>> Freja Beha Erichsen Loves Chanel Shows for Their Food — W recently spoke with Freja Beha Erichsen, who is getting ready to go back to Denmark and then on a West Coast road trip now that she's done with couture. Karl Lagerfeld picked her as one half of the Fall 2009 Chanel ad campaign, and it sounds like the feeling of adoration is mutual: "There’s a special feeling that you get from Chanel that you don’t get from any other show. And they’re famous for their food backstage.  At most shows, they don’t actually feed us that much, but at Chanel there’s a full buffet and everything is really good." [W Editor's Blog]

>> This morning, the CFDA held its first town hall meeting, moderated by CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, to discuss whether Fashion Week is still relevant.  Many attendees agreed with Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough, who voiced his concern: "There seems to be a disconnect. For us, the shows have become a press thing. It’s on blogs; magazines pull straight from the runways; and by the time it’s in stores, it feels sort of old."

Donna Karan, who has long been a proponent of selling and showing clothes in season, also wondered about the timeliness of the shows: "We are in a crisis. There's no question about it . . . We spend so much money on shows, but what is it getting us?”

Anna Wintour suggests something illegal »

>> Gisele Bundchen Signs On for Kid-Friendly Webisodes —Vogue confirmed that Gisele Bundchen is pregnant and due in December late last week, and clearly she's got children on her mind: She just signed on to host "GiGi & the Green Team," a series of 3-5 minute webisodes featuring an animated version of herself who "lives a double life — supermodel by day, superhero protector of the environment by night." The series, set to debut on AOL this Fall, aims to "educate, entertain, inspire and empower girls to protect and preserve the environment." [Reuters, AOL]

>> Flats Get the Anna Wintour Seal of Approval? —Vogue has started pushing for a flats comeback — Andre Leon Talley posted a pro-flat treatise last month, and days later the staff gushed over oxfords — but when Anna Wintour starts wearing them to events in place of her usual Manolo Blahnik heels — like the slides she chose for the 2009 Hampton Designer Showcase over the weekend — it's worth taking note. We know from The September Issue, that if Anna wants jackets, designers and retailers give her jackets; surely the same can be said for flats. [Chic Report]

>> Charles Jourdan to Relaunch; Pierre Hardy's Newest Shoes for Gap —Charles Jourdan, the French shoe brand for whom Guy Bourdin shot iconic ads from 1967 to 1981, is relaunching under designer Alexandra Neel in September; the brand was acquired by Groupe Royer last December and is starting with 45 styles targeted at thirtysomething women, with prices running $185 to $250.  Meanwhile, Pierre Hardy is continuing to contribute to Gap's Design Editions for the fourth year — this time he serves up two suede boots and a sandal, all due in stores in mid-September. [WWD, WWD, Vogue FR]  

>> Dasha Zhukova's appointment as editor of POP in February came as a surprise to many; it also came with a bit of drama, partly because she was taking over a magazine so aligned with Katie Grand's name, and partly because, to many, she didn't have much editorial experience.  As the reveal date for the first issue under her helm approaches — Sept. 1 — Dasha, who is rumored to have recently parted with beau Roman Abramovich, sets the record straight in the August 2009 issue of Interview. In fact, she says, "I feel like anything I’ve ever done, I’ve been strongly advised not to do."

She's not trying to ride in on Katie Grand's coattails.

I respect Katie Grand, and I hope I can retain some respect for the brand. But I have other plans for the magazine now. And, come on, it’s not like this is the first time there’s been a new editor at a magazine.

Actually, she was opposed to taking the job at first.

My initial reaction was, “No way. I don’t want this.”

But "it would be stupid not to at least entertain the idea" »

>> Olivier Zahm Teases Upcoming Purple Fashion #12 —Olivier Zahm took the upcoming issue of Purple Fashion — out in September — to the printers' today and gave us a peek at Terry Richardson's "Best of the Season" editorial that was photographed at Milk Studios in June.  In the past couple of months, Zahm has offered a number of teasers on the issue: a Gareth Pugh spotlight editorial styled by Francesca Burns, a nude pictorial captured by Mario Sorrenti, a Venice shoot with Baptiste Giabiconi by Karl Lagerfeld, and a set by Paola Kudaki. [Purple Diary]