Some of the more colorful outfits from last night's party. Photo: Patrick McMullan

At last night’s Couture Council Summer Party—smack dab in the middle of Central Park at the boathouse—we caught up with some of the fashion pack’s busiest to see what they have planned for the last days of summer. Unsurpringly, it sounds like panic’s just about set in with less than three weeks to go until New York Fashion Week. Sophie Theallet told us, “There is no time! I make all of my samples in-house.” When asked about the status of her spring summer collection she nervously grinned and said, “It’s a work in progress.” Maria Cornejo said that she’s, “Just trying to stay healthy, eating well, and making it to the gym.” Cornejo said that her spring 2012 collection is inspired by, “the Museum of Mankind in Paris.” Also offering a bit of fashion foreshadowing was Zac Posen, who’s about to open his first retail location in NYC’s Meatpacking District. “We’re going to be installing the store overnight like elves, right now we’re about to finish editing the multimedia component.” The Z Spoke store will also house a fashion library curated by former book store owner Michael Gallagher. Nearby, Steven Kolb, still glowing from his recent promotion to CEO of the CFDA told us, “I’m just finishing up our blueprint plans, and will be taking a vacation in Nova Scotia the week before.” As far as his fashion week schedule, Kolb said he doesn’t usually get rundown because, “I don’t go out, I’m not really an after party person. I get home by 10 and I’m up by 5.” Smart words to live by—if only we could stay away from the champagne!

Photo: Timo Weiland via WWD

Two years ago the CFDA introduced a pretty novel idea—a fashion incubator. They took over an entire floor of a garment district building in New York and offered a handful of young design upstarts the chance to move in. Their rent would be subsidized, they’d benefit from a community atmosphere and, when lucky, industry veterans coming and going in the new space. Now it’s time for the first group, including Prabal Gurung, Bibhu Mohapatra, Alice Ritter and Waris Ahluwalia, to move out and make way for the next round of designers. In May, the following designers will take up residence inside the incubator: Antonio Azzuolo, Arielle Shapiro, the Burkman Brothers, Christian Cota, Emanuela Duca, Ricky Hendry and Marc Daniels (who design Isaora together), Luis M. Fernandez, Reece Solomon (of Reece Hudson), The Lake & Stars and Timo Weiland. Target’s renewing their contract to sponsor the space and NYU’s Stern School of Business will give the designers a chance to partner with MBA students on finance and business plans. The CEO of FashInvest, which pairs young designers with suitable investors, calls the program the “holy grail of incubation. They have it all, from real estate at a discount to mentoring of firms in the targeted area. It’s the mentorship in the long term that can really move these businesses along.”

Photo: Getty Images

While bloody sword and sandal epics have been around since the time of Homer, this week’s Conan the Barbarian raises the stakes by letting the audience get closer to the gore with the addition of 3-D. Starring Game of Thrones’ Jason Momoa as the titular Conan, this remake of the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger camp classic is a visceral (and yes occasionally barbaric) adventure with a few more beheadings than its predecessor. Offsetting the hulking Momoa is the lovely Rachel Nichols as Tamara, a sprightly if unlikely monk. Though Nichols looks like she’d be more at home in a Noxzema commercial, she’s spent the last few years in action-packed roles from Star Trek to GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra. In Conan, Nichols not only tags along with the namesake hero, she occasionally gets to save the day. We caught up with Nichols to ask about which stunts were her favorite, the perks of being tall, and how exactly to survive the a red carpet.

Tonight, Macy’s will fete their Anna Dello Russo styled I.N.C. collection which means today, the fashion editor’s doing the news circuit. Despite having one apartment for living and one for head-to-toe designer outfits, she often feels like Cinderella.

