>> Prepare yourself to be shocked and awed — two of the most forward-thinking designers in the industry are comfortable dropping slight hints about their Spring 2009 collections, copycats be damned. 

Dries Van Noten, during a recent interview, had one staff member "drawing a print of abstract eagles; another researching Peter Lindbergh and Bruce Weber images from the 1980s; some working with skeins of bright yarn on the blend of 'graphic with spontaneous' that [he] wants for the 2009 season, saying 'everything for me is about balance.'"

As for Alexander McQueen, he was much more vague about the direction of his Spring 2009 collection, but did note that it would be completely different, with a “very modern” theme based on engineering.

These little (heavy on the little) tidbits will have to suffice for now . . . at least until July, when couture will hold us over.

[Side note: Just had to use this picture of McQueen in his London home, because who else would have a table like that in their house?]

*images: source

»Julia Restoin-Roitfeld is rumored to be working on an indie magazine called The Last with boyfriend Magnus Berger and stylist Keegan Singh [Fashionista]

 »Sofia Coppola has been hired to do a TV spot starring Maryna Linchuk for the Miss Dior Cherie fragrance, which will air in September [WWD]

»An inner tube was created for Sarah Jessica Parker's Vivenne Westwood wedding dress in Sex and the City, so that it wouldn't drag on the ground [FWD]

»Ann Demeulemeester uses primarily black and white because "Black to me is the colour of the poets, but I need white too, like a black and white photo." [Dazed & Confused]

»Alexander Wang for Uniqlo debuted today [The Cut]

»I still haven't warmed to Tyra Banks, even after reading the entire New York Times Magazine profile on her [Jezebel]

»Just like Alber Elbaz is doing Lanvin denim with Acne, Sophia Kokosalaki has announced she is doing an eight-piece capsule collection of black denim for her main line [FWD]

»Peeks at Alexander Wang, Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Yigal Azrouel, and Anna Sui Resort 2009 collections [WWD, WWD, WWD, WWD, WWD]

>> Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2008 couture mermaid dresses are still going strong — almost a month after we chatted about their unlikely success on the red carpet, a new group has popped up in magazine editorials.  From Vogue's May 2008 "Daring Do" with Coco Rocha (top left) to Numero's June/July 2008 "Eaux Profondes" (top right) to V's May/June 2008 "In Your Dreams" (bottom), the gowns continue to inspire.

*images: source, source, source

On a beautiful Friday afternoon, there are only two things a girl should be doing. Okay, perhaps that's a bit intense. Ahem. On a Friday afternoon, we can see how someone might enjoy themselves if they were...

A. Listening to the song you'll find below.
B. Wearing the outfit, inspired by the song, you'll find below.

In our opinion that's what summer Friday's are for: taking what you do and making it enjoyable for no other reason that you'll be damned if you have to stay at work and not at least enjoy yourself a little bit. Below, the outfit inspired by The Greatest Band Of All Time, is a mix of 'high' and 'low' fashion. On the low end, there's a 38 dollar American Apparel copper swimsuit (we love swimwear as street wear) and beaded Target necklace for 14.99. And on the high end, the Mayle Sun Bag, clocking in at just over $600. The other two pieces, decidedly mid-range, though with big names to back them up, are the ivory Chloe sandals, on sale for $258, and the MM6 by Martin Margiela jersery shorts for about the same price.

>> Sessilee Lopez has been getting a lot of buzz lately, especially surrounding a potential appearance in the all-black July issue of Vogue Italia, and now she is also appearing in the new Kanye West "Flashing Lights" Video, which debuted yesterday. 

Shot on location in Berlin, the video features Sessilee mostly in shadow, but she does play a starring role — Kanye chases her throughout, and she even sings "Flashing Lights" at one point.  As for her wardrobe, it doesn't stray too far from her normal modeling wear — she sports several floor-length couture gowns, all together:

This just in: we're pretty sure the 3.1 Phillip Lim Harem Pants are sold out everywhere. Those perfectly priced, opening number harem trousers are scarce with a capital 'see you next season'. Though Phillip Lim puts out, season after season, a diverse selection of cropped trousers, these were by far the most fashionable. Judging by our ecommerce searching skills and our conversation with the clerk at the Mercer Street store, all of Lim's incarnations of baggy cropped trousers (editorialized like no other garment this season) are running thin. For the details, here's how it went down...

"Hello, 3.1 Phillip Lim"
"Hi there. I'm calling about a pair of trousers I saw in a magazine. I think they are, like, harem or hammer pants?"
"Oh, the tuxedo trousers?"

[Basically this is where we fully realize the extent to which Lim has put out baggy, cropped trousers. We see them in the shows but only when you're on the phone with a clerk for 15 minutes discussing their various titles do you realize just how extensive his interest in this silhouette is. Needless to say, this part is edited down.]

"No, you know, they were the opening number during the Spring 08 show."
"Ohhhhhh, the harem pants."
"Yeah, that's basically what I said when I first rang. Anyway, do you have any? They've been in almost every magazine and on so many fashionable New York women, I just have to get a pair!"
"Ewww...You know what?"
"What?"
"We just sold the last pair four minutes ago."

She meant, for the season. So, it looks like the Phillip Lim harem pant is a no-go unless you're willing to weed through the plentiful number of boutiques and e-commerce sites that stock the brand. According to our research, there are none online and most boutiques never bought the pants to begin with (instead they opted for Lim's party frocks and little jackets--safe bets). If you're focused, we bet you can still find a pair. Or, you could forego the Lim in favor of another version. To that end, here are our picks below,

Image to right, part of a Nylon Magazine editorial. One of many magazines to pull Lim's cropped trousers for their summer issues.

Click for more Telephone Tag

>> Coming your way: a jewelry collaboration between Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and CFDA award-winning jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris for the Olsen's contemporary line Elizabeth and James. 

The project has been in the works for the past few months — the twins are big RLM fans — and the line of silver and brass dagger necklaces, amorphous knuckle rings, and edgy earrings will be available in the next few months. 

*images: source