Guest bloggette Hope Robertson

In a perfect world, I’d own every piece from the Paris runways — give or take those dastardly steel contraptions from the Viktor & Rolf show — and use them to make my personal style shine. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect. But I have found an AmEx credit line-gentle, one-word way to incorporate runway trends into my wardrobe:

Accessories.

Check my five key accoutrements that made Paris runways pop at Fashion Week, and set trends for Fall/Winter 07/08.

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Though I’m tempted to ramble right wing about these pro-immigration rallies

- perhaps likening that everyone should be let into America to a poorly dressed size 14 demanding access to my walk-in closet -

My main motivation would be only to raise tempers and my dot-com traffic, so I’ll avoid doing so.

I’m grateful to these immigration rallies for one thing:

For one business day American Apparel’s warehouse will be closed, and therefore thousands of ill-fitting T shirts, leggings, and other hipster duds will go un-born.

Originally published December 2005.

With the New York City transit strike on, thousands are forced to schlep on foot through 20-degree weather to their 9-5 hustle.

Will comfortable be the new haute?

Fortunately, I’ve the luxury of working from the shoebox I call home; my commute consisted of rolling out of bed and plopping on my desk, making my
five-inch heeled, over-the-knee boots a more sensible footwear choice than usual.

Other New Yorkers may not be as blessed, and while we may disagree on whether or not transit workers are right to strike, I believe we can concur on one thing –

That the Transport Workers Union has forced thousands of Manhattanite women into Uggs is a serious, selfish offense.

I find it hard to believe that KRiSTOPHER DUKES .com isn’t enough fashion blog enough for you, but if it isn’t, I’m okay with that.

I love you, you’re like a pair of Christian Louboutin 6″ platforms to me, and I want you to be happy.

So go ahead and get your click on at Coutorture, a new fashion community myself, Coquette, Manolo, Shoewawa, She Finds, and many more are a part of. Brought to you by Julie Fredrickson and Philip Leif Bjerknes, Coutorture promises

“fashion lovers news, commentary, and community in one convenient location. Integrating old media, fashion blogs, online magazines, and exclusive new media rich content, all while promoting a live forum of feedback and active participation, Coutorture is the new destination for online fashion.”

Rachel Zoe and I share a vision of a world full of glamorously overdressed and underweight women, so I think it ooh la lovely that she’s set to edit Deluxe, a luxury spin-off of Seventeen magazine.

Reports fashion bible WWD:

This fall Hearst will publish the first installment of Deluxe, a Seventeen supplement about “West Coast luxury fashion,” according to editor in chief Atoosa Rubenstein. The 24-page outsert will be polybagged with the September issue and will go out to subscribers who live in households with an income of at least $75,000.

50,000 copies will also be available at news stands, so the fastest middle-classers won’t miss out on Deluxe’s first cover girl: Rachel Zoe’s best known product, Nicole Richie.

� Photo courtesy WWD

As I blogged for Top Button’s “Star Style,” star stylist Rachel Zoe – otherwise known as The Reason Nicole Richie is Famous – is turning her hand to designing.

Teaming up with evening bag designer Judith Leiber, Rachel Zoe’s bags will retail this fall for $2,000-10,000, and feature tons of animal skins – think lizard, crocodile, python, and more.

Ah. Glammy dead animal.

Just another reason for me to love Rachel Zoe – whether or not you think her style is just the glossy Hollywood knock-off of Kate Moss’s boho chic, Rachel Zoe is genius, she’s like beachfront property in Los Angeles, she’s liquid gold.

Via Fashionologie and WWD.

As a fashion writer loyal linguist and cynical libertarian rabid registered Republican, I will not forget a few Southerners’ our great nation’s choosing the Freedom Fry over the French. Out of an unnecessary political hook my God-fearing nationalism, I’ve decided to boycot blogging about Paris fall 2006 fashion week.

That, or a fair chunk of Paris fashion week catwalk highlights have been a bit heinous.

And the models look like men.

And if Parisian catwalkers look like men, how am I going to encourage my borderline anorexia for our great America’s National Eating Disorders Week?

Sacre bleu. Have the French people no shame?

Were it not for Balenciaga fall 2006, I’d have no hope for gay Paree.

Too-tall platforms, 60’s shifts, blooming Jackie K jackets do more for international tensions than the UN.

In fact, Balenciaga’s fall 2006 ready-to-wear has so healed my feelings for our French Allies that I feel inspired to forgoe Freedom Fries in favor of binging on foie gras.

And this model is so tres good looking I feel encouraged to be unnaturally thin.

All is right in the world. Merci beaucoup, Balenciaga.

Photo via Style.com

As the media rehashes vice president Dick Cheney’s hunting accident over and over and over again, astute fashion writer I am, I can’t help but ponder –

Does this mean trapper hats are in for another few months?

My fav fur trappers are — naturally — the way ridiculous, super-sized fox fur trappers. Dig this one — large and furry beyond necessity, it’s begging for a tofu pie from PETA and to be worn ironically in warm weather with a summer-y black dress.

You could also play more practical, sans sacrificing luxe. Dig Gucci’s black logo, fur-lined trapper. It’s more subtle, sleek, and if you tire of it in a few months, you’re virtually guaranteed a decent refund via eBay.

As for me, I’m dusting off my Oscar de la Renta suit — I’m hoping Senator Hillary Clinton will have a love affair infamously documented on her apparel so that designer power suits will be back in.

I don’t watch TV and I rarely pick up the paper, so compared to other journalists I may live under a rock. But this rock is really more like a semi-precious stone, and it’s housed in a Christian Louboutin shoebox, which is tucked in the corner of a closet stuffed full of 1920’s Chanel cocktail dresses.

So don’t worry, I didn’t miss New York fashion week, fall 2006.

Here’s a recap of my favorites from fall 2006 fashion week in NYC…

Zac Posen Fall 2006 photo courtesy Style.com

There are lovely Diane von Furstenberg tops, lovely Diane von Furstenberg luggage sets, but nothing is more lovely than a Diane von Vurstenberg wrap dress.

Except for maybe Diane von Furstenberg cheek bones.

With a bold black and white print and work woman cut – dig the popped collar and cuffed sleeves – this Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, like most DVF wrap dresses, is an insta-classic. I’d love it with a pair of bright orange wedges like these by Ralph Lauren. Though you’ll have to wait for the dress, go ahead and get these Ralph Lauren wedges for 56% off.

Diane Von Furstenberg Fall 2006 photo courtesy Style.com