>> Last night, with the help of keynote speaker Alber Elbaz, who doled out gems on the perils of success — "It's like a bottle of perfume. You smell it, you don't sniff it or drink it" — Alaia veteran and Michelle Obama favorite Sophie Theallet took home the 2009 Vogue/Fashion Fund prize of $200,000 and a year of mentoring.  Fellow nominees Patrik Ervell and Monique Pean were named runners-up, and received $50,000 each plus a business mentor.

In her speech, Anna Wintour said that in addition to the US, Italy, and the UK — which just started a similar talent-nurturing program — she just met with the French minister of culture about mirroring the contest there. "And Brazil, India, Russia, and China aren't far behind."

Theallet Tweeted of her win: "my american dream comes true tonight thanks and much love to all of you!xox."  Cathy Horyn, too, weighed in on the choice:

"The money and the mentoring will help Ms. Theallet because she needs to be able to offer more range in her collection, as well as expand her production options. She has such a distinctly feminine eye, and the skills, that I’ve often wondered why a big retailer doesn’t ask Ms. Theallet to design some blouses and summer dresses for them, using the store’s resources and manufacturing connections."

Videos of the nominees going through the competition and the awards ceremony last night can be seen here and here, respectively.

>> Pastel seems to be the palette of choice for Spring 2010 in London, and London returner Jonathan Saunders is no exception. With the help of Katie Grand's styling know-how, plus Christian Louboutin gladiators that had spectators in a tizzy, Saunders's models worked the runway in sheer flouncy pink and lavender pieces and rope-trimmed dresses.  To break the mold, highlighter yellow also appeared in the large, sparse, and uncomfortably hot room Saunders showed in.

>> In the space behind a record store in London this morning, Anna Wintour stopped by for a preview, and Peter Pilotto and design partner Christopher De Vos sent out their trademark watercolor prints atop sculptured and draped minidresses. The collection inspired quite the impulse gushing from Another Magazine ("Peter Pilotto — show of the week so far."), Vogue UK ("The Pilotto show has been one of our FAVOURITE shows yet") and Los Angeles Times's Booth Moore ("Peter Pilotto is next big thing out of London."). Wintour's bouncers were so energized by the show, they apparently almost knocked Suzy Menkes over as they rushed Anna out.

>> Even though she arrived on Saturday and London Fashion Week kicked off last Friday, Anna Wintour didn't make her first appearance front row until Marios Schwab this morning; it's her first time attending the London fashion shows since September 2007 and she's been trying to lay low — she turned down television interviews last week "because I feel so overexposed," she told the Telegraph UK.

Marios's invitation — a three part flipbook — provided a clue to his Spring 2010 study in three-layered looks, inspired by Victorian women, Greek goddesses, and flappers.  The collection was styled by Marie Chaix, who also styled Proenza Schouler's scuba fantasy last week.

>> A few days ago, Christopher Kane dropped an image of a doll he did over the summer as a hint at his Spring 2010 collection, adding that he channeled it "not in the literal sense, but more of a feeling."  To a front row of Natalia Vodianova with Anna Wintour and Topshop's Sir Philip Green squeezed between Donatella Versace and Allegra Beck Versace, the end product came out all gauzy gingham in black and pastel colors, symmetrical front slits up to there, and Swarovski embellished floral brocade.  

Jenny Shimizu walked in a tailored suit apparently made in collaboration with Savile Row tailors Norton & Sons; Lara Stone, who skipped New York Fashion Week altogether, made her first runway appearance of the day — her second was at Jaeger.  And Kane, a self-professed fan of television, sent everyone home with a Gossip Girl season two DVD in their gift bags.