THE FASH PACK

We're crushing over Rihanna's unique Stephane Rolland mermaid gown from the Glamour Women of the Year Awards last week - just like we're happy to see her out and about in Rick Owens and looks from other, less-than-expected designers. Now, the pop princess has revealed that her allegiance to edgy designers is calculated.

"In the past few months, I’ve done a lot of research in the fashion world because I wanted to work with a bunch of designers that are kinda underground, people who aren’t the obvious," she said to Grazia. "I found this guy Alexander Voltaire – his stuff is just so amazing, the colours are really beautiful and feminine but the structure is really strong, which I love."

Added Rihanna: "My style is very edgy, very daring. I like to take risks – I hate to do the obvious. Style is all about creativity so I like to put things together in my own way."

Doing it her own way is something we've come to expect from Rihanna, and no one can keep us guessing like her. Now, if we could only get her to do a music video with Gaga...

London Fashion Week is not the only fashion week wanting a revival. LA continues to fight for its position as a fashion capital.

It's been a rocky couple of years for them. If Smashbox, Mercedes Benz and IMG pulling out as official sponsors isn't bad enough, several designers don't actually want to show there anymore. Let's just say that the Pussycat Dolls and Lauren Conrad's clothing line are the biggest shows on the show schedule. Enough said.

Fashion insiders have been less than kind about the city. As The Cut said, 'It hardly pays for them [designers] if no one important is there (and as great as it is to have Tori Spelling or P. Diddy on the front row, they won't place large wholesale orders or put the clothes in Vogue'. Rick Owens also lashed out at the city saying, "Get off your ass and go to Europe... [W]hy do they have to be a fashion capital? They're the movie capital of the world and they've always been that, can't they just be satisfied with that?"

Do you think LA Fashion Week can follow in the footsteps of London Fashion Week this season and reinvent themselves?

The Lagerfeld hath landed in Venice: Chanel's cruise show is tomorrow [Fashionologie]

Freida Pinto and Evangeline Lilly sign up with L'Oreal [People]

Do we smell a new Rick Owens? [Kingdom of Style]

At home with Julia Restoin-Roitfeld [The Selby]

Nordstrom being sued by employees [Fashionista]

Carine Roitfeld won't weigh you, but she does have opinions on your 'down there' [The Cut]

Carrie Bradshaw's mythical shoes return [Vogue UK]

Perhaps Michelle Obama's sorry? [WWD]

Rick Owens flies his freak flag [Guardian]

Adriana Lima knows what sets her mood [People]

Boring legwear? Problem solved! [Kingdom of Style]

Um. A friend and I recounted the creepiness of Robert Stack on Unsolved Mysteries the other day, and although this probably won't give anyone nightmares, it's pretty freaking weird. To give his new London flagship ambiance, Rick Owens has decorated with a wax replica of his head.

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Sigh. Three times and it's a trend. Costume National, you've made those big boots happen.

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I am the first to admit that fashion should not be taken too seriously. I mean, as they saying goes 'We're not curing cancer or anything'. But every once in a while we witness something in fashion that, whether it's an exhibition, an interview or a collection, will stay in our minds forever. That was definitely the case at the Nina Ricci show today in Paris. If there was ever a point to make, this was it. Today Oliver Theyskens showed his strongest collection yet to great applause.

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Naomi and I have already weighed in on the up-to-there wader boots done at Prada. Now, Rick Owens gives sculpture and volume to an item of footwear that used to be as simple as lace-up, pull-on or zip.

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