What brought about this mod British Indian melange?

“It was the tarot cards, and no one knows where they originated. Everyone wants to claim the tarot. The inspiration was: Oscar Wilde reads your Tarot cards then you put on your best menswear pajamas and have a great dance party.”

Stunning! That’s a party I want to be a part of. Now a question for President Lepore of Save the Garment Center: If you were in an elevator with a young designer about to send production overseas, what would you say?

I would tell them that they’re out of their mind. That there’s so much opportunity here in New York. Actually there’s one I shared a train ride with who was working in China. I was like, ‘You’re so making a mistake. You have to work here in America.’ She didn’t understand how to do it. And she’s gone, out of business. you can be so  hands on and so much in control of your fate if you’re right three. these factories want you to succeed. They’re there to nurture you. They’re not going to cut you off after one season if you haven’t brought your minimums to where they’re supposed to be. They will work with you. So I would do everything in my power to stop them from [going overseas].

Photos: W Mag

With all proceeds going to Bottomless Closet, which empowers women with clothing and confidence, the ticket guarantees more than just a splendid time for all. It means women entering or re-entering the workforce with pride to be able to provide for their families.

A regular ticket costs $50. VIP status runs you $100. And it all goes to making positive change for women and communities through fashion. Will I see you there?

All photos from Style.com.

All photos from Style.com.

Which samples have you been sampling perhaps a bit too much before the show?

Darlene: I love the short mini skirt, and the turtleneck sweatshirt. I love the knitted sweatshirt with the two-toned pants and the varsity jacket.

Lizzy: She’s taking all my looks right now.

D: And I know a lot of people were kind of quirky about it, but the moto jacket.

L: In plastic!

D: You can be stylish in the rain.

Which look changed the most since the initial sketch.

D: This time we kind of knew what we wanted. It was more of getting that statement piece and saying I’m going left while you’re going right. It was all about vibrant colors. It’s wintertime, it’s dark. I wanted to bring confidence to me.

What was the difference between designing for yourself versus your target market?

L: I wouldn’t say it was easy because Darlene and I have different styles, but it was more fun. We looked at everything like, I want that, and that, and that.

D: Actually I’m buying [the floor length varsity jacket]. That’s my number one must have.

L: Stealing it, more likely.

What was that feeling like when you first had the thought, “I’m not going to be afraid of color this fall,” as you said in the pre-show video. 

L: We’ve been saying that for seasons! From the beginning we’ve wanted to just go out with color, but we were like, ohh would people like that? But this season it was, why wouldn’t people like that? If people like what you do and enjoy your work season by season, they’re going to learn to just to ride with this new season.

It was a bold move. Those green and yellow wools, ooh! They’re so rich! 

D: That was the wacky tacky outfit!

You’re sisters, so I’m sure you have a lifetime of practice, but how do you compromise design decisions?

L: It’s a natural thing. We shared a room forever! When you’ve been able to live with someone for so long, and be forced to go everywhere with them and hang out with them, that relationship is inevitable.

D: We’re business partners. And if we ever decided we want to go our separate ways, our Dad would look at us like we were crazy. I would get the phone call first because I’m the oldest.

L: We still get yelled at by our parents.

When did you get to sleep last night?

L: We didn’t!

D: I did, I went to sleep at like 10 o’clock.

L: You can’t when you’re wiggling around thinking, OHH this has to be sewn by the morning. 

D: What’s frustrating is when you’re trying to sleep and you’re dreaming about the clothes.

L: I had a piece of fabric thrown at me in my sleep! Just flying off the shelves, hitting me. That’s called anxiety.

D: Fashion nightmare.

Enjoy the technicolor fashion dream of William Okpo:

His name is Shail Upadhya. He’s a retired U.N. Official from Nepal who is now a stylist in NYC. He also makes his own suits. He’s styled them after the iconic YSL Mondrian print, Kandinsky artwork, stripes, dots, checks, you name it. This week, he came in a jacket he imagined up to pay tribute to The Beatles.

In celebration of the anniversary of The Beatles coming to America on February 7, 1964, Shail Upadhya crafted a suit with John Lennon‘s self portrait on repeat.

When The Fab Four came to America, Shail was in London where he lived with his ambassador parents. “At that time I had heard of The Beatles. They weren’t as popular in London as they were in the U.S. London and Liverpool also had a bit of a rivalry. London kind of looked down on Liverpool.”

Soon after their arrival in the U.S., the negativity was shattered. Like many a-boomer, he grew up with their music as his soundtrack.  His fav fab tunes?  Here Comes the Sun and HELP!

Shail Upadhya loves paying homage and saluting people in different fields of art through fashion.

And hopefully he’ll help fight back against people who tweet “Who the hell is Paul McCartney??” Seriously kids, watch yourself.

Click through the gallery for some boots from New York Fashion Week that are made for walking.

Photos: Style.com

Color palette: Black and metallics – so chic
Mood: Girl power glamour
Statement Pieces: All of the gowns were divine, but the Café mocha art deco long-sleeved beaded gown was a standout.
Front Row Name Drops: I didn’t notice much buzz among the front row.
Gossip: The girls next to me were gossiping about some boy, but it was dreadfully uninteresting.
Runway Music: Glass Candy

All photos from Style.com.

Color palette: Colorful, yet understated. Muted hues of green, orange and purple were all present.
Mood: Young and energetic
Statement Pieces: Loved the purple coat with bright orange fur panels.
Front Row Name Drops: Phillip Bloch rolled in next to me.
Gossip: There were too many conversations happening to pick out any juicy lines.
Runway Music: Nothing stuck in my mind.

All photos from NYMag.

- Martha Stewart‘s dog won best breed at the Westminster Kennel Club‘s annual dog show. Let’s hope that winning streak translates to court. [Styleite]

- French Elle has dubbed plus-sized model Tara Lynn as “The Body.” Big girls are officially shutting it down – take a note. [Huff Po]

- Hours before Whitney Houston‘s death and before she was called on to do a tribute performance at the Grammys, Jennifer Hudson was extolling the virtues of her American idol. [Refinery29]

- While we may have lost Whitney, Ashanti‘s still around as she made glaringly — and desperately — clear at some rando fashion show this New York Fashion Week. [Huff Po]

- White Collar‘s Matt Bomer is a gay. And adding that to my list of “Things I’ve Rolled My Eyes at Today.” [THR]

Michael Bastian’s set is looking natural, but a little bit lavish. 

I love that you used the word lavish!

How does your aesthetic change between a show with the classic American prep of Michael Bastian versus some of the more wild designers?

It was important to give Michael Bastian a refined look, as soon as people walk in the door. They’re used to him being a little big sporty, but this season it’s very refined. I approach all my shows with same intensity. People always ask, what has been your favorite show? They all become your babies when you’re in the middle of making them. It’s a constant evolution from the minute you have the idea till the lights go on.

What past experience led you to being the Creative Director on so many top shows like Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, and now Michael Bastian?

I come out of the fashion magazine world. I was a fashion editor for many many moons. I always felt my job was not just get people excited by the clothes, but to almost make the clothes feel legendary within the picture. I was coming up in an era where we were making clothes famous.

Color palette: Red, white and blue
Mood: Magical, nostalgic, enlivening
Statement Pieces: The whole damn show was a statement
Front Row Name Drops: Phillip Bloch, Garance Dore, Elizabeth Hurley, Margherita Missoni, Amy Sacco, Alek Wek, Scott Schuman and Waris Ahluwalia were all in the house
Gossip: “Oh my god this is amazing. I’m going to cry.”
Runway Music: The Harlem Boys Choir, M.I.A.

All photos via Style.com.

Congrats on the move! Any news on the progress?

Architects are measuring the space, and we’ll be seeing the first round of designs next week. We’ll decide on the final design by end of the month. It will be built by Spring.

How do you plan on continuing to promote the Garment Center even though you’ve moving away from it?

We have the CFDA Incubator program there in the Garment Center. We have 6 designers graduating this spring, and we’re helping them all to find studio space there. We’re seeding the neighborhood. We’ve got 10 more designers we’re helping find space there. We are also conducting a study with the Made in Midtown Design Trust for Public Space to see how we can use the Garment Center better.

