It's been a while since we delved into the world of plastic jewelry, mostly because we haven't seen so many of those gumball machines where you can buy rings and trinkets for a quarter since we left home for the big city.

But we are awestruck by Patricia Von Musulin's amazing clear lucite jewelry. The cuff bracelets, in particular, are breathtaking sculptural objects. The seeming heftiness and large scale of the pieces are balanced by their weightless transparency.

We're not sure if you'd be able to type while you were wearing one of these cuffs, but that's OK because like all great things, they're really better suited for a surrealist-inspired dressed-up night out on the town.

--ALISON COOL

If we really love something, we try not to think about the label. But we'd be lying if we didn't admit that a certain dress in our closet made its way thanks to the name sewn into its lining.

But how much power does a label have in reeling you in as a consumer?

The artists at Volksware, which translates into "people's product," pose a simiar question with their new coat, which is part art and part outerwear.

The asking price for their "most expensive coat in the world" is a hefty $1.5 million. We can't even tell if the labels are real, or just reproductions of Versace, Pierre Cardin, etc.

Silke Wawro, Volksware's founder, says that his projects are meant to explore consumerism and the subjective values placed on products -- which we think the coat does exceptionally well.

He also mentions an "emotional bond" that he believes consumers build with those products.

Do you have an "emotional bond" with your favorite labels?

--BRITT ABOUTALEB

We were riveted by Deborah Solomon's weekend movie on The New York Times.

Called "The Power of the Purse," it features the prominent writer outside of Prada and Armani. She questions the value of a designer bag, and wonders how an accessory "can cost more than a car" - beneath the Chanel window, she muses, "Will a Chanel bag get you into heaven?"

The brief film interviews consumers about their bags, and puts forth an intriguing hypothesis:

"Why are handbags so large?... Because it makes it that much easier for us to see them... [unlike a car or a house on the Hamptons], a bag, you can take it and show it off at all times."

The movie is cool, and so is Deborah Solomon, but there's one part we didn't love:

She spends an awful lot of time huffing about the ridiculous price of a handbag, even asking women if they feel guilty about their arm candy. But then she shows us her own - an Orla Kiely tote.

It doesn't cost the same as a Birkin, but the last time we checked, Orla Kiely's overhyped, overwaxed prints cost almost $600 - and just like an Indy bag, you can spot them from the top floor of a Park Avenue high rise.

Since we got our Stam on sale for $500, which is less than the average Orla price, we have to ask Ms. Solomon:

Aren't you just as guilty of bag indulgence? And why couldn't you discuss that in your video?

T-shirt dresses and sweater dresses usually fall under the category of "better in theory than in practice." Until now.

Recent Central St. Martins alum Kumiko Watari's autumn/winter collection has some of the best t-shirt dresses we've ever seen. They're covered in zany, hand-drawn prints, and the colors look like they're copied straight off the covers of some of your best psychedelic records.

We also appreciate how the dresses are oversized, but in a really different way from the bubble and trapeze dresses that are starting to make us yawn.

Put on one of these frocks and you'll be instantly transformed into the life of the party plus the comfy-iest girl at the party. What could be better?

--ALISON COOL

It can be really, really hard to find the perfect color tights to match your carefully planned ensemble.

Like sometimes your outfit really needs mustard yellow tights, but you have to settle for brown, and it still looks okay, but not quite the runway effect you'd planned.

Now you don't have to settle any longer.

We Love Colors has every single color of tights that you could ever want, desire, or need. They have 45 solid colors - from aquarium blues to grape soda purples and everything in between.

Their stock is supplemented by patterned tights (we're really into these tie-dye ones, but we know that we might be alone in this...), thigh-highs, knee socks, hot pants, and all the rest. Tights are about $13 each.

Yay!

--ALISON COOL

When you name a collection "Eco Warrior," you'd expect it to be pretty green.

That's why we're a little confused with TopShop, who called an entire line by the name - even though it's mostly made from polyester.

The line was inspired by the '90s grunge movement, but some actual eco warriors might take issue with the fact that the range includes some ankle boots that are 100% leather.

The only way we can think of that makes it eco-friendly is this:

If you take home a few of their mix-and-match pieces, you won't need anything else for Fall, and that cuts down on consumerism.

Admirable, but in that case, why not get your cable-knit staples at J.Crew, and avoid any name-game confusion?

--NATALIE GUEVARA

Shocker: Roberto Cavalli's H&M ads are drenched in animal print.

The leopard-clad models are draped over leopard print chairs, pillows and rugs in an ornate spread that screams Cavalli, but not so much H&M --

Until we took a closer look at the actual clothes.

The fabric looks typical of the mass-brand's stock: a little bit shiny, a little bit itchy, and if your cell phone scrapes against your dress, it looks like the thing could snag.

