>> INSIDER WIRE —Vogue-helmed events could be a little different from now on: Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, 11-year Vogue veteran and the magazine's director of special events who oversaw the Costume Institute Gala and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, resigned to spend more time with her husband and three children; no replacement has been named. The move marks the loss of one of the magazine's many pedigreed names: Winston Wolkoff is granddaughter of Harry Winston. [FWD]

>> IN PRODUCTION —It turns out Alexander Wang isn't the only one doing khaki jackets and chinos for this year's CFDA-Gap collaboration after all: Vena Cava also pitched in a couple of dresses and variations on chinos — Racked got the first looks.  No word (although it's likely) on whether more designers are involved. [Racked]

UPDATE: The Alexander Wang-Gap photos have turned up — including one the motorcycle jacket — as well as pictures of a set of hats, which are likely done by milliner Albertus Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus (Wang was the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Award winner, Vena Cava and Albertus Quartus the runners-up). [Racked]

>> IN PRODUCTION —In past couple of years, Gap has teamed up with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners and finalists like Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders, Threeasfour, Philip Crangi, Rodarte, Doo.Ri, and Thakoon to reinterpret their classic white shirt, but this year, Patrick Robinson says it's all about 2008 winner Alexander Wang: "We have Alexander Wang doing the next CFDA collaboration, like what we did with the white shirts last year, only this year it's with khaki. He did this incredible motorcycle jacket in khaki that's going to be under $100. It's coming out on June 16th, so get ready!" [Teen Vogue]

UPDATE: Apparently the collection also features another khaki jacket, plus some chinos. [Grazia Twitter]
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>> Although she rarely gives interviews — except for, you know, the lengthy one in The September Issue and that profile she's supposedly doing for 60 Minutes (rumor is their cameras were following her again at the amfAR Gala Thursday night), so maybe she's changed her mind — Anna Wintour sat down with Rachel Dodes of The Wall Street Journal right before New York Fashion Week for a quick fashion state-of-the-union-interview.

But before we get started, a sidenote — the coat she wore Thursday (left) looks to be from Peter Som's Fall 2009 capsule collection, so methinks he will be taken care of just fine.  Now, among the interview's highlights:

Now is not the time to look "too Dubai."

I don't think anyone is going to want to look overly flashy, overly glitzy, too Dubai, whatever you want to call it. I just don't think that's the moment. But I do feel an emphasis on quality and longevity and things that really last.

She won't name names, but some designers aren't making clothes that are worth the price tag.

In the [Vogue] Index pages we are looking more rigorously at price and value and asking, 'is something worth that particular price tag?'

A thing that wasn't worth it? Without naming names, we had a little sequined thing that wouldn't come down to here on you [points to chest.] And I said, 'How much is it?' $25,000. I said, 'No. We're not going to photograph that right now.'

What Anna thinks is "fabulous" »

>> The CFDA has been busy lately, discussing the possibility of sponsoring sample sales for designers who don't have enough resources to do it on their own, commissioning books — including a fashion-related cookbook, and announcing an upcoming three-year partnership with Mattel.  But Monday night, we'll learn which of the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nominees will take home top honors, $200,000, and business advice, who will score one of the two runners-up titles and the $50,000 that comes with them, and who will try again next year.

The first award was given in 2004, with top honors going to Proenza Schouler; since then, Trovata (2005), Doo.Ri (2006), and Rogan (2007) have taken the top prize, and the likes of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Philip Crangi, Rodarte, Thakoon, Derek Lam, and Thom Browne have all been runners-up.  Without doubt, the winner generally has name recognition — and is in favor at Vogue — but tends to not be the biggest name in the group (i.e. Rogan over Phillip Lim last year).

So who will take all? »

>> Before the winner is announced Nov. 17, a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund nomination will get you a piece of the twenty-page spread with Caroline Trentini in the November 2008 issue of Vogue, plus an invite to last night's celebratory cocktail party, hosted by Anna Wintour, of course.

But it's not all fun and games — the party doubled as part of the judgment process.  Each of the ten nominees were assigned a different species of butterfly, a L'Oreal eye-color palette, and an evocative word as inspiration for the custom creation they made for their assigned dates — sounds a little Project Runway, no?  Or maybe that's where Project Runway got the idea . . .

Alexander Wang brought Zoe Kravitz in a "barely-there dress," the Vena Cava girls dressed Raquel Zimmermann in a gown, Jason Wu paired Leighton Meester with a ladylike frock, Richard Chai was on a double date with Coco Rocha and Jamie Johnson, Swaim and Christina Hutson created an Obedient Daughters look for Chiara Clemente, and Alejandro Ingelmo put Lake Bell in some serious gladiators.

The designers presented their dates and creations to the judges, and then enjoyed the party.  Alejandro Ingelmo was even caught taking down Coco Rocha's number . . .
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>> Although London Fashion Week is at risk of being squeezed out by New York and Milan next season — Diane von Furstenberg is in town to discuss the matter — Harold Tillman, chairmain of the British Fashion Council, had a more positive announcement to make last night.

Britain's largest-ever emerging talent fashion fund — modeled after the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund — is being launched, with backing from Topshop owner Sir Philip Green and Erin O'Connor, who is vice-chairman of London Fashion Week.  The first awards will be given out next year — and considering the forward-thinking talent pool that comes out of London, I can't wait.
*image: source

>> INSIDER WIRE — You may not be able to buy style, but you can most certainly buy your way into New York Fashion Week — if you have an American Express card. For $250 a pop, you can choose two-show packages that include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Zac Posen, and Vera Wang, or if you're feeling even more spendy, you can nab yourself a whole day at the Tents. 

For those who protest at the notion of buying invites, rest easy — the money helps fund American Express's donation to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. [FabSugar]