Yesterday, while waiting for some samples, we loitered on Broadway and popped into Zara. Sigh, we're quickly learning that visiting the big retailers will never be what it was when we were thirteen and thought 'a lifetime supply of Express bodysuits' would be our ultimate dream come true. Like most people, we gravitated towards the merchandising that seemed, from afar, to best fit our personal style. We scanned the store and started heading North towards a section that looked like it was the Southwestern/bohemian/seventies section of the store. While we walked we got that same five second rush as when we were teenagers, thinking "Oh, this is going to be fun." The piece that jumped out at us was an oversized fleece shawl/cape/jacket. First, when we picked it off of the rack, we realized the quality wasn't very good and then, we thought, 'Wait, I've seen this somewhere." Oh yeah, Ralph Lauren Fall 08. We put the shawl down, our excitement completely gone. The fact is, we thought as we were walking away, there's nothing totally original about a Southwestern print shawl in the first place. Furthermore, there's nothing particularly wrong with Zara adopting the garment simply because the fabrication (because of cost, no doubt) was so faraway from the Ralph Lauren version, that you couldn't even call it a knock-off. It's just, we suppose, not as much fun when you have to worry about the fact that someone out there will look at you and think, "Oh, she's got that RL knock off". It's kind of like someone saying "Oh, she's like a watered-down version of that other girl we know". Call us scarred, we don't think we're alone in this. The only person who should sport bootleg Ralph Lauren garments is your dad when he's wearing his weekend clothes only because it's all JC Penney circa 1970. That's our only concession.

How much money do women spend on supposedly cheap fashion? Enough to make Amancio Ortega the 22nd wealthiest man in the world. Don't know who he is? He is the owner of Inditex and worth 20.2 billion dollars. From selling what? Ohh just cheaply made suits at Zara. Sort of makes you rethink your spending habits doesn't it? Go discover a few more fashion billionaires.

Another good reason not to wear clothing with logos? Apparently CCTV cameras can track you that much better thanks to your big Nike Swoosh. Consider this a friendly public service announcement for the benefits of wearing independent designers.

Boring white Pratesi sheets got you down at your favorite luxury hotel? Craving zig zag sheets? Never fear, Missoni is the latest to jump on the designer hotel bandwagon. Rezidor Hotel Group will be collaborating with Missoni on an expected ten hotels with the first two to open in 2009 in Kuwait and Edinburgh.

Cartier is launching a men's fragrance called Roadster. Apparently they think it will be quite a seller with $20 million in sales its first year.

Preppy women rejoice! Lilly Pulitzer is opening up at 1020 Madison Avenue. The impressively branded experience will include womenswear, menswear, and children's clothing. The store is a branded paradise with some intense amenities like palm shaped doggie treats and a juice bar. Lily really knows her demographic doesn't she?