Although the over-the-knee boots are not yet in-stores, the ladies are still looking mighty fine at Prada – and wearing jewelry that, while stunning, is strikingly similar to what was available fall ‘08. Loving the hats as well as the false eyelashes on the mannequins.

Even the dark and dampening weather couldn’t lessen the sparkle of the new Swarovski Crystallized store in SoHo this past Saturday. What is rather difficult to spot from the outside (despite a cascade of crystals in the window), is a dazzling treasure trove right off Broadway where not only can you buy the glittering creations of designers such as Ted Rossi or Christopher Kane, but also make some of your very own. For real.

Drawing on their innovative excellence and international trend-setting competence, Swarovski has created an inspirational design environment in which you are free to imagine, invent and create. In fact, you are invited to explore different style worlds, spanning jewelery, fashion, accessories and interior decoration, as well as events, runway shows and design exhibitions.

Walk in and chose your favorite of 2,000 gorgeous stones, which can be purchased individually for $8–$22, pick up a setting for $2–$12 and some tools  for $3–$30 – and then get busy putting it all together in the lounge downstairs (where a killer pair of Nicholas Kirkwood heels are also on display).

The space also features a cafe in the back of the first floor perfect for having a relaxing lunch with a girlfriend. And because the décor is so sparkly, it is the perfect place to wear all of those pretty Abaeté dresses you surely picked up at their past sample sale. See below for more images of the store and then go DIY…

Every morning I wake up to a barrage of emails from my closest friends over at Barneys, Bergdorf, Net-a-porter, Daily Candy, StyleCaster, Target, Vogue.co.uk, WWD, etc. As a writer, and one who used to work full time as an online retail copywriter, I usually open all of them just to see what they have going on. I scan these emails for not only their content, but also their layout, subject line, etc. Research, you see? Shopping as a result is simply an added bonus!

Today I received an email from Neiman Marcus with a subject line that read: What would fashion be without vision? Introducing INSITE. Not the best subject line in the world (too long), but still I took the bait and increased their open rate by 1. The email was also very typical for NM, and while I doubt that many people, at first glance, would see that this email has a lot more to do with that simply sunglasses (as the image suggests), the text promised a new way to look at style, a premier issue, an interview with Jason Wu, and unusual gifts for the newlyweds. Well, I’m all for new ways of looking at style (or at least was curious as to what they would say), so I clicked.

(As I’ve mentioned before, my first real blush with luxury came by way of Neiman Marcus and I will always hold a special place for the retailer in my heart. A superior organization through and through, NM evokes luxury like many other retailers can, especially outside of New York.)

But back to INSITE: The click from my email led me to a video-based issue that did not really offer a new way to look at style, but did offer great over-the-knee boots (which I am dying for), a non-informative Q&A with Wu, and an absolutely adorable video for Father’s Day, Of Mice and Man. The video Of Mice and Man features a small white mouse, a great little jingle, and lots of men’s ties. The fact that NM used a mouse, especially during a recession, is brilliant. What animal could be more humble, sweet, and innocent? Anyway, I’m not exactly going to buy my father an Hermes tie becuase of the video, but it did raise my spirits and now the song is stuck in my head…

Check out the premier issue of Neiman Marucs’ INSITE here and let me know what you think about it, if anything. Also, do you receive a lot of retail marketing emails? If so, do you open them and do they ever lead you to making a purchase?