There was another episode of Runway last night, which means we’ve got another rundown of it for you here. We also are priviledged to have another opinion of the episode. John Fanok, Brand Designer here at Zappos, gives us his thoughts.

The challenge: Get inspired by New York City at night, and design something that reflects that. Flashback to Season 2 episode: get inspired by New York City during the day challenge…

The winner:
SS: Kenley was channeling Mad Men/early ‘60s style (clearly, her personal style) among other trends. Her winning design, a printed bubble-shaped mini dress with long sleeves, impressed the judges with its shape and abstract print. Prints are a major trend for fall 2008, congratulations Kenley.

JF: What's with that balloon on her hip? Looks like a goiter, ew! I don't agree with the winning decision but what do I know? I thought Leanne made a great comeback and learned to edit, edit ,edit. Leanne captured the essence of the NYC photograph that inspired the design.

The loser:
SS: You know, Emily’s dress really wasn’t that bad – basic black asymmetrical dress with a T-shaped orange and yellow ruffle up the front – but it was boring in comparison with the others. Other designers like Stella’s metallic vest and skinny gray jeans and Korto’s all black pantsuit were equally boring due to their monochromatic color scheme and all too familiar fashion shapes, but were better executed. Every episode someone must be auf’d, so the judges had to say Auf Wiedersehen to Emily. Come on, when Nina gives you the condescending smile, you know you’re a goner.

JF: Loser and rightfully so. She may have captured the image in the photo, but it was poorly executed. Keith skated by and he had better watch out. His piece was innovative but the model looked like she was wearing a paper bag, she had no curves.

Dear readers do you have any predictions for who will last ‘til the end? I think Suede will go far, but I wish he would stop talking about himself in third person. John thinks Kelli and Blayne will make the top three, too. We welcome your opinions, so write back and let us know.

Elie Tahari is one of the most well-known and respected names in the fashion industry. His clothing and shoes are sold in more than 600 stores nationwide and various websites, including Couture.Zappos.com, and he has five freestanding boutiques of his own. That’s quite a ways away from when Tahari first arrived in New York with nothing but his plane ticket.

Growing up in Israel, Tahari had big dreams, but managed to follow them through. We think his success is due in part to the women of New York, who may have served as an inspiration – and surely New York women would wear the mandarin and gold Bailey Thong sandals around the city during the day, and hit the streets in his colorful Sloane sandal at night.

Or at least we hope so for rapper/actress Eve, who is relaunching her fashion line Festish for the fourth time in less than five years. The line got off to a rocky start during its initial launch in 2003 due to a revolving door of business partners and production troubles. But time lends itself to reflection, retrospection and learning from being burned by the design fires. So, understandably so, Fetish has hired a seasoned designer — Arnold Williams — to give the line a much needed design boost and continuity. Fans of Eve can expect the line to be chock full of trendy jeans,
impactful but subtle details as well as a smattering of the spot-on-trend embellishments. The new line up wil be carried at FetishCollection.com and Macy’s.

Sure, diamonds are a girl’s best friend (most pretty, sparkly things are), but pearls are the classy girl’s mainstay. There was a reason Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was rarely seen without them – they go with practically anything and step up your style with an air of sophistication. With wedding season upon us especially, nothing says classic like a pearl necklace, pearl drop earrings or a single pearl ring.

Why Splurge? Envelope clutches are hot, and this Alexander McQueen brushed leather clutch matches any outfit.

Style with Three: 1.) C'N'C Costume National tie-front top 2.) C'N'C Costume National dark blue skinny jeans 3.) L.A.M.B Nayuta zipper detailed sandals

Why does it seem like all of the denim that comes out of Japan or is created for the Japanese audience is cooler than most things we see here in the States? Levi, an American brand since the late ‘20s, has created a funky, two-rinse jean with painted skeleton hands on the pocket. Of course, you may ask why anyone would want skeleton hands on their pockets, which is a legitimate question, but this is Japan, and they are open to all things fashion. Just think, if you are the type of guy who walks around with your hands in your pocket all the time then this jean is perfect for you, kind of like a pseudo X-ray on the outside. The jeans come in a dark rinse as well as a distressed rinse that seems to have a slight metallic wash and are the standard bootcut width. They are not available in the States or Europe yet, but keep your eye out for them on levi.com and then get your hands on a pair.

What would summer be without a classic, crisp white blouse? Even though it’s hot, it’s white, therefore, it’s light. This Just Cavalli shirt has a bit of ruffle to it for a little something extra.

Where does one begin? Every starlet in Hollywood these days is either a model/actress, actress/model, actress/designer or actress/singer, no? Or so it would seem. On Wednesday, July 16, the Candie’s brand and Hayden Panettiere took over PerezHilton.com to promote the new Candie’s ad campaign and to um, promote the new single by Ms. Panettiere. Now I am not hating on anyone expressing their talent and/or gifts, but when did it become passe to just be good at one thing? But I digress. The ads feature Hayden rocking a metallic jacket, black jeans and high-heels with a side-lying microphone in hand with her lips apart as though singing, obviously that should have been my first clue as to what lay ahead. The ads and Candie’s logo were all over the site as well as montages of Ms. Panettiere’s face, and low and behold in the middle of that garish pink background was a large video screen window, all set for the reader/viewer to just hit play. On comes island-esque music (reminiscent of another blonde one-hit wonder), the oh-ooo-oh, maybe you need a wake-up call, and lovely images of Hayden, doing the one-handed microphone grasping warbling (more oh ooo oh...) that most starlets do these days. All in all, the song was not that bad, it had a catchy beat and refrain, and as for the outfits, the clothes were cool.

If Couture were to have been consulted on the video we would have made the following suggestions: Moschino metallic bubble hem mini dress with an accompanying D&G Dolce & Gabbana Flat Strap grey belt paired with Moschino Cheap and Chic black retro ankle boots for her strut into the club; John Varvatos for Converse bronze metallic leather bomber jacket (silver and washed gold are so overdone) left open, C’N’C Costume National five-pocket style black skinny jeans, Crystal Rock’s Rockabilly black tee with Giuseppe Zanotti handpainted booties for crooning on stage to the crowd; C’N’C Costume National grey racer back sleeveless elongated tank with iridescent palettes, Just Cavaili grey distressed jeans with Moschino red platform gathered tie-front pumps for the rolling around the floor number; for strutting a la Britney, Studio Gabriella Rocha black satin deep v-neck dress with draped sides worn with DSquared opulent lace, beaded and faux jeweled platform ankle-tie sandal (black wig optional).

Hey, they did not ask Couture, but I thought I should put the style tips out there any way.

Serena Williams recently visited the Zappos offices, and Couture was lucky enough to get a few minutes of face time to ask her a few questions about her clothing line Aneres, the line's upcoming fall looks and her favorite products Zappos.com sells. Check it out!

Tiered skirts can have flouncy ruffles or flat tiers, and both looks are above par. Whether you prefer a streamlined look like this Christin Michaels flat-tiered skirt or a seriously feminine, flounced-up skirt, it’s best to balