ALEXANDER WANG!! Wang was chosen as the fifth CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund recipient on Monday night’s dinner gala, landing him $200,000 and a year’s worth of mentoring (which is really priceless). Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava (YAY!!!) and Albertus Q. Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus were this year’s runners-up, and will each receive $50,000 and a business mentor.

Other finalists this year include Richard Chai, Jason Wu, Irene Neuwirth, Alejandro Ingelmo, Juan Carlos Obando, Obedient Sons & Daughters and Organic.

Past CFDA/Fashion Fund winners include Rogan (2007), Doo-Ri Chung (2006), Trovata (2005) and Proenza Schouler (2004). Past runners-up include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Philip Crangi Jewelry, Rodarte, Thakoon, Derek Lam, Thom Browne, Cloak and Habitual.

Who chooses the winners? This year’s selection committee consisted of CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg; CFDA executive director Steven Kolb and associate director Lisa Smilor; Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Sally Singer; Theory’s Andrew Rosen; Coach’s Reed Krakoff; Jeffrey Kalinsky of Jeffrey New York and Nordstrom; Gap’s Patrick Robinson, and Barneys New York’s Julie Gilhart.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!!

I love ZOOZOOM and wish I had been able to make it to the Fashion Wars Live Party they threw with 3rd Ward this past weekend, but I’ve been sick and was just too lazy to haul my fashionable butt out to Brooklyn.

But just because I (and maybe you too) didn’t participate in the actual battle, it doesn’t mean I/we don’t get to spend the rest of today judging those who did! Visit the war zone to vote for (and be inspired by) your favorite looks. I mean, if you’re stuck inside on such a beautiful (albeit chilly) day you might as well have something entertaining to do…

The designs of Christopher Kane (the new master of the micro-mini) might one day occupy more space in our homes than just that of our closets.

Yesterday, Vogue.co.uk mentioned that the award-winning graduate from Central Saint Martin (not the mention the reigning New British Designer of the Year) would love to design interiors and particularly admires the work of Zaha Hadid (although, right now, who doesn’t?).

As a true fan of his work, I find this news rather thrilling. Just imagine it…big fluorescent pailletted pillows, bandaged covered mademoiselle chairs, ruffled chiffon duvet covers, sleek leather desks, plush velvet love seats, snakeskin flooring, lace inlays...who knows! Well, no matter what Kane designs it’s bound to be bold, sexy, sophisticated, fresh and absolutely feminine.

But until that all happens, we can at least look forward to another capsule collection Kane has in the pipeline for Topshop. Not familiar with his work? Click below for some of my favorite looks from his first collection to his last.

When I became pregnant I went on a mad search for the perfect baby bag…so trust me when I tell you not to fall for the special bags with insulated pouches and pockets everywhere (they’re too damn bulky) - instead just go the Barneys and treat yourself to the standard Goyard tote (which will look great hanging from your bugaboo stroller). I promise you’ll love it from the day you buy it to the day your kid leaves for college.

But if you really want a great Goyard and aren’t knocked up (or planning to be) then splurge Monday, Nov. 17th at 7pm, when 21 very special Goyard bags go up for auction at Christies to benefit L’Institut Curie.

Goyard is auctioning off 21 unique bags - each one personalized by a different French personality, from Catherine Deneuve to Audrey Tautou and Vanessa Paradis. All the bags have been designed using the colors ofare L’Institut Curie (black or orange), and all proceeds go to support the cancer research of the organization.

And if you just happen to be in the City of Light between Nov. 3rd to the 15th, stop by La Maison Goyard in Paris 233 Saint-Honore to preview the collection before the sale. My favorites are the ones by Audrey Marnay and Sarah Biasini.

Mary-Kate Olsen was on Conan O’Brien to promote her new book ‘Influence’ (co-authored with sis Ashely) and she might just be a little too cool for late-night tv. And as hard as he tried, Conan seemed thoroughly uninterested in interviewing the “fashion icon” and sort of unsure of what he could even talk to MK about - At least he got to ask her questions, which according to Racked (and thank you Adam for pointing this out) was something that no one was able to do at the book signing in Union Square.

And as uninterested as Conan seemed, well, MK seemed ever more so (and wow does she slouch). Now Conan tried to ask her fashion-focused questions and even asked her to style him, but when he asked about the string she had tied around her head (which he clearly thought looked odd and found difficult not to mention), she sort of waved it off and said something along the lines of “I don’t even know what this is! Maybe a necklace?” I’m sure she knew very well what it was, but that it seemed somehow cooler to America for her not to know.

I thought that this might be an interesting interview, but unfortunately (like MK’s choice of outfit on this particular day) it fell flat.

I’ve never been that into Project Runway, but I have been watching this season and today saw the finale (a day late, I know).

I’m bummed that Jerell didn’t make it to the finale, but I guess there is really nothing to do about that. I am, however, very glad that Leanne won - her collection was absolutely beautiful, especially the first look (and even though she said the top steamed to nearly two sizes larger, I thought it looked perfect). I would love to wear any of it, although I must say that for as much crap as they (especially Nina Garcia) gave Kenley about her painted dress looking a little too ‘Balenciaga‘, Leanne’s whole collection definitely brought Valentino to my mind.

