>> Everyone came away from Jil Sander yesterday gushing about the fringe and the new jewelry collaboration with Damiani, so a closer look at the latter was in order.  The earrings (there are also bracelets) are well worth the attention they're garnering — thin gold spears with diamonds or semiprecious stones attached at either end, worn in just one ear, or both ears, as pleased.
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>> Those Spring 2009 Prada shoes are treacherous. This morning, Russian newcomer Yulia Kharlapanova opened at Jil Sander — and was heralded as "Milan's first star."  But just as fast as doors can open, they can also close; Later on in the day, Yulia stumbled and fell at Prada.  Ouch — of all runways, Prada is not one you want to fall on — it is perhaps the most singularly watched for casting choices and new modelling stars in the making.  A little condolence, Yulia: at least Jessica Stam stumbled, too.
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>> Raf Simons is earning raves for his tribal Africa-cum-the 1920s-cum-Man Ray-inspired Spring 2009 Jil Sander collection, and there are no arguments here.  Yulia Kharlapanova opened the parade in a fantastic fringed turtleneck dress, and the fringe details just got better from there — even flowing forth from bags.  The collection may have been void of color, but it was not void of innovation; it also marks the start of a new jewelry licensing deal with Damiani — spikey earrings "that resemble spears with a cluster of diamonds" were previewed on the models' ears.

>> All of you who give Lara Stone grief about flaunting her assets in editorials, these are for you.  No top shelf visible here: She's all buttoned up in tweedy sheaths and wooly funnel-necked dresses for the Fall 2008 Jil Sander campaign. Natasha Poly joins her in the Willy Vanderperre-lensed mood-fest, but it's Lara's emotive emergence from the shadows that really does it for me.
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