We kept our eyes peeled for Leigh Lezark's first major campaign shot, but all we saw was a striking picture of Lydia Hearst in the corner, prompting Faran to utter, "Halston!"

We think Cavalli's clothes have always represented a very specific lifestyle, one that's so glamorous and luxurious that it almost looks like a cartoon.

The ads represent that lifestyle, but we're waiting to see the clothes in real life before we pass final judgment on whether H&M Cavalli can live up to the dream.

--BRITT ABOUTALEB

While I'm not here, I'm playing Shop Girl at a downtown boutique. You can guess which one.

We cater to trend junkies: the celebrities, the international socialites, and the tourists looking to get their New York fashion fix. Also: girls who read US Weekly at the gym.

Last week, I painfully watched a nameless celebrity - you can guess which one - pull the worst pieces of clothing off the racks. She politely handed them over for me to fill her fitting room - faded bell-bottom jeans with an unfinished hem. A leopart print chiffon blouse with gold buttons. An ivory cameo with black lace trim. None of them were in her size; none of them suited her body.

I wish her choices were a cry for help, but really, she thought these things looked good.

I often wonder about my responsibility to the girl in the dressing room.

How much influence do I have over her purchases, and how far can I go to sway her decisions? In this case, I had to try very, very hard to push her in a whole new direction.

When she brought in the jeans (paired with the leopard blouse!), I immediately countered with a more subtle pair of dark wash denim. When she put a logo-stamped sweater with matching logo shoes and squealed with delight, I immediately ripped the sweater off her back, and offered a cute but somewhat restrained cardigan in its place.

I know everyone has their own style and the world would be boring without it. But this girl spends plenty of time in the public eye, and her wardrobe is seriously mocked. I thought if I had her attention for a mere 30 minutes, I could make the most of it.

We broke even in the end:

She bought the logo sweater and shoes, but promised she'd never wear them together. Thankfully, she left the faded bell-bottoms behind. All in all my powers of persuasion seem to be working.

But I wonder, do you trust the salesgirl when she offers her expert opinion? And is it anybody's job but yours to pick your clothes?

--BRITT ABOUTALEB

Editor's Note: It's not Jessica Simpson, we just like the photo.

Do you tally the cost of your clothes in your heads?

The fashion boys (and a few girls) on the message boards over at superfuture started posting the total prices of what they're currently wearing on a thread called "How Much Was Your Outfit Today?"

The responses range from:

"3rd world tailored suit (but 1st world fabric) = ~$1,200
3rd world tailored shirt (again, 1st world fabric) = ~$75
hermes belt = $550
jm weston shoes = $650
j.crew boxers = $10?
really old socks = $0
= $ 2,485 - but i don't feel guilty because i wear this almost everyday and everything except the boxers and socks are going to last years and years"

to:

"10deep shirt - $10, uniqlo one wash $20, vans chukkas $60. $90 total .."

This got us thinking.

We're kind of cheating, because we haven't left the house today, but we've got on dress from Swedish designer Numph bought on sale in London ($40) and gray Gap undies ($5).

That's only $45, but maybe when we go out later we'll add blue Marc by Marc flats ($240 at Century 21) and an Alice Roi box purse (sort of free, part of pay after working at the pop-up store) bringing us to a total of $285.

But, how much does your outfit cost today? And was it worth it?

--ALISON COOL

So far, the "Seasonless Dressing" discussion has only hit your closet -

When it's still so warm in October, you're probably just frantic to find something Fall-appropriate that's also breeze-friendly.

But today, The Telegraph explores another point of concern:

Designers and retailers are worried that warmer winters will kill a big Fall item - The Coat.

If you'll only wear it for one or two months a year, will you still splurge on something expensive? And will you only need one winter coat, instead of several, to keep you fashionably snug in the snow?

Coats are our favorite item, especially since over jeans, they can still make an outfit look fresh and formal (note the Missoni princess coat at left).

But have you stopped buying them?

Sometimes, life demands that you wear a t-shirt.

Whether it's because you're exercising or in some such way working towards greater physical fitness or because you really want or need to look like you're not trying too hard, the t-shirt will always be there for you.

It's easy enough to reach for that heather gray v-neck shirt again, but maybe it's time to expand your horizons.

Maybe it's time to replace your high-school thrift-finds and ex-boyfriend remainders with something really special.

We suggest obscure French t-shirts, of course. Like these ones from Fade. They're adorned with cryptic psuedo-masonic imagery, and each design comes in gray, black, or white - the eternal triptych of casually cool colors.

Once you try these, you'll never go back to that tired old "Ithaca is Gorges" tee!

--ALISON COOL

It looks like the Peanuts craze is still going strong.

Just when we'd almost forgotten about the Snoopy-inspired show at NY Fashion week, we found this quintessential Charlie Brown zigzag tee at Fred Flare for $28.

It comes in men's sizes, and they show the tee on a male model, but we think this might be better suited for the little redheaded girls, Peppermint Pattys, and Lucys of the world.

We plan to pair it with short shorts and lie on top of the doghouse all day.

And if anyone tries to bother us, we'll be all, "Good Grief" and "ZZZZ."

--ALISON COOL

Those killing for a tie-dye Miu Miu tote may have missed the boat -

We saw the last of them on sale at Selfridge's last month in London, and although girls are still swinging them around New York, we haven't seen them sold in any shops for a while.

But if you love the dyed suede that Miu Miu created, you might also enjoy an alternative:

The slightly more preppy tote from Longchamp. which is handbag-sized and also made of suede with bleeding colors.

We love that the French house took such a risk with their fabric and color, and although the idea was clearly grafted from Miu Miu's Spring accessories, we'll still embrace it.

Mostly because we couldn't get the Miu Miu, and we're still sort of stuck on it...

Sometimes I think we should name the casual section of H&M, and call it "Emoville."

Neon sweatshirts with skulls. Pink t-shirts with skulls. Jeans with skulls.

It's enough to drive anyone... well, out of their skull.

We visited an H&M on Rue de Rivoli today, which is like the Fifth Avenue of Paris. And indeed we found skulls - but they were actually cool.

Our favorite example is this subtle skull print, a riff on the traditional French peasant florals that occupy not only the wallpaper here, but also the upholstery, the towels, the sheets, and sometimes - if you look really hard - the iron work on the buildings and train stations.

H&M found a way to weave it into their scarf section - but in a way that's more "wow" than Wentz.

So when can we buy it en Amerique?

Attention, TopShoppers:

We got a very exciting tip today from a secret someone.

It said that TopShop is currently embroiled in a real estate snat - with another big chain store - to take over the lease on a new location.

The location is in New York City.

The lease is supposed to be signed - we hear - by December.

Can we really be getting our own?

And will it be nearly as cool if we can shop there every day?

Stay tuned.

One major change made in adapting the Gossip Girl books for TV:

Blair's mom is now a designer.

Her character seems inspired by Carolina Herrera; a social lady creating elegant clothes for her peers. In the first episode, Eleanor even wears a white shirt and flowing skirt-- one of Carolina's favorite looks.

But while Eleanor's character may be Carolina-inspired, the clothes she "designs" are coming from Abigail Lorick, an ex-Ford model who says she aims to answer the question "What has become of the modern lady?".

On her website she writes:

" [The Lorick lady] is polite and considerate. She makes a point to keep her manners in check even when everyone around her has forgotten her please and thank yous."

Her pencil skirts and little scarves seem perfectly upper east side to us, but we're not sure that exactly describes bratty Blair and Serena.

If that sounds like you, though, you can pick up some Lorick at Otte's NYC boutiques.

Just remember to say thank you to your salesgirl!

--ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

This isn't exactly a copyright infringement situation, but what's up with designers copying mass market stuff?

For example, you have to love the L.L. Bean "Mom" tote. OK, it's not officially called the "Mom" tote, but you know what we're talking about - the canvas haul-all with the double handles and optional monogram?

This is the problem - we LOVE this "Oversized Campus Shoulder Tote" from the fall 3.1 Philip Lim accessories line. It's a linen/cotton blend with black leather. And it costs $593.

But we all know that the LL Bean tote came first! According to the website, it's "the toughest tote since 1944." Even the extra-large version of the bag (" Still made by us here in Maine from practically indestructible 24 oz. cotton canvas") is only $37.

We know L.L.Bean hasn't taken home a CFDA award in recent memory, but how do you justify buying the Phillip Lim's L.L. Bean knock-off for an extra $556?

--ALISON COOL

It's so nice when you can say the word "menswear" without shuddering.

In fact, there's absolutely nothing cringe-worthy about the fall/winter 07 collection from one-year old menswear label Loden Dager.

Citing "the rigidity of the masculine Forties," the "mod Sixties," and "1970" as inspiration, designers Oliver Helden and Paul Marlow - who cut their teeth working at Marc Jacobs - put together a dreamy ensemble of cute boy shirts, jackets, and pants in navy, pale yellow, black, and white.

We wish they would design an official and mandatory "boyfriend uniform," so us girls could stop tactfully suggesting that we "just think you look better without that tattered hoodie."

Instead, we get the next best thing - the brand will team up with Uniqlo to put together a ten-piece capsule collection in the spring. Until then, you can find the goods at New York stockists Barney's Co-op, Opening Ceremony, and Oak.

--ALISON COOL