>> I decided to go on a mad shoe-shopping spree: I hit Designer Shoe Warehouse, Saks Off Fifth, and Neiman Marcus Last Call.  Sometimes I have more fun shopping at outlet stores like those because they have an element of surprise -- at the regular Neiman Marcus, Saks, etc. you can expect the latest designer shoe collections.  But at the outlet stores, they have a mishmash of random shoes, so it makes it more exciting to see what you can find.  Also, I don't exactly have a golden fountain in my backyard, so no endless budget. 

At DSW, I came across some red and fuschia suede Marc Jacobs wedges with a silver cloud shape on the outside.  Cute, but still $200 -- too expensive for me to blow on what I consider a pair of funky fun shoes.  Then I happened upon some black Donna Karans -- platform pumps, with two wide bands of black elastic criscrossing over the top of the foot.  Now those were hot -- I carried them around the store while I looked at other shoes, just to pretend I was going to be taking them home with me.  But alas, still $220 after all the discounts.  Just. Couldn't. Do it.

Next was Saks Off Fifth.  Automatically zeroed in on a pair of hunter green Prada loafers with stacked heels -- $180.  Again, carried them around the store with me.  Same reason as before.  Hey, it makes me feel better to hold on to them for a while, what can I say.

Neiman Marcus Last Call -- my last hope.  Found some tan Miu Miu open-toed platform slingbacks.  It was like shoe shopping hell -- all these good shoes -- kind of on sale, right?  It's a good deal, right?  And then I saw them.  Cobalt blue granny boots from Marc Jacobs.  You could see the soft supple leather from a mile away.  I think half the store watched me smell the boots.  I can't help it, I love the smell of real leather.  But wait, the best part -- they were $44.  Less than 10 percent of the original price.  And this is why I go discount shopping.  It always works out in the end.  Just cross your fingers that I'll get a little more cold weather so I can wear them before I have to wait until next fall.   

>> In my personal opinion, the fall collections were painfully weak -- with a few exceptions, of course.  Style.com has just named their Top 10 collections, so let's have the run down:

Balenciaga:  I agree on this one -- I love Nic's work.  And not just because he's cute.

Comme des Garcons: I always love to see what Rei comes up with, and I've always had a soft spot for androgyny, so I will agree on this one as well.  The masks were way cool. 

Lanvin: Lanvin was a big disappointment for me -- the collection seemed so plain -- I expected more from Alber.  So I disagree.

Marc Jacobs:  I've discovered that Marc Jacobs is like cheese for me -- it grows better with time.  I hated this collection at first, but I foresee it being very influential, so I will go ahead and agree on this one.

Marni:  This collection just didn't do anything for me -- nothing outstanding, nothing that flipped my switch.  Disagree.

Narciso Rodriguez:  There was one dress in this collection that I liked (left) -- the rest, well, I feel like it just made the list because Narciso is one of Anna's favorites.  Disagree.

Prada:  Bah.  Miuccia highly disappointed me with this bomb of a collection.  The fur-sleeved coat (right), anyone?  Disagree.

Proenza Schouler: Another Anna favorite.  I was looking forward to their collection -- usually I really like it -- but "kaboom" should illustrate my feeling accurately for you.  Disagree.

Rochas: Two words: the crows.  Agree.

Yves Saint Laurent:  There were some pieces that I really didn't like in this collection, but some of the details were so amazing that they outway the bad.  Agree.

But where was Preen? Luella? McQueen? Viktor & Rolf?  to name a few... I feel like the top 10 list is the same list of Anna's favorites every year.  Maybe that's just me.

>> Rumors are flying that Phoebe Philo, ex-Chloe designer, has been added to the payroll at Chanel, a house headed up by another ex-Chloe designer, Karl Lagerfeld.  Is Pheebs following in the Kaiser's footsteps?  Some sources are calling her the new muse for Chanel, others the "heir apparent."  A publicist for Chanel who was questioned about the rumor gave a cryptic answer (as publicists always do): "[Karl] was laughing about it, so maybe Phoebe wants to be here, but she's not here at all."  I say if the rumor's true, Phoebe should go for the coup d'etat approach.