And CFDA prospectives on your horizon? What new designers have you excited this season?

I can’t name any. I like every show, I just like going to the shows. I love the collective energy of talented designers and creative people. Fashion Week is one big giant long runway!

What’s the first thing you’re going to do once the giant runway of Fashion Week has come to a close?

I’m going to my house in Pennsylvania to relax.

And relax you should. You deserve it. Enjoy!

Photo: Style.com

Color Palette: Evergreen, red oak and heather grey

Mood: Dark but sensual, mysterious and glamorous

Statement Pieces: Obviously the aforementioned giant raccoon hats as well as an opulent silver fox coat. But a sheer python print silk chiffon gown paired with leather evening gloves — a reoccurring and rather lovely accessory featured throughout the entire collection — was sublime.

Front Row Name Drops: Tried my darndest but I couldn’t recognize anyone. Guess it’s time I brush up on my directory of mid-range celebrities.

Runway Music: “Too Insistent” by The Dø

- Liza Minnelli had to drop out of her Hot in Cleveland guest spot thanks to an injury. And that’s why you don’t challenge Betty White to a bare-knuckle street brawl. [Playbill]

- Milk rules everything around me. New York Fashion Week, y’all!  The Wu-Tang Clan brought a little bit of Shaolin to the fashion set last night at Milk Studios. [Paper]

- Gisele‘s Victoria’s Secret brethren (sisteren?) are rushing-ish to her defense after the fallout over Betrayed-Bro-gate. Quote Adriana Lima: “Leave her alone!”  [Vogue UK]

- Madonna responded to Flipped-Bird-gate, calling M.I.A.’s middle finger gesture a  ”teenager … irrelevant thing to do.” Then 80s Madonna responded to Now Madonna’s statement by flipping herself the bird and  telling her future self to lighten the fuck up. [Huff Po]

- Skin care brand REN decided to get all porny to celebrate their 10th anniversary with this soft-core bit of marketing. The protagonists may feel clean but I know that I could use a shower. [Fashionista]

Photo: Style.com

Color Palette: Blacks and blues, rosy hues, some mean greens and a bold print here and there.

Statement Pieces: I’m always a fan of a sack and this number was  a personal favorite — like something a younger, sexier Grandma Yetta would wear on a date.

Makeup: There were bejeweled collars which — understandably — took my attention from the models’ faces.

Front Row Name Drops: Someone left the door to Terry Richardson‘s gutter open and he waltzed in shortly before the show started. Front row regulars Mickey Boardman, Derek Blasberg and Waris Ahluwalia. I also thought I saw fitness celebrity John Basedow, but sadly, I was mistaken.

Runway Music: All right, confession time. See, there were waiters walking around with mini-bottles of Prosecco, right. And I was already clawing at the bottom of mine by the time the lights dimmed. So between that and my obsessive tweeting, kinda missed that part. But it was loud, if that helps. #fail

He’s touting his tunes all over town to the fashionable elite. Next stop, the Rebecca Minkoff after party at the Darby Downstairs tonight. Then he’s setting the mood for Rachel Roy‘s after party on Monday.

So, if you’re a fashion journalist, he’s playing for you. Find your way in.

Color palette: Black, tan, black
Statement Pieces: Tough leather jackets, drop crotch harem pants, slouchy layering, all black and grey, master styler, black lips, blunt bangs, cowboy hats, fringe everywhere, gunslinger inspired leather vest, exposed backs, jackets with shoulder straps to be worn as a backpack, turtle shell pendants.

Makeup: MAC cosmetics, jet black bobs, burgundy lips.
Front Row Name Drops: Cory Kennedy, Elle magazine’s Joe Zee
Runway Music: Shot You Down- Audio Bullys

Just in time for New York Fashion Week we’re excited to launch the sixth volume in our popular mixtape series, concocted by one of New York’s most preeminent tune-smiths,  DJ M.O.S. As the Indies dash around the city from show to show this season, we’ll certainly have this hour-long dose of ear candy blasting at all times — now you can too!

And as per usual, it’s totes FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

So what are you waiting for? Download our mix and hit those streets with a vengeance. Feeling nostalgic for some of our past hits? Check out all our previous mixtapes on our Dubset page.  May Fearless Fucking Fashion always be with you.

Track Listing

1. Body Language – Social Studies (Plastic Plated Remix)
2. Theophilus London – Why Even Try
3. Grafton Primary – Records For The Righteous
4. Morrissey – Last of The Famous International Playboys
5. Sia – Clouds (Plastic Plates Remix)
6. Holy Ghost Feat. Michael McDonald – Some Children
7. Nu Shooz – Point Of No Return
8. Mark Ronson – Somebody To Love Me (Rhythm Plates Jack Mix ’87)
9. Toro Y Moi – New Beat
10. Passion Pit – Little Secrets (Hey Champ Remix)
11. LexiconDon – Student Body (Bit Funk Remix)
12. Juan Atkins – Dayshift (Oliver’s Nightshift Remix)
13. Lenny Kravitz – Sunflower
14. Peter Gabriel – Big Time
15. Erasure – A Little Respect
16. Breakbot Feat. Ruckazoid – Fantasy
17. PNAU – The Truth (Jump Jump Dance Dance remix)
18. Gossip – Love and Let Love
19. Cristian Marchi – Disco Strobe
20. Gotye – Somebody The I Used To Know (Party Ben Power Remix)
21. The Ting Tings – Hands
22. La Roux – In For The Kill (Lifelike Remix)
23. Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks (Gigamesh Remix)
24. Adele – Set Fire To The Rain (Moto Blanco remix)
25. Jamiroquai – Runaway
26. Moloko – Sing It Back (Boris Musical Mix)
27. Basement Jaxx – Red Alert
28. Friendly Fires – Lovesick
29. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Off and On (Calvin Harris Remix)
30. Azealia Banks – 212

- Andrej Pejic perfected his tuck to model a bikini on a rooftop in New York. All in a gay’s work. [Telegraph]

- Wet Hot American Summer 2. Happening. Get into it. [Huff Po]

- Is Barneys broke? The luxury retailer is having some fairly public money woes. Hey, the recession has hit us all in considerable ways. [WWD]

- Seems like I wasn’t the only one who had a rough night. But in all fairness, I didn’t get stuck in an elevator. But then again, I didn’t get to see Chaka Khan. You take the good with the bad, kids. [Racked]

- A history of the front row at fashion shows proves that celebrities have and will always take precedence. See Babs Streisand resigning Richard Avedon to the second row at Chanel in 1960. [The Cut]

- Calvin Klein, class of 1963 donated $2 million to FIT, the biggest donation from an alumnus in the school’s history. [WWD]

- Karlie Kloss, movie star. Kloss’ rise to superstardom in the world of modeling means that Hollywood will begin knocking on her door, if they haven’t rammed it down already. Karlie may be following in the strides of other model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and is eschewing the catwalk for the film studio.

- Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s a beauty contract. While the runway pays well for girls of Karlie’s stature, a beauty campaign can set a model on the catwalk to Easy Street for the rest of her life. Since snagging Estée Lauder, when’s the last time you saw Hilary Rhoda walk a show?

- Karlie Kloss, new creative director at Christian Dior. This may be a bit of a stretch, but the house does love them some Kloss. She hasn’t missed a step in a single Dior show — from couture to resort — in years and Bernard Arnault might want to just keep her around.

- Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it. As everyone knows, models making the cover of Vogue is as rare as a viable Republican candidate for the presidency. So what better reason to cancel on Fashion Week than to jet off to Paris for an exclusive shoot with Mario Testino for a star-making cover?

- Karlie Kloss DiCaprio. After she walked in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Leonardo DiCaprio was reportedly smitten with the leggy Ms. Kloss. He’s landed Gisele and Bar Refaeli, why not add the newest bright young thing to his collection of catwalkers?

What do you think — Where in the World if Karlie Kloss?

Everyone wants to imbibe freely and some places allow you to do just that. But if you find yourself in this proverbial land of milk and honey — where the milk and honey are actually vodka and tequila — it’s important to adhere to certain protocols.

Color palette: Soft muted neutrals were complemented by rich navy and dotted with innocent hues like pink and yellow
Mood: Young and giddy with an underlying tone of mischief
Statement Pieces: Though no piece stood out much more than others, her sequined pieces sparkled, making the them perfect for day-to-night wear
Front Row Name Drops: No front row from which to drop names from
Gossip: Not much to gossip about the first day of Fashion Week

Barneys has them for $219. What are you waiting for?

Not only was tonight a tremendous waste of time and money but it was also the biggest load of crap I’ve experienced since…well, last Fashion Week. Perhaps there was something in the air or a full moon or maybe New York just forgot to take its “Don’t Be a D-Bag Pill,” but attempting to go out on the town proved ultimately fruitless.

At not one but three parties scheduled for tonight, my fellow editors Mac, Amanda and I were met with tiny dives “at capacity,” doormen who were bigger assholes than usual — which is quite a feat in and of itself — and long, sloppy, ill-managed lines, which in the dwindling days of summer is all well and good. Or at least tolerable. But not in freezing weather with snow drifting down upon our heads.

What, pray tell, is the point of attending these parties when all we’re met with is attitude, crowds, and even more attitude? A free drink or two — or in my case, twelve? The chance to spot a C- and if you’re lucky B-list celebrity? The cache of saying you were “there” at whatever hotspot is currently on fire?  If so, be my guest to stand in line  for an hour over the course of the upcoming week from hell —  just make sure you have a flask tucked into your garter belt.

I, however, would rather just get drunk in the office with my FashionIndie kin and avoid the general clusterfuck steadily descending all over this fair (?) city. I’ll take the shows and presentations because that’s what Fashion Week is all about and leave the parties, name-dropping and general bitchery that comes along with it to those with far more patience than I. There’s already too much to do and too much to worry about to add another line and another list to the equation.

Photos: Models.com

We don’t recommend party crashing as a regular hobby because in all honestly it’s kind of trashy especially when you get a rep of doing it multiples times. Use these examples for  instances when you just can’t get on the list or found out about the party 15 minutes before you get to the door.

Keep reading to find your way in.

If you were in the city this weekend, you might have noticed a number of freakishly tall and thin girls running around town, their books in hand,which means one thing – it’s casting time for New York Fashion Week! Over the course of six hours, hundreds of girls — from up-and-comers to  bona fide runway stars — ushered through the Hudson Hotel‘s gorgeous library to see and be seen by Andrew Weir and his team of professional model wranglers from ACW Worldwide.

“I met her seasons ago in Paris when she was 14,” Weir later tells me once Tanya Dziahileva has left, with more than a hint of wistful sentiment. “I could never pronounce her last name and I don’t even try. She’s always been Tanya D. to me.” On his note card he writes “No Words.”

Mr. Weir seems to have a personal relationship with many of the models that stomp through his biannual casting. He jokes with them, asks them about their vacations, their families and boyfriends — anything to make them feel at ease. Meeting a doe-eyed 16-year old Brazilian who spoke little to no English and who was wandering about the city all by her lonesome, he seems genuinely concerned. But he is also impressed with her walk, noting that she indeed has potential although she’s not quite ready for the runway.

Whenever a girl does strike his particular fancy, Weir has them walk twice, maybe more and he personally takes their photo. In the case of Arlenis Sosa and Ajak Deng — both big names in the industry — a fuss is understandably made with Mr. Weir remarking to Ajak, “You’re going to lose three pounds by show time we’re gonna make you walk so much!” But sometimes there is a new girl that also warrants a fuss, such as a statuesque brunette who recently switched agencies. “If you’re at the wrong agency, I’ll never see you. It’s insane,” he says before taking some photos of the girl. After she’s left he confides in one of his agents, “She’s going to be huge. This is like a star moment.”

Which has to be a compliment to any young model — a seal of approval from one of the top casting directors in the business. However, only time will tell if he will cast her for one of the four shows ACW is handling this season: Jen Kao, Thakoon, Rebecca Taylor and Joseph Abboud. Sunday saw the second round of casting and the final list will be decided upon the night before the shows. For some girls it will be a busy season and for others it will be better strut next time.

One girl who made an impression had walked for Mr. Weir in the past, but like the doe-eyed Brazilian teenager, she wasn’t “there” yet. ”Quite an improvement from a few seasons ago,” Mr. Weir says with a smile of approval. He then gets up from his chair to take several pictures of the model, jots down a few notes about her then calls the next sartorial lamb to the altar.

Photos: Richard Guaty

Drawing on 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, Patricia Nash identified a gap in the marketplace for stylish, high-quality handbags at an accessible price point and founded her namesake collection to fill that void. Taking inspiration from vintage silhouettes that wear well with age, Nash’s 100% Italian leather handbags effortlessly accommodate the 21st century woman. Beloved by celebrities like Denise Richards, the red Rodano Satchel is a classic yet modern way to wear a bold color. This chic bag is the perfect everyday style staple, packing timeless appeal.

How can you win one of two Patricia Nash Rodano Satchels, valued at $268 a piece? With Fashion Week only two days away, we’d like to know what essentials you would tote in this timeless carryall. Whether it’s your laptop and lipstick or emergency flats and emergency flask, we want to know. Our two favorite commenters will each win a bag. Good luck!

To learn more about Patricia Nash, visit her Facebook page and Twitter @PatriciaNashBag. Questions about the contest? Ask me on Twitter @CrystlMeatballs. This FashionIndie contest is open to residents of the United States only.

Alisha Trimble collaborated with director Seth Edwards to shoot an innovative, genre-bending short on 16mm film. The story line is an Old-Hollywood-meets-contemporary society take of two actresses fighting for the limelight. The dramatic tension is fueled with music by Emily Zuzik and Tim Lefebrve.

Caycee Black created an intertwining of moments and clues along a woman’s path on Super-8 film with experimental filmmaker Mary Billyou. Caycee’s paintings, which turn into her prints each season, are filtered through the film in playful movement. The film was described by Billyou as “a sunny day, Kuleshov visits Fort Tilden’s ruins, in the form of a Brighton Beach model dawning polka-dots and acid colors, accompanied by a haunting melody, futuristic static, and crickets.” If that looks as genius as it sounds, we can’t wait.

To RSVP for the film premiere, email Social@AlishaTrimble.com.

Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm, Milavec Hakimi Gallery, 41 Cooper Square, New York

7 days before (and every day leading up to): Make time to juice. Juicing helps cleanse toxins from the body and skin, so find a recipe, head to the store, buy fresh fruits and vegetables, juice them and drink up! By Fashion Week your skin will glow. My favorite recipe is: 1 cup of blueberries, 1 cup of blackberries, an apple, a slice of ginger, handful of spinach, 1 cup of kale, 1 beet, honey (if needed to sweeten), crushed ice, add water or raw cranberry juice after blended.

5 days before: Hydrate those cells! Before bedtime, apply a hydrating, vitamin-rich mask. It’ll give your skin an extra boost of vitamins and nutrients, integral components to beautiful skin. Select a natural (organic, if possible!) mask, cleanse skin and apply to face, avoiding eyes and lips. Leave on until dry, rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry. Don’t forget to use a facial oil and moisturizer afterwards.

- According to GQ, Los Angeles is the best smelling city in the world. Because nothing beats the scent of smog, Botox and desperation. [GQ]

- George Clooney‘s girlfriend-of-the-moment, Stacey Keibler, will be making the rounds at New York Fashion Week. And in jeans she’s being paid $5000 to wear, no less. Way to put that beard to work, Clooney. [Page Six]

- Once, twice, three times a mermaid. Katy Perry snatched the worn out page that Lady Gaga originally stole from Bette Midler‘s playbook and got a little fishy for hair straightener ghd’s new campaign. [ONTD!]

