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

A few years ago I bought a pair of slouchy, over-the-knee BCBG boots that women still stare at and ask me if they’re by Vivienne Westwood, Balenciaga, or the like. Were I more the type of girl to gush, gush I would about BCBG Max Azria. Very trend-oriented while maintaining their flowy faux boho aesthetic, BCBG Max Azria’s fall 2006 collection was their usual brand of accessible, flattering for all sex appeal, clothing that’s easily worn in a land that’s foreign to many people -

A little place called Reality.

I especially love this ensemble. Have you ever seen wide men’s slacks look so soft and femme? Look how all the silks just drip and flow together, notice how –

OK, so I can gush as good as the next girl.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2006 photo courtesy Style.com

I.

Love.

J. Lo.

J Lo’s “J Lo” clothing line doesn’t do much for me - nor does her singing or acting - but Sweetface by Jennifer Lopez is high-end, trendy brilliance.

There was no show-stopping floppy mink hat worn by Naomi Campbell this fall 2006 season, but there was tons of lady-like early 60’s sex, a la Bridget Bardot meets, well, J Lo.

One of my favorite Sweetface fashion looks was this trenchcoat. I love how it’s styled with the big bow and leggings, but, in my perfect world, I’d wear the trench coat with only Gucci over-the-knee boots.

Also in this perfect world, while wearing such an outfit on Sunset Blvd. with my usual 10 lbs of black eyeshadow, I would not be solicited for sex.

Sweetface by J Lo Fall 2006 photo courtesy Style.com

Downtown restaurant Florent’s 20th anniversary celebration was the last event I covered in which I eagerly accepted the free drinks floating around.

In fact, I can’t remember ever feeling as happy to ingest alcohol.

It wasn’t the Miss Meat Market fashion catwalk-off that did me in — nay, a little bubbly seemed attractive after “an entree of a bared-on-stage ‘talking’ vagina served over a waitress’s exposed breasts was complemented by a heavy, nipple-tasseled Dirty Martini, a scene only topped by entirely naked priests simulating sex…” MORE

Must be fashion week!

Check out my latest coverage of the Tents — I battled 45 minute lines and age-old alligators and won!

Or made a little fun of Lacoste:

The score? Somewhere between an ace and love, love. It was hard to tell if the audience gave a standing ovation, or was just applauding as it bolted from its seats to the next fashion show… MORE

I’ve achieved–I worked “ho-smacking” into a Yahoo! News article:

“I have really over my life been given something wonderful, and I didn’t know it in the beginning,” said singer Gladys Knight. And speaking of beginnings, did the lifetime achiever have any advice for youngster artists? “As we were coming up we had this little thing called the Twist. And I remember our parents and our grandparents were so outraged about the Twist. And so today, they’ll be outraged about a lot of things that they do. [Still], I would caution [younger entertainers] to keep certain things in place… your moral levels, your conscience, and how you treat other people.”

Does that mean avoiding lyrics about ho-smacking?