We absolutely cannot wait until the release of Coco Avant Chanel, the biopic on the legendary Mademoiselle Chanel starring the adorable Audrey Tautou and directed by Anne Fountaine. The movie is to be released in Paris on April 22nd with no scheduled release date in the U.S. yet.  An incredible story of love, adventure, fame and solitude coupled with incredible period fashions that should be a real treat. Click here to view the trailer

Timelessness seems to be a big word in fashion now. Suddenly the focus has shifted from the minute trends back to what high fashion meant in the past - timeless silhouette with the kind of detail and craftsmanship that just makes it so special and flattering on the body, classic yet modern that never goes out of style or belongs to a certain season. Value is suddenly chic and splurging on the latest obsessions amidst all the global economic cataclysms seems somehow wrong. After watching the Fall’09 collections of such extraordinary sartorial geniuses as Stefano Pilati of YSL and Elber Albaz of Lanvin, I started thinking about what high fashion meant for me when I was young. Growing up in the former Soviet Union in the 1980s, any imported clothes (let alone Yves Saint Laurent or Chanel) were considered an unattainable luxury. Those days, I spent hours obsessing over few fashion magazines that were brought in from overseas and passed through multiple hands like precious objets d'art. When I was 10,  my mother traveled to Paris and returned with a classic houndstooth, black and white Chanel jacket -- spending a small fortune. She wore it endlessly paired with a mini black ...

A feast for the eyes, Louis Vuitton Fall 2009 show. If only I could afford to buy every piece of this remarkable collection. The clothes make you wonder if there really is a recession and if the financial hardships the whole world is going through are real. Optimistic and flirty, the collection combines Christian Lacroix coquette sensibility and 1980s renaissance seen throughout most of Fall'09 collections, making the looks impossibly French and incredibly irresistible. Credit-strapped ladies, exercise your will power. Fitted and belted black coat with voluminous sleeves worn over cropped blue pants with insanely beautiful platforms with lace straps, gorgeous Marie Antoinette inspired mini skirt paired with black asymmetrical silk top with intricately gathered sleeves,  stunning and masterfully draped coral mini dress and a saucy LBD with ruched sleeves and balconette skirt are every girly girl's dream pieces. And, those to-die-for laced high boots... Marc Jacobs, you really know what women want! To view all looks, check out http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2009RTW-LVUITTON.

A curious article in today's T Magazine by Lynn Yaeger called "Brother, Can Your Spare a Dior?" with references to how to look fashionable and fabulous on a slim income during bad economic times from Vogue and Harper's Bazaar from 1930s. Our favorite quote: "To be thrifty is clever...the crime is to look it." from 1930 Vogue. To enjoy the full article, click here.

We are obsessed with Fall 2009 Collection by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez from Proenza Schouler. There's no better way to beat the recession and gloom but deliver a collection that is hip, luxurious and wearable. I love the pieces that last for more than one season and make you feel fantastic... the gold-and-black silk zipper dress, all those quilted, fitted things - off-the-shoulder tops with skinny velvet pants and dresses....are utterly modern and chic. Bravo!

We loved Zac Pozen's Fall 2009 show last Thursday. It was a fantastic marriage between art and fashion. The show was set to the performance by the 5 Browns (in Zac Pozen) on Steinway & Sons classic American made pianos. The mix of classical romances worked beautifully to heighten the Victorian drama - the inspiration behind the collection. Ruffled inserts and puff sleeves added flirtatiousness and lightness to the 1940 silhouettes with pencil skirts and tiny waists. The gorgeous gowns in antique golds and silvers that had "tapis rouge" written all over. Manolo Blahnik-created crystal-studded boots and Wolford's Swarowski-strewn tights made the ensembles distinctly "evening". Our favorite pieces: Silver Dollar cocktail dress on Lily Donaldson, Silver metallic jacquard alchemy gown, Grey wool melange day dress on Alek Wek, Embroidered boucle Nightshade trench, Ember wool Orchid dress and Onyx Organza arasol Gown. Oh, we just loved those metalic dresses. Jewelry pieces - a mix of whimsical bugs, leafy ornaments, flowers and studs on brooches, belts and hair pieces - were designed in collaboration with Pamela Love. For all looks visit http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2009RTW-ZPOSEN