Photo: Gucci

Turning 90 is a pretty big deal, so it’s not surprising that Gucci’s pulling out all the stops in honor of their not quite centennial. First there was the yacht, and now there’s the car.  The brand’s Creative Director, Frida Giannini, has partnered with another Italian heritage brand, Fiat, to make the cute little car seen above. The special edition cars, the Fiat 500 and Fiat 500 Cabrio, were inspired by neo-classic black and white films and come in the two contrasting colors—they’ll debut on Fashion’s Night Out. Gucci’s signature red and green stripe runs around the Fiat 500 and over the cloth top of the 500 Cabrio convertible. As for the finer details, the designer’s cursive signature adorns everything from the mirrors to the door handles, and—if the driver happens to slow down—passers-by can spot interlocking G’s on the hubcaps. And don’t worry, the brake pads are green to prevent clashing with your Gucci loafers. Not ready to commit to a luxury branded car? Gucci stores will carry travel accessories like gloves, sunglasses and track suits so you can be like Joey Tribbiani with his Ferrari key chain and hat.

Fashion insiders and back-to-school shoppers alike are eagerly awaiting the launch of Missoni’s collection for Target, which hits stores on September 13th. We’ve still got a month to go, but now we’ve been graced with a taste of what’s to come: the lookbook has landed. We’ve combed through the epic 400+ piece collection—seriously, they’ve covered everything from swimwear to stemware (even a bike!), and favorited 10 pieces—our Missoni must-haves, if you will. It wasn’t hard. Check out the entire lookbook here!

This skirt:

Natalia Vodianova with her new boyfriend's parents. Photo: Getty Images

It’s hard to believe that Natalia Vodianova divorced Justin Portman, the titled Brit and father of her three children, over a year ago—but easier to remember now that she has a new boyfriend. The Russian model (as close as this generation has to a super?) just posted a handful of pictures on her Facebook wall in which she’s making out with Antoine Arnault. Like, really making out. The couple was in Ibiza with Portman’s kids and spent time swimming and playing paddle ball on the beach. Portman, always on trend, rocked a mis-matched polka dot bikini while Arnault appeared thrilled to be in her company (and arms). Arnault is, of course, the 33-year-old son of LVMH chairman and owner Bernard Arnault. He used to be the director of communications at Louis Vuitton, but moved over to Berluti at the start of this year.

The Jalousie resort, ELLE's Escape Artist Shoot (Photo: Laurie Bartley).

When it came time to shoot ELLE’s Escape Artist editorial for the fashion heavy September issue, the magazine’s team, including stylist Brian Molloy and photographer Laurie Bartley, flew down to St. Lucia and made themselves at home at the Jalousie Plantation (soon to be known as The Tides Sugar Beach). The Carribean island’s probably best known for its volcano, which still warms the streams running through the lush resort. Jalousie, however, you’ll recognize from its central role on The Bachelor (and our shoot!). The grounds, including the Bayside Beach Bar (where turtles have started laying their nests) and the Rainforest Spa (where the resort offers treatments inside tree houses), offered a more serene backdrop to Molloy’s fall fashion story starring Jeneil Williams. The French model’s purple ostrich feathers, Versace cocktail dress and Ralph Lauren pinstripe suit pop against the green palm trees and whitewashed walls. So if it comes down to splurging on that YSL coat or taking a trip to St. Lucia, know that aside from the breathtaking landscape at Jalousie there is an official “rummelier” on staff to school you in the Caribbean’s most famous liquor, a “sulphur seduction” spa that includes a volcanic mud bath and daily hikes up the island’s highest peak (it’s the most mountainous piece of land in the Caribbean).  And, for the most ardent Bachelor fans, a guaranteed red rose upon arrival (really!).  Click here to visit their site, and jump through to see the rest of the ELLE shoot!

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About one season after fashion decided it was all about “ladylike” it changed its mind.  Now, it’s all about children—chic, model-like children with heaps of talent to be exact. This summer, we fell in love with Hailee Steinfeld, and so did Miu Miu. The 14-year-old landed the Italian campaign just months after her first Academy Award nomination.  Then came Elle Fanning (sure, the order is arguable) who scored a Marc by Marc Jacobs campaign in early July a la the elder Fanning. Aside from high fashion campaigns, the kids have their fashion cred, magazine covers and lengthy IMDB profiles in common. So who’s next? That’d be Chloë Moretz. Like Fanning and Steinfeld, she’s 14, and she scored a cover of Katie Grand’s fall LOVE. Yesterday, she stepped out wearing Christopher Kane’s rainbow resort collection looking both age-appropriate and terribly grown up. So the only question is, which label will claim Moretz first?