Because we know you'll probably need a straightforward women's wear fix, and because Resort lasts forever, here's what's happening with vacation frocks and whatnot. Our Network Partners are covering Resort happenings diligently, giving up images and impressions of who is putting out what and why they like it.

From London, I Am Fashion, rounds up top picks from Resort 09. Namely, from the likes of Phillip Lim, Nina Ricci, and Lanvin. If there were ever a palatable list for a young chicster, ranging from least to most expensive, it would be this one.

Fancy a break down of Louis Vuitton's Resort 09 preview? Our Network Partner, Shiny Style, has images of the neon striped shorts, guazy silky numbers, and jewel detailing from the collection. She aligns it with Resort offerings from the likes of Lanvin and Balenciaga, whom she credits as having the more interesting designs. We should hope so, eh? If Phillip Lim starts blowing Oscar de la Renta out of the water we'll start wearing birkenstocks and move upstate.

Otherwise, J'adore Couture does Lanvin, Shiny Squirrel does Alexander McQueen, and Trust Your Style does a bit of Temperley, Rowley, Malandrino, and the like.

If there's a designer who could spark across-the-board attention from blog-reading fashion fans around the world, it's Stella McCartney. Her Resort/Spring 2009 show, which took place this past week, inspired quite a bit of content from our Network Partners. And, as any good blogger knows, that means straight up photo content. In this day and age, with thousands of words being penned by online journalists every day, sometimes a picture just speaks more loudly. And may we say, especially on a Friday. We'll spare your our interpretation just this once and point you directly to our beloved bloggers, namely, Fashion Indie, The Runway Scoop, and Season Five who all posted their thoughts (and pictures) from the collection.

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It would seem that being nominated for a CFDA award just isn't enough anymore. Nominees are being given a book featuring Raquel Zimmermann in their various designs. Styled by Karl Templer and shot by Mikael Jansson, the keepsake came together under creative director Trey Laird. The book contains essays written by David Colman on all the honorees and abstract flower shots by Kenji Toma. This explains why the tables are so expensive at the benefit we imagine.

Russian oligarchs aren't being hit by the recession. Chanel is opening up its second Moscow boutique.

Cruise is so popular because of global warming. Every time a fashion writer pens this piece Al Gore sheds a tear and nobody gets their wings.

The Scottish Fashion Awards have released their list of nominees. We are gunning for Jonathan Saunders for designer personally and not just because he has a hot new collaboration in the works for Target's Go International. But our favorite award is for best use of Tartan by an international designer.

We love that it is news when a designer decides to go back to a traditional two show a year fashion schedule.

The house of Blass is under pressure as NexCen looks to sell. Potential buyers being floated are Designer Licensing Holdings, Windsong Brands, Tharanco Group, headed by Haresh Tharani, and Iconix Brand Group. And what of poor Peter Som? It looks like he can keep his own line just fine. Richard Baker, ceo of NRDC Equity Partners, isn't interested in buying the Blass business, said a spokeswoman for Baker. NRDC owns Lord & Taylor and Creative Design Studio, and also has invested in numerous designers, including Peter Som, who designs Blass' women's line as well as his own.

Lutz and Patmos collaborate with a train conductor? No it isn't a joke or a publicity stunt. Amtrak conductor Chris Waugh became friends with Lutz as she rode the train to her Rhode Island home and the Shoreliner sweater was born. Named after the East Coast train, the $495 hoodie sweater, which has five buttons on the side and raglan sleeves is being sold to benefit Parkinson's Disease Foundation

Stella McCartney will show a collection at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts on June 1. The show is part of a program that will celebrate Liverpool as the European capital of culture in 2008.

Proenza Schouler continues resort season with a collection inspired by loungewear and layering. WWD calls it a collection full of contrast: "masculine, slouchy suit in delicate silk paired with a structured linen coat, and a flimsy checkered beaded dress layered over pajama pants."

Yigal Azrouël is opening a destination store in Water Mill New York. We have no clue where Water Mill is located.

Marc Jacobs thinks Tom Ford was a preppy back in the day. We say Tom Ford can be however he wants to be.

Apparel trends are still dismal. And we mean finances not the actual clothing.

In Soviet Russia Gap clothing wears you! No really, the Gap is opening in Russia thanks to a franchising agreement with Fiba Holding AS.

This orange bag is also green, thank heavens. Part of the Spring 08 Stella McCartney collection, this Pleated Nylon Bag in Orange is meant to tote all your Summertime accoutrements. Measuring over 1 1/2 feet wide, we'd be surprised if it didn't double as a 'get out of the city for a day'-bag. One of the biggest challenges when it comes to Summer handbags, in the first place, is the fact that polished leather bags can sometimes feel a bit mismatched with casual frocks or shorts. Nylon, in a bold color like this and with asymmetrical ruching, mean that you won't look like your carrying around a grocery bag, nor will you feel unbalanced. McCartney's Spring collection of nude and either orange or navy anchored floral garments, lent itself to this bold, matte colored accessory.


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