Since we spend the majority of our August days in either a Mexican house dress or one-piece bathing suit, we've decided to play virtual dress up. As much as it pains us, we know fashion week is just around the corner, and that means waaay more running around and waaay less Mexican house dress. We've already started editorializing Fall but since not an overwhelming number of fall deliveries have made it online, it's still worth it to bring you outfits that are both on sale (from spring) and, at least partially, fall weather appropriate. To that end, we're put together this look. For starters, everyone please put down your pencils and check out this Derek Lam bag which is marked down over seventy percent off. It's like a sample sale that no one can see because they can't wrap their minds around it. Be the wise one and snatch that steal up--we're guessing there are only a few. After that insane bargain, the rest will be easy to rationalize. Two Rachel Comey sale items that are totally worth a combined value of just over two hundred dollars and a pair of Acne jeans at 50% off. Those A Pants will be on all of the e-commerce sites (including La Garconne) at full price in the next couple of weeks so you might as well get them on sale now (we know it's crazy but that's the way denim turns over).

We have been leading up to a lace filled fall for some time now. Community member, Style...A Work In Progress has been scouring ecommerce land for the best buys and a few delightful remarks such as this quote from Mary Wilson "it is difficult to see why lace should be so expensive, its mostly holes."

We have already established just how this particular material makes so much sense in the here and now so it's interesting to note the trickling appearance of fall deliveries and just how they work with this precious textile. We in particular like the nearly ubiquitous appearance of the practically cliché black lace granny dress. Everyone from Derek Lam to Phillip Lim has one. The dowdy staple brings somehow manages to evoke sexual fetishization and the appearance of frugality, all while suggesting that aren't we naughty for thinking its either. With the pressure to remain practical in a recession that just begs us to remember the precious its going to be an interesting season indeed for lace. Its just too bad the first inklings of the buy are so damn boring. But we are willing to bet its going to sell very well indeed, its so easy to justify the purchase when really its mostly holes anyway.

The West will bring freedom and Democracy to Iraq by uh opening up crappy fast fashion chains? Spanish chain Mango has plans to open a store Abril a city of one million people in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region. "We're going to open a shop in Iraq very soon," said Isak Halfon, Mango's president of expansion. "The people are starving for something like this." Huh, perhaps not the best choice of words. The clothing will be designed by Zuhair Murad, a Lebanese designer and thankfully will not include the typical array of skimpy goods, leading us to think this might actually be a pretty good store. This may answer the question what to wear on holiday to Dubai though if you spent all of your money on luxury accommodations naturally.

Derek Lam has sold a stake of his company to Labelux. The most exciting news involved with the new financing? A freestanding Derek Lam store is planned on Crosby street.

"Market conditions" are keeping Roberto Cavalli from putting his namesake company for sale. Low season for leopard print it would seem.

Anti-Pope fashion? Huh?

There are apparently compulsive folders that simply must redo anyone's poor clothing folding. This explains a few of our ex-boyfriends.

Luxury consumers are becoming more pragmatic in the recession. Of course, in this piece they say anyone making over 100K a year is a luxury consumer. Yeah the middle class in New York is cutting back for sure!

On the other end of th economic spectrum, Wal-Mart just doesn't know when its been beat by fashion.

There are two great things about this Long Sleeve Pleated Blouse by Derek Lam. Namely, it's an office appropriate blouse that will still keep you cool during those hot summer months (and will work just fine layered in the fall) and it's representative of that washed out leopard print that we'll be seeing a lot of this season. Leopard prints don't have to be styled with hot pink press on nails and teased out hair, remember. Pair this blouse with smart trousers, sharp heels, red lipstick, and a boys club briefcase and your colleagues won't know what hit them. For more immaterial, click here, and, to see the Fall 08 Derek Lam fashion show, click here.