1. Michael Lewis: Lewis is footwear’s best kept secret and has impressed the likes of Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton, Christopher Bailey at Burberry and Tom Ford at Gucci with his shoe-shaped talents – before recently stepping into the role of creative consultant at Kurt Geiger. He brings his own label collection to LFW for the first time this season.

Has an eye for: What women really want – fun yet luxurious, affordable shoes.

Is inspired by: “Early Kenzo and Russian fairytales.”

Shop it: Exclusively at Dover Street Market for autumn/winter 2009.

2. Michael van der Ham: The Dutch born designer’s Warhol art-inspired dresses caught the attention of more than one fashion insider during his autumn/winter 2009 Central St Martins show – for which he also scooped the L’Oreal Professional Award. Prior to this, the young impresario honed his talents with stints at Alexander McQueen and Sophia Kokosalaki.

Has an eye for: The eclectic – van der Ham’s mismatch approach to design ensures there’s never a dull moment.

Is inspired by: Women who aren’t afraid to be bold.

Will be: Showcasing as part of NEWGEN’s Ready-to-Wear exhibition at Somerset House.

3. Fred Butler: New kid on the block Fred began life as a set designer and prop maker before packing a style punch with her first jewellery collection of bold, bright and sculptural designs for autumn/winter 2009. Since then she has presented workshops at London’s Design Museum, guest lectured at the London College of Fashion and collaborated with Asos.com on their limited edition ‘Hit’ line.

Has an eye for: Creating “wearable sculpture,” by using graphic shapes, clashing colours and tactile forms.

Is inspired by: The unpredictable in the everyday.

Shop it: Online at Kabiri.co.uk this season.

4. Mark Fast: Since the success of the 28 year old Canadian’s Central St Martins graduate collection in 2007 (which was quickly snapped up by Browns Focus) the young designer has gone from strength to strength. His autumn/winter 2009 show featured a bold collection of black knitted body-con dresses, embellished with fringing and dramatic cut-out panels.

Has an eye for: Exquisite pieces that are contoured to the body.

Is inspired by: Finding innovative ways with knitwear.

Will be: Available from Browns Focus.

5. Eun Jeong: 2008’s Fashion Fringe winner, Eun Jeong leapt on the scene with a collection made entirely from white cotton lace. The Korean designer has since been working hard to develop her own label ‘1st element by hong eun jeong’.

Has an eye for: Neat pleats and effortless tailoring.

Is inspired by: Uniqueness in others.

Shop it: at Net-a-porter.com

6. Emilio de la Morena: Having trained as a sculptor in his native Spain before sharpening his fashion skills at Central St Martins in 2002, de la Morena’s designs are inspired by structural shapes and traditional Spanish artisan techniques.

Has an eye for: Fluid and feminine sculptural lines.

Is inspired by: The relationship between organic shapes and defined silhouettes.

Shop it: Online at Browns Focus.

7. Josh Goot: His sleek and monochromatic autumn/winter 2009 collection had London based Goot dubbed the new king of modernism, for his simple yet sophisticated use of black and white on shifts and neatly tailored suits.

Has an eye for: Colour blocking and clean lines.

Is inspired by: Human anatomy and abstract forms for spring/summer 2009.

Shop it: At Liberty.co.uk.

8. Mary Katrantzou: Since her fun graphic print collection for autumn/winter 2009, that featured dresses emblazoned with images of perfume bottles, we have not been able to shake the feeling that Katrantzou is going places. Having worked under fellow Greek, Sophia Kokosalaki and freelanced for Bill Blass, the young print designer also makes jewellery to complement her collections.

Has an eye for: Digital prints and bold, industrial jewellery.

Is inspired by: Antique perfume bottles and 18th century portraits for spring/summer 2010.

Shop it: At Browns Focus and Harvey Nichols.

9: Maria Francesca Pepe: With style insiders dipping into Pepe’s jewellery box for her hand-crafted Italian pieces to adorn their fashion pages – including Harper’s Bazaar – it is little wonder the designer already has a loyal following. You might have seen her designs embellishing the shows of Roksanda Illincic (S/S09 and A/W09), Emilio De La Morena (A/W09) and Louise Grey (A/W09), for which she designed a shoe collection.

Has an eye for: Chunky tubular necklaces made using old, handcrafted Italian techniques.

Is inspired by: Pieces that appeal to all tastes and ages.

Shop it: At Dover Street Market and the label’s own online store that launches this December.

Mfpepe.com.

10. Veryta: Designer and Fashion illustrator Tanya Ling brings her talents to the role of Creative Director of not-for-profit label Veryta, which appears for the first time this season. Launched with the backing of Yves Saint Laurent’s Stefano Pilati and Filippo Binaghi of Italian Silk manufacturer, Lorma, 10 percent of sales from the collection will go direct to children’s charities in India.

Is inspired by: Her native India.

Veryta.com

(Harper’s Bazaar U.K.)

I can’t say that I’m taking to the shift from runway shows to video presentations very well, but if Yves Saint Laurent is doing it, an artsy video might be the way to go. In Paris yesterday, YSL creative director, Stefano Pilati, continued the digital show trend, but preceded his Spring 2010 menswear showing with a brief, amateur narrative, starring director Samuel Benchetrit’s 11-year-old son, Jules. 

Take “Home Alone,” mix in a bit of French and add some fabulous YSL merchandise, and you’ve basically got the 8 minute short. If you’ve got the time to kill, give the video a quick play, otherwise, you’re not missing a thing:

Thanks NY Mag!

Yves Saint Laurent designer Stefano Pilati’s New Vintage collection of 60 limited-edition pieces at Barneys almost all sold out after just a day on the sales floor.

YSL designer Stefano Pilati attends the prestigous wedding of Salma Hayek and that one millionaire, wearing his own version of a Thom Browne suit, with a classic top coat paired with the men’s version of capri pants (black stalkings underneath). Instead of a tie, Stefano opted for a silk ascot, how very French!

Olivier Zahm shot Yves Saint Laurent designer Stefano Pilati’s new floral tattoo for Purple Diary .

Puma has teamed up with Yves Saint Laurent’s Stefano Pilati to design a small, exclusive collection of men’s sneakers.

The shoes, which will be available in YSL boutiques, look sleek and versatile.  The limited collection is just two hightop designs: a leather shoe and a suede shoe, each available in black and gray.

GALLERY: YSL x Puma.

Today through February 21, you can buy Stefano Pilati’s first unisex collection for Yves Saint Laurent at a special pop-up shop in New York.

The suits are inspired by YSL’s iconic Le Smoking tux of the sixties. The line also includes high-waisted shorts, chic trenches, and pastel cardigans.

Edition Unisex Pop-up

55 Great Jones, at Bowery

Through February 21

Open daily, noon – 7 p.m.

LINKAGE:  The Cut

R.J. Cutler’s documentary on Anna Wintour and her mad dash to produce the September 2007 issue of Vogue hits Sundance this week. It’s instant nostalgia for the good days of fashion.

I know the picture is hard too see, and I apologize but this is the best I could do for you. According to Stefano Pilati, YSL will release a unisex collection the upcoming Spring 2009, and the collection has been getting some serious hype already. The line focuses on the androgyny that all the women have been looking for of late, in that classic YSL style.

Thanks Timesonline

“I never touch the idea of sex. Sex one of the most complicated things; it’s too subjective. And if you have subjectivity, you have to balance it out – with you skills, your knowledge, the values of your brand. Sex for me is personal.“  Stefano Pilati designer for Yves Saint Laurent on why he’ll never be as sex crazed as Tom Ford.

Yves Saint Laurent designer Stefano Pilati’s fashion philosophy:

“For me, the main factor is the seduction factor. I want to look at a woman and feel seduced. I never touch the idea of sex. Sex [is] one of the most complicated things; it’s too subjective … Sex for me is personal.”

Thanks NY Mag via British Vogue

YSL head designer Stefano Pilati said Tom Ford was nothing compared to the late great YSL himself. Pilati served directly under him at the time as his design deputy. He tells Lynn Hirschberg in The New York Times Magazine coming out this Sunday:

“Tom had a very precise vision of the company that didn’t challenge women … Tom is talented but not gifted. That’s the way he managed the business. Tom would say: ‘We can’t do this silhouette because she looks fat.’ Or, ‘Oh, no — women don’t like this fabric; we can’t use it.’ That mentality was something to learn but was so far from my way of thinking. Why do you want to be safe? I’m more like: Why don’t you wear gray flannel for an evening dress? I find that fantastic! Not Tom, never.”

Thanks NY Mag

Actor/writer Jack Huston (Angelica Huston’s nephew, and the new Jonny Depp) is the new star of a YSL movie, where Sefano Pilati’s 2009 men’s wear collection.