So die-hard Project Runway fans - what did you think of the finale? Did it live up to your expectations? Do you think Leanne deserved to win?

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And now, something for all you posh politicos..

This year’s election has sparked interest in many fashionable people including Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, designers Maria Cornejo, Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Charles Nolan, Tory Burch, Narciso Rodriguez, Zac Posen, Nanette Lepore, Tracy Reese, Lutz & Patmos, Juicy Couture, Rachel Roy, Rag and Bone, Derek Lam, Isaac Mizrahi, Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Brian Reyes, Jeffery Costello and Robert Tagliapietra - and they’re all contributing their talents to the Obama campaign with ‘Runway to Change‘

Roy’s scarf is great (but I’m a total scarf-girl), Wang’s tank is uber cool (and it’s only $45), and Derek Lam’s tote ($75) does the best at making politics pretty. Really people, who needs the presidential debates when you can just go shopping?

I just wonder why Thakoon isn’t part of this since he’s dressing Michelle Obama left and right these days… (and thanks to my politically minded fashionable friend Brooke for pointing this out to me!)

Bottega Veneta, you’ll never know quite how much I love you. The head-to-toe color, the ridiculously feminine and chic silhouettes - and did you look at the lady gloves! I even love the messy up-dos. *sigh* it’s pure poetry really…

With every new magazine I flip through, piece I acquire, person I meet, collection I see, book I read or song I listen to, my styles evolves in new ways. I’ve gone from girly to grown up, overdone to overly simply, flats to platforms to pumps, and everywhere in between.

In high school I was the girl who wore sweaters with feathered collars from Contempo Casuals in the humid Hawaiian climate. During freshman year in college, I studied Animal Science and lived in Abercrombie & Fitch.

At the end of my sophomore year, I discovered that I enjoyed thinking about things much more than simply memorizing facts and I moved my major to Political Science and my minor to English - I also took a job at Neiman Marcus where I got my first real taste of designer fashion. I was reading Milton, trying on Dolce, and buying too much Prada.

At some point, BCBG became my go-to store for everyday trendy pieces, but when the general manager (who I loved shopping with) became the store manager at Ralph Lauren, I followed her.

Then I watched Sex and the City; I bought a pair of Manolo Blahniks and started experimenting more with fun fashion.

Since moving to Manhattan, my style and taste has evolved tremendously within a relatively short period of time. Within several months I went from being an intern for a bunch of grungy publicists to the pr manager for Abaeté, a feminine, sexy, sophisticated contemporary line. I ended up wearing Abaeté for nearly three years straight (which I’m not complaining about, by the way, I love it all actually), but believe that only since deciding to become a full time writer and entering a more creative chapter of my life (and believing that I too had something worth saying), has my style truly become something of my own.

But it isn’t all about me. My style is also heavily influenced by the weather, the world, my child, my friends, the break-ups, the new men, the other girls on the streets.

Recently, I’ve developed a deep appreciation and love for Helmut Lang, Jil Sander, and other collections that exude a sexy, non-fuss sensibility and confidence. I’m not a cute girly girl anymore - I’m a strong, smart, sexy woman (or at least I hope I am). Femininity, for me, has definitely evolved.

Sometimes, I can be ridiculously lazy - right now, for example, I am snuggled under blankets and reading and thinking about pre-ordering Jean Paul Gaultier’s new water bottle for Evian instead of walking to the kitchen for a bottle that I already have that I now want desperately.

I must admit that in many ways, actually, I am a rather lazy person. In general, I am lazy in maintaining relationships. No, not in my romantic relationships - those I nearly kill myself over - but in maintaining those with friends and family members.

I have never really been a big family person and perhaps that is because I grew up far away from the bulk of my extended family, but it is also because I feel true family and friends do not require constant contact, constant communication. Of course we all drift apart over the years and turn into slightly different people, but in the end, if you can still call up a friend from a few years back and begin the conversation with ‘I just bought the most amazing pair of shoes!’ then you know things are fine and always will be.

I’m reading this damned depressing French book Nothing Serious by Justine Levy, which is the exact sort of book I should not be reading right now (although I am enjoying it). I’m not going into the book at all right now, but if you want to feel worse than you already do, step into the depressing life of Louis and you might just want to hang yourself. And of course what am I listening to when I’m reading this, songs like Coldplay’s Fix You. I also just learned more about one of my best friend’s recent trip via her facebook album instead of through stories being told over a bottle of wine or a great diner in the LES.

It may be obvious, but there’s no harm in stating it anyway: I’m clearly stuck in a rut. I’m thinking about ex-boyfriends constantly, not willing to give any new guys a try, and while everything is quite lovely in my home life, I just feel a bit stuck, idle. I have an unfamiliar yearning to connect with people I’ve lost touch with, and at the same time I’m ready to completely let go of everything and move on. Maybe I should pre-order a bottle of JPG’s Evian water - perhaps I could use a tall glass of water right about now…

YSL’s black lips certainly made a statement on the fall runways… and although I’m not sure it is a statement that should ever be made in real life, the people at Lancôme don’t feel the same that I do.

Introducing the Color Fever Gloss in Piha Black. It looks great in the bottle, but on actual lips in the subway, out on the streets, in bars or bakeries?

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