019

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212-753-7300

Facebook

TwitterNO Collection Available In-Store

FNO Collection Available Online

Appearances By: Jason Wu Mary J. Blige Nicole Richie Simon Spurr Thom Browne Tom Ford Victoria Beckham 6-11: 5F Photo Studio 6: Face-Off Makeup Artist Competition With judges BryanBoy, Catherine Malandrino, Hamish Bowles & Trish McEvoy. 7: BG Best In Show: Designer Dogs Take The Catwalk! MC Robert Verdi. Judges Kelly Rutherford, Monique Lhuillier & Tinsley Mortimer. 8: Play With The Pros With athletes Georgina Bloomberg, Joey Cheek, Sarah Hughes & Tim Morehouse. 9: Karaoke! Special host Patrick McMullan. Complete BG Info: http://blog.bergdorfgoodman.com/womens-style/fno

05

Henri Bendel

712 Fifth Avenue New York NY 10019

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212.247.1100

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TwitterFNO Collection Available In-Store

6-11pm Reality stars,The Fabulous Beekman Boys ,with cameras, bring the country to Fifth Ave. with a General Store. Get a 10 min reading with astrologer Susan Miller for $25; benefits Housing Works. Lustr, a New York Magazine top10 fashion app, demos the app. Launch of Atelier Swarovski collection featuring Karl Lagerfeld. 6-9pm Fekkai, Marchesa and Olivia Palermo have a Red Carpet moment that you can share on Facebook/Twitter. 7-9pm Bendel illustrator, Izak, signs one of a kind“green”totes for $100; proceeds go to charity. 8:30-10:30pm Model Erin Wasson presents her jewelry collection LOWLUV.

06

Jimmy Choo

716 Madison Avenue 645 New York NY 10022

View Website

212 759 7078 or 212

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TwitterFNO Collection Available In-Store

Both New York stores- Madison Avenue at 64th Street and 51st Street at Fifth Avenue will remain open for late night shopping until 11pm with champagne and refreshments. Both will be selling the Fashion's Night Out t-shirt. Only at the Madison Ave boutique- be the first to view and pre-order for one night only- the much anticipated Jimmy Choo & UGG boot collaboration! The capsule collection will officially launch for sale globally on October 21, 2010. The collection is based on the iconic UGG Australia boot construction with design details that embody the spirit of the Jimmy Choo brand.

07

Kate Spade New York

454 Broome Street New York NY 10013

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212.274.1991

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TwitterFNO Collection Available In-Store

Join Tim Gunn, chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne inc and co-host of project runway, and deborah lloyd, creative director of kate spade new york, for a window styling contest at the kate spade Broome street flagship. Contestants will create displays inspired by tim gunn's newest book, Gunn’s Golden Rules: life’s little lessons for making it work and the designs will be judged by tim and Deborah. Pick up a copy of Gunn's golden rules and have it autographed while sipping a gin and tonic. Head home with a limited-edition cosmetics case, available exclusively for fashion’s night out.

08

Textile Arts Center

505 Carroll Street Brooklyn NY 11215

View Website

718-369-0222

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TwitterThe Center + Ecouterre.com host "Celebrating Slow", a night of eco-fashion education, DIY, and shopping w/ local designers! (Titania Inglis, ReMadeUSA, Wiksten, Shabd, M2) 6-7PM: Fashion Project's HACK SUSTAINABLE FASHION Workshop: What's your fashion manifesto? 7-8:30PM: PANEL w/ Jill Fehrenbacher (ecouterre, inhabitat), Sarah Scaturro (Cooper Hewitt), Greta Eagan (FashionMeGreen), Caroline Priebe (Uluru), Titania Inglis, Shabd Simon-Alexander, London Sheriff (WasteNotWantNot) 8:30-11PM: SHOPPING; WORKSHOPS: Bags for the People, Sewing Rebellion, natural dyeing; FOOD, DRINKS, DJ Whistlepunk.

Great Britain and Ireland for All Seasons

I've been collecting DK Eyewitness travel guides since middle school, and I love seeing how the series continues to expand and grow. One of the newest incarnations has been the "Where to Go When" editions. Along with the original guide, DK has launched the Americas, Italy (coming in September), and the one I'm currently in love with, Great Britain and Ireland. As with all DK travel guides, "Where to Go When: Great Britain and Ireland" is loaded with colorful photos, hotel recommendations, maps, websites, and cultural information. Though the book helpfully divides Great Britain and Ireland's top attractions seasonally, the guide truly offers enough suggestions to fill up a lifetime of travel through this most enchanting land.

Here are a few of my favorite suggestions for each season:

SPRING

- Experiencing the Georgian charm of Alresford in Hampshire. In addition to the lively Watercress Festival and Eel House, travelers can also pay homage to Jane Austen at her home in nearby Chawton.

- The "bewitching views" of Pendle Hill in Lancashire. This was the site of the most famous witch trial in English history.

- London. Though the editors at DK have placed London into the spring chapter, there truly is no inopportune time to visit what I believe is the world's greatest city. One could spend ten lifetimes exploring London and still have a whirlwind of merriment to enjoy. This guide offers an excellent introduction for first-time visitors.

- Oxford, the city that is in "a class of its own." Three and half of the best months of my entire life were spent here, so Oxford will forever be close to my heart. "Where to Go When" has excellent suggestions for experiencing the best of Oxford, like the Radcliffe Camera, Turf Tavern, Evensong at the colleges, and the Botanic Garden.

SUMMER

- The Isle of Wight. I've always wanted to visit this south coast locale, and the editors at DK suggest doing so in the summer when the temperatures are a comfortable 60-66 degrees. Be sure to visit the iconic Needles.

- The Orkney Islands, off the northern coast of Scotland. If you want to see stone circles, this is the place for you. Both the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness are found here.

- The castles and coastline of South Wales. Just a few of the castles you'll see here are Chepstow, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Laugharne, and Carreg Cennen.

FALL

- Windsor and Eton. In addition to seeing Windsor Castle and Eton College, Hampton Court Palace is just fifteen miles southeast. For history-lovers, the town of Runnymede is of particular significance since this was where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215.

- The Mountains of Mourne on the east coast of Northern Ireland. Explore the beaches of Newcastle, Tollymore Forest Park, and the Silent Valley.

- Visit the "bonnie, bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond, Scotland where you'll also see Stirling Castle and the ruins of Inchmahome.

WINTER

- Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. DK recommends visiting for the winter solstice. The stones are roped off during other parts of the year, so this is one of the rare opportunities to actually get close to the mystical stones. Salisbury Cathedral, the finest 13th-century Gothic cathedral in Britain, is also nearby.

- York, England. York Minster is one of the most impressive cathedrals in all of Britain.

- Chester in Northwest England. I really love this small city that is practically on the Welsh border. The city has ancient walls which encompass it and contain all sorts of whimsical shops. The large cathedral is also impressive.

I highly recommend "Where to Go When: Great Britain and Ireland" to anyone looking to explore this region in depth. You will never be unable to come up with amazing places to visit and spectacular sights to see.

September is the January of Fashion

September marks the beginning of a new cycle of fashion, or so says Candy Pratts Price. It is also the most important month of the entire year for the magazine world. So, which magazines put forth the most exciting, innovative, and fashion-forward covers for September? Here are some of my top picks:

The subscriber's edition of Harper's Bazaar. This is the best cover design I've seen all year. I haven't seen Jennifer Aniston look this edgy or fashion-forward on a magazine cover since the February 2003 issue of W. It would figure that my subscription to Bazaar just ended, so I'm stuck with the yawn-inducing newsstand cover (see below). Maybe I can buy the issue off of a library...

The newsstand cover is like a night-and-day contrast to the artistic subscriber cover. This one is perfectly suited towards the mainstream who have absolutely no interest in fashion.

While not a fashion magazine, I really love Vanity Fair's cover photograph of Lady Gaga. I just love the way she is styled, and I also love that silver hair, which seems to be on-trend these days.

I like this cover shot of Halle Berry. I think her hair looks fantastic and uber-chic. I know that Anna feels like a big statement was made by featuring an African American woman on the cover of a September issue. I just think (no offense to Ms. Berry, who is quite lovely) that Chanel Iman or Liya Kebede would have been more exciting cover choices. They are both highly talented models who are truly deserving of Vogue's top cover honor.

W's different redesigns for September. I'm not crazy about any of these cover images, but I'm most drawn to the middle image. I'm extremely curious to see how Mr. Tonchi has changed the magazine, though.

I also really love British Vogue's Kate Moss cover. Everything about this cover is just perfect.

(** images from Google**)

Less than one month until Fashion's Night Out!

Fashion's biggest, most inclusive night of the year is less than a month away! And this year's event is primed to be even bigger than last year's inaugural event. To find out what will be happening when and where, be sure to check out FNO's Twitter page, Facebook page, and the official website at www.fashionsnightout.com.

Fear not if you can't make it to New York. From Washington, D.C. to London, Tokyo, and Sydney, there is bound to be an event near you. There are two other ways to take part in the action this year. "Fashion's Night Out: The Show" will be taking place at Lincoln Center on September 7th. Tickets for the largest fashion show ever to be held in NYC go on sale August 19th. According to vogue.com, the show will include over 150 models! CBS will stream the event live and vogue.com will have the show on its website the day after the performance. CBS will also be airing a special documentary on the making of FNO on September 14th at 10 p.m.

I don't know about you, but I am overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation for this year's event! I just hope that Hamish Bowles will be singing Noel Coward standards again because I do not want to miss out on that for a second year in a row! I'm also hoping to disguise my resume and writing portfolio in a cleverly-crafted fan letter to Mr. Bowles...

So, what are your plans for FNO? Will you be in NYC or London? Which fashion designers/personalities are you hoping to see?

More FNO updates and coverage to come as we approach the big event! Stay tuned!