We're stunned at the appearance of Fall and Pre-Fall merchandise, but alas, thus is the pattern of fashion. Every season, like every one else, we scratch our heads and look at our watches, like, 'Hmm...already?'. The answer is always, 'Yes, already'. That said, these flannel pumps by Louboutin feel appropriately timed. If we're going to wrap our minds around shopping for anything remotely cold weather-appropriate in the middle of a New York City heat wave, it's going to be the basics. What we mean when we say basic, especially when it costs near a thousand dollars, is classic. These pumps are surely not the sort of shoes you bring home and regret having acquired. They would smashing with skinny denim, with pencil skirts, with those colored tights we saw from Proenza and the like. They would, in other words, be a wise investment and one that can surely sit in your closet for a few months without making you all sore that you can't wear them just yet. Some things are worth buying now and, at the same time, worth the wait.

In fashion, stylists have more power than you might expect. In fact, aside from the designers, theirs is a second opportunity to realize trends. The way we see clothing in magazines, in the shop windows, on celebrities, is largely a product of their interpretations of the newest clothing. Though fashion editors and store owners and the people who employ stylists surely have a say in the matter, the stylists still hold the reigns in some regard. Especially when it comes to accessories and finishing touches. That said, our Network Partner, Style Bubble, was transfixed by styling in a Selfridges window and promptly went on a DIY adventure to replicate the idea. Style Bubble, a trend setter in her own right, studied a pair of hosiery that had been carefully torn by whomever was in charge of such a thing, and now, well, now we might just see it on more than a few chicsters. A recent post we wrote on sheer socks had us thinking about DIY hosiery a few weeks back. Perhaps because hosiery, as we've seen in the Fall 08 shows, makes such a big statement with a little bit of money, it can be said that the most stylish among us play around with the possibilities. Even if only for one outfit or one shop window, the simple task of altering those finishing touches might a massive trend make.

Carine Roitfeld with Kanye West, Dior Homme Spring 2009 Show; Paris, June 29.
*image: source