>> INSIDER WIRE —Every year, we catch wind of which fledgling labels are up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund endowment, whether through film (hello, Seamless) or by simple announcement.  This year was like any other, with the ten nominees of 2008 being released earlier this month; however, Vena Cava did something different.  They've uploaded their application video, rife with the patent Vena Cava homegrown flavor, for the world to see. [COACD]

One last piece of current season love we haven't dished out from our Island Life photo shoot is that slim, neon clutch. In the photo the clutch, by designer Andrea Brueckner, looks bright yellow, but that 'ol Holga Robert Malmberg uses, knows how to keep a few secrets. In truth the clutch is more of the acid green variety and the leather is super soft and buttery. We have to say, the handbag is really well-made, and though we aren't really clutch toting chicsters, we kind of fell for this one. Brueckner, the Canadian beauty who (as far as we can tell) models in all of her own look books, learned her craft from her years working closely with bespoke tailor, Craig Robinson. Brueckner's bags are said to reflect that experience and we have to say, judging by the clutch we received, we can tell she knows a thing or two about making quality products. Below, some of her current season bags from JCMadison.

A classic Fall staple, reinvented by Celine. This four thousand dollar biker jacket is, depending on your perspective, a must-have for Fall. If your budget doesn't warrant such spending, there are always options. But let's talk about the Celine version for a second, shall we? Celine, the French fashion house owned by LVMH, is now headed by Ivana Omazic. Omazic has on her resume stints with Miu Miu, Jil Sander, and Prada which is probably why this brand keeps popping up on our radar. The jacket, with its wide lapel and scrunch-worthy sleeves, is modern enough to separate itself from the classic vintage versions without leaving 'classic' out of the equation entirely. In fact, this piece is something we're sure the owner would wear for seasons to come. So, if there ever were a time to spend such money, and we know the recession doesn't help matters, now would be it. No matter which leather bomber you opt for (some gals forego black all together) the trick, we think, is investing in one you know you'll wear for seasons to come. Staples like these deserve a bit of extra attention.

Three key pieces made our Island Life shoot from eLuxury. Namely, a hot pink Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, and a patchwork bag and pair of patent peep-toes by Dolce & Gabbana. Our concept for the shoot was swimwear and acessories: the only purchases outside of a sample sale that make sense this time of year, and so these pieces made our wishlist from the e-commerce site. A rundown of their draw, below.

Dolce & Gabbana Runway Miss Pocket Patchwork Bag: Clocking in at four grand, this bag is intricately detailed and luxe in the best sense of the word. Narrow horizontal panels of genuine snakeskin make up the exterior of the bag and a super-soft grey suede trim adorns the frame. Trust us when we say this bag, in person, is a show-stopper. Each panel of snakeskin has its own unique color, sheen, and perforations making it look, from afar, like a beacon of exotic skin dangling off the arm. On the practical side of things, there's a cell phone pocket inside and has (we love this in a bag) a long strap and short handles, so you've some styling options at the end of the day.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Little Tate Tote: This bag certainly falls in a different category that the patchwork number but it still made our wish list for eLuxury nonetheless. We thought the $158 dollar nylon tote, for its color and size, would be an apt accessory for the remaining summer months. One thing we hate about the generic canvas tote is how supple the material is and how dirty they can get in a matter of days. This bag is easily washable and would not pick up every grain of sand it touched. Furthermore, the Tate Tote is quilted, giving it more girth than your typical beach-tote (which makes it feel more like an actual handbag).

Dolce & Gabbana Patent Lace-Up Bootie: Reasonably priced and Fall-ready, these shoes made our list for their sheer end-of-summer appeal. Because they are open-toe, these booties are more than appropriate in warm weather and, come fall, could be worn with a sheer sock or pair of stockings just fine. They're sexy, masculine, and trend-appropriate shoes and they are, indeed, something to swoon over. For the shoot, our pairs were grey and snakeskin but the shoes also come in patent black. As we know, seven hundred dollars in today's world can buy you one sick pair of shoes.

OAK, who threw quite a party to celebrate the return of menswear and the Capsule trade show, is now having a huge sample sale. If you can't make it over to their Brooklyn and Soho locations, you can still find those markdowns online. From Staerk to Opening Ceremony this summer's duds are sharp and worth a late-summer investment. We happen to think the way OAK shoots products for their site is quite revolutionary. From our days working in e-commerce we know that the most important thing, above all, is to depict the garment as realistically as possible. That means thinking about scale, color, texture, fit, and movement in one single picture. In addition to this cardinal rule, you want to make sure that the consumer can relate to the product, can see themselves wearing it. That means booking models whose look fits your identity as a site. OAK, in our mind, wins on both accounts. They're shots show the garment in motion (and in additional views, stationary), giving us a real feeling for what the garment really looks like in 'real life'. Secondly, they leave the model's faces out of the frame, encouraging us to imagine wearing the garment and leaving out the kind e-commerce celebrity factor that sites like Shopbop thrive on. They book girls with, let's face it, 'ideal' proportions but we happen to know that these gals are not signed girls. That means they are not necessarily 5' 11" and size zero. They might be slim, they might be leggy, but they sure aren't emaciated nor are they super-human tall. In other words, shop on. This is an online sample sale we wholeheartedly endorse.