Despite the recession, New York City is still the most exciting place to shop! Here the list of exciting new stores that opened this week and are scheduled to open very soon. The ultimately glamorous Queen of Manhattan Retail, Faith Hope Consolo (www.faith-consolo.com), provides an inside scoop on newcomers into the city's shopping scene as well as the new, glitzy locations for top brands. NOW OPEN AND OPENING WITHIN ONE WEEK Giorgio Armani opened his 40,000+ square-foot compound—connected by a serpentine stairway—717 Fifth Avenue, at 56th Streer. The first of its kind in the U.S., it will house all the labels (Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, EA7, Armani Casa) under one roof. Diesel is scheduled to open its largest store next week at 685 Fifth Avenue with an elaborate dinner theater in its store windows. The space will look like an ordinary apartment during the day--but every night, dinner is served at 8. New Yorkers will dine in the "apartment" and watch the Fifth Avenue shoppers. Meals will be catered by Le Cirque and Cipriani. The three-story store will offer on-site tailoring and same-day alterations, and extra services to make VIP shoppers more comfortable. Matthew Williamson is unveiling new 2,600-square-foot flagship at 415 West ...

Madison Avenue Creative is proud to present the first series of photographs produced in a wonderful collaboration with architectural photographer, Evan Joseph, brilliant stylist and make-up artist, Jasin Bedell and the fabulous publisher of New York Living magazine, Brey Brownlie. The idea behind the shoot was to explore public places in several of Manhattan’s residential buildings (lobbies, in this instance) by adding a style component that is unique to each building and the lifestyle it offers. With clothing and accessories provided by Henri Bendel (henribendel.com), we styled our models for each of the three utterly different lobby spaces - the Platinum, Dwell95 and Sheffiled 57 - to add a unique style perspective and define the space. Pictured here are the photos taken  at Dwell95. On the model: Frank Tell lamp-shaped olive dress styled with gold chains and pearl necklaces mixing uptown classic with downtown hip. We were inspired by the whimsical and decadent Philip Stark-designed interior with its dramatic crystal chandelier, lavish floor lamps and rococo furniture upholstered in gold patent leather-- and so we styled Kate (MC2 agency) as a modern-day dauphine. The February issue of New York Living is available on the newsstands now. We made the cover! New ...

Madison Avenue Obsessions presents the 2009 Valentine's Day Gift Guide. Celebrate love, beauty and togetherness! Happy Valentine's Day! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR HER Belle de jour patent wristlet in red makes a perfectly chic Valentine's Day gift. Available at ysl.com. $355. Exclusive Valentino Eau de Parfum. Ultimately feminine, the scent offers sensuous orange flower, contrasted with mimosa (symbolic of feminine strength) and violet leaves. Exclusively at bergdorfgoodman.com. Vosges Valentine’s Day Tower is a true delight for chocolate addicts and connoisseurs alike. Two hearts are truly better than one in this limited edition tower with Caramel Toffee Heart Box atop a 16 piece Exotic Truffle Heart Collection, stacked and complete with a hand-tied satin bow. $58 at http://www.vosgeschocolate.com. Chanel Porte Bonheur metal, enamel and plexi Valentine key ring. She will love you for this. Available at chanel.com Adorable Lilibon Bows Shorts bikini by Heidi Klein. She will be the best dressed beach girl in cute boy short bottoms with a gorgeous bow detail. $180 at heidiklein.com Triple-Platform Sandal by Christian Louboutin. They make us speechless. THE gift of all gifts...with seducing red soles, this is, hand down, the best-looking pair of shoes for spring. $1,095 at bergdorfgoodman.com. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR HIM Nikon D90 The new Nikon D90 combines 12.3-megapixel image quality and a cinematic ...

I am obsessed with couture. I am absolutely in love with every piece of Givenchy for Spring 2009. The pieces are stunningly dark, structured and utterly modern, with the inspirations derived from Edwardian period with elements of ancient rituals surrounded aura of mystery. Perfectly constructed and rendered in alabaster, beiges, whites and somber prints are austere and in sync with today's world. Stunning long gowns with bondage element, organza blouse with exaggerated shoulder and stunning neck piece, off-white gown with a bondage corsette underneath...make me want to have every one of them. Bravo, Riccardo Tisci!! Enjoy a complete collection visit http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2009CTR-GIVENCHY