- Miley Cyrus, gay rights activist. The poptart wrote a surprisingly thoughtful article on her gay marriage tattoo and the subsequent backlash. Her equally thoughtful response: ”Dude, everyone lay off.” The children really are our future. [Glamour]

- The 10 “real” guys Carine Roitfeld used for her VMAN spread  are real friggin’ hot. [The Cut]

- Speaking of Mara, the girl without the dragon tattoo eschewed her usual black for a white frock at the Japan premiere of her hit film. Foreshadowing, anyone? [UPI]

- Kmart is ready, willing and more or less able to help with any #fashionweekproblems you might have. Thanks, Big K, but unless you know a drug dealer that delivers outer borough, my #fashionweekproblems are a bit out of your #areaofexpertise. [Racked]

- Kristen Stewart continues to weasel her way into the assumed hearts of the fashion industry with this little candid of her flipping the bird to/around/beside Karl Lagerfeld. Better people have died for less. [Styleite]

- Well this happened. Pied piper to the gays and the Guidos alike, David Guetta has a new video with newfound muse Nicki Minaj for “Turn Me On.” And it’s weird as fuck. [Towleroad]

- Adele will make her first post-vocal-cord-surgery appearance at the Grammys on February 12. After the ceremony, she’s expected to require shoulder surgery from lugging all those damn trophies around. [Paper]

- Hopefully you all tuned in last night to the season premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race — i.e. the greatest show of all time. If you did, you might have noticed the thirteen dragtacular contestants brilliantly recreating the finale to Alexander McQueen‘s spring 1999 fashion show in which Shalom Harlow was assaulted by two paint-spewing mechanical arms. And if you didn’t, I don’t know what the hell you’re waiting for. [NY Mag]

Mixing modern, edgy designs and an air of British elitism might sounds like a challenging combination to master, but Ainsley does it with flair and ease. Born in Manchester, England, the designer moved to the states when she was 12 years old, her father taking a professor of Anthropology position and her mother working as a sculptor. With creative thinking in her blood, Ainsley started to design in-sync with the social happenings around her. Though she is inspired by hardship like war and global warming, her designs are flowing and timeless. Both practical and self-expressive, Ainsley’s collections are for the modern, cultured woman through and through. Check out her Fall 2012 teaser video below.

How can you win $500 to shop Ainsley or Qi Cashmere and two tickets to the Ainsley Fall 2012 show during New York Fashion Week at Exit Art on Saturday, February 11? Head over the brand’s Facebook page, LIKE it and tell us in the comments below how the teaser video above inspires you. The commenter with the best answer will win both the $500 shopping spree and tickets to the show. You MUST live in the New York metro area to qualify. Good luck!

To learn more about Ainsley, visit them on Twitter @ainsleyny. Questions about the contest? Ask me on Twitter @CrystlMeatballs. This contest is open to residents of the New York metro area only.

With Radar, you can:

- RSVP to all of your shows all at once

- Keep in touch with your PR contacts

- Receive up-to-the-minute show updates

- Export your Fashion Week agenda to iCal, Outlook or Google Calendar

- Take Radar on the go with the snazzy iPhone app, which includes a map to easily navigate between shows

For more info on Radar, visit the Fashion GPS website!

The face of victory, Mario Boselli

New York and the CFDA has agreed to not push back the dates of New York Fashion Week in accordance with the “Second Thursday rule” so as not to interfere with Milan’s show dates. The CFDA’s chief executive officer Steven Kolb graciously and begrudgingly admitted defeat at the hands of noted shit-talker Mario Boselli of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in a statement today:

“We’ve been back and forth on this. People are anxious and need to know the dates. There’s no value for the cities to compete. In the spirit of working together, London and New York are in agreement that we will go in the earlier period, but with the hope that the four cities will come out of this confusion and work together to plan future show weeks. We need to begin to look at the fashion season not as individual fashion weeks, but very much as a global business.”

Well, at least it’s over and no lives were lost. But it being a fashion war, expect some scathing reviews flooding in from the upcoming fall 2012 runway shows in Milan and Paris because shade is the only real weapon of combat. As for next year, New York will show from September 6 thru 13, London from September 14 thru 18, Milan from September 19 thru 25 and Paris from September 26 thru October 3. [WWD]

- With New York Fashion Week only a month away — cue panic attack — the CFDA wants to make sure you’re not freebasing Sugarfree Red Bulls and replacing the sugar in your coffee with cocaine by hosting a panel dedicated to living healthy. If I wanted to live healthy during fashion week I’d just sleep through it. [The Cut]

- Time to tune into TRL and vote for your favorite videos of the day! Oh, wait, it’s not 1998. But it certainly feels like it now that 90s R&B divas Brandy and Monica are reuniting to sing-argue who the boy really belongs to for their new duet, “Turn the Lights On.” I just hope the video involves a split-screen and a tube-top turtleneck. [Buzzfeed]

- Kim Kardashian wished Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge née Kate Middleton a happy birthday the only way she knew how: with a convenient product placement. Meanwhile, if the Duchess is ever caught dead in a Shoedazzle heel, all the style points she earned with that McQueen wedding gown will go right out the window. [Huff Po]

-  Models just can’t keep it in their pants these days. Molly Sims is the latest catwalker to get knocked up. [Modelinia]

- Barbie may be making some questionable choices as of late, but the pint-sized fashion plate has never looked so badass, thanks to these amazing printable hair extensions. Now if they just came out with these in human size. [Refinery29]

- PETA strikes again. The most annoying people in the world have now taken issue with Oscar de la Renta’s Beats by Dre headphones, imploring beatsmith Dr. Dre to use his “tremendous amount of influence on young people…to advocate kindness toward animals by pledging never to design with real fur and exotic skins.” The good doctor, unsurprisingly, has not responded. [Huff Po]

- In the age of viral this and social media that, why let something as petty as death interfere with your internet life? Now you don’t have to, thanks to a new app that ensures your last words will be disseminated to all your Facebook friends, in the event of your untimely passing. But more importantly, can you poke some one from beyond… [Refinery29]

-Anna Wintour‘s biannual HJ to the industry, Fashion’s Night Out, will make an uncalled-for return next year to once again haunt the sartorial streets. [WWD]

-  Jonathan Saunders, Mary Katrantzou, Marios Schwab and Nicholas Kirkwood are among the finalists for next year’s British Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Fund. [Vogue UK]

- Michael Kors IPO is listed at $20/share, which will probably be the least you’ll ever pay for a Michael Kors anything from here on out. [WWD]

- The First Family posed for a new family portrait and while it’s all cute and familial, we can clearly see Michelle‘s roots and homegirl could use a touch-up. [Just Jared]

- Vera Wang is getting in touch with her inner dude by outfitting some real dudes. While brides will wear her doomed David’s Bridal gowns to their weddings, their grooms will wear her new Men’s Warehouse tuxedos. And then everyone will go to the Olive Garden and cap the night off with a few PBRs. [WWD]

- While Vera slums it in the discount wholesale bin, Levi’s is classing their game up. The jeans giant will show at New York Fashion Week for the first time come February. Hopefully the CFDA will have cut whatever day said show is by then. [WWD]

So this whole shebang is getting all kinds of complicated so here’s a quick run-down:

New York, London, Milan and Paris had agreed — at least in the minds of New York and London — to always and forever start the fashion show calendar on the second Thursday of February and September way back in 2008. Milan and Paris claimed they had agreed to no such thing.

In accordance with this — the “second Thursday rule” — NYFW would start on September 13, thus moving everyone else back one week. Milan said, “Not cool, bro” and threatened to decide its own dates and Condé Nast threatened a boycott by all Vogue editors.

Milan said “Screw you guys, bring it on,” by deciding to keep their original dates, September 19-25, thus conflicting with both New York and London, prompting DVF to ask, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Then New York said, “Fine, you win” and offered to move the dates of the September 2012 shows, to Septembr 6 (the first Thursday) through September 13.

Milan said, “Damn right we win,” then decided to throw its weight around by stipulating that New York had to cut out the September 13 date to accommodate London’s men’s collections. And New York said, “Fuggedaboutit.”

Which more or less brings us up to speed. So the CFDA is waiting to hear if the Camera Nazionale accepts this latest development. As for the second Thursday rule, the CFDA proposed revisiting it after three years and meeting with the Camera in 2013 to discuss the 2014 show dates.

Still confused? Don’t blame you. Which is why they should just settle this with a good old-fashioned walk-off like civilized people. [WWD]