>> Stella McCartney's been a busy lady since she turned up stateside a couple of days ago to attend the Costume Institute Gala.  Yesterday, she launched an exclusive summer collection with Net-a-Porter and then dropped by Barneys for her trunk show and a chat with creative director Simon Doonan, with whom she talked jumpsuits:

I love a jumpsuit. I wore one last night, at the Met event, and I had to have a girlfriend take me in an out of it every time I had to go to the bathroom — so it does have it’s drawbacks, but I love them because they’re just so effortless. I think that pretty much sums up my brand.

Is menswear next? »

>> INSIDER WIRE —Net-a-Porter's designer outlet site The Outnet is launching this weekend, featuring over 200 brands marked an average of 40 to 60 percent off, and Vogue Daily has some specifics about what pieces will go for what price.  The Chloe Ines box clutch is going for $690 (originally $1,380), the Jill Stuart Lindsay cherry print dress for $232 (originally $465), and Marni Green elasticated band ballet flats for $253 (originally $507). [Vogue Daily]

UPDATE: Different outlets are reporting different launch dates — Refinery29 says it's tomorrow morning. [The Pipeline]

>> While $11,410 Balmain jackets are still selling out in less than 24 hours on parent site Net-a-Porter, The Outnet is preparing for launch next month by taking members, although no specific launch date has been announced yet.

Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet promises a lineup of more than 200 luxury brands including Christian Louboutin, Alberta Ferretti, Chloe, Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, and Herve Leger when the proverbial doors open, a mix of merchandise from past seasons, classic pieces, and bestsellers resurrected from designers’ archives, all with average discounts of 40 to 60 percent.  For customers, “It’s going to be about ‘the find,’ and giving them what they may have missed buying in previous seasons,” Massenet said, adding that the company also plans to give some items away for free.

The site will offer one-off “pop-up sales” as a kind of online outlet for smaller labels like Temperley London, and fresh stock — in the categories of ready-to-wear, accessories, lingerie, and swimwear — will be added weekly.
*image: source

»Rachel Comey schleps her team out to Long Island house to work on her Spring 2009 collection (peeks involved!) [Refinery29]

»Vanessa Traina and Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld are co-hosting a Boucheron gala during New York Fashion Week [FWD]

»Kate Moss's Fall 2008 Topshop collection is dropping September 9 [Topshop]

»Hana Soukupova is hosting a Victoria's Secret preview at her Sag Harbor home this weekend [FWD]

»Net-a-Porter has started stocking Halston [Fashionista]

»Alessandro Nivola has been cast to play Boy Capel opposite Audrey Tautou in Coco avant Chanel [Vogue UK]

»Sean Avery's fledgling styling business is kaput now that he's moving to Dallas [Style File]

»Which Olympian should replace Roger Federer on Anna Wintour's arm? [The Cut]

»Alice Burdeu got banged [TFS]

»True story?  Lily Cole inadvertently caused an argument between Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil, during which they barricaded themselves in the bathroom, prompting the Olsens to try to bribe the happy couple with free late-night shopping at Harvey Nichols if they’d only open up [The Times UK]

»Jacquetta Wheeler is moving back to London after seven years in New York [Style File]

»More photographic evidence that Agyness Deyn and Albert Hammond, Jr. are into each other [INF Daily]

»Diane von Furstenberg sent a dispatch last week asking designers to do presentations rather than runway shows for fashion week [The Cut]

»An actress in Italy's adult-entertainment industry tried to go by the pseudonym Roberta Missoni, until Missoni's lawyers intervened [Style File]

»American Apparel is expanding into jewelry, starting with lots and lots of chains [Racked]

»IMG Models signed Gossip Girl actress Taylor Momsen [Fashionista]

»Net-a-Porter is going to carry A.P.C. starting in the Fall, promising to host more selection than the A.P.C. website [Nylon]

»Previews of Emilio Pucci and Givenchy Resort 2009 [WWD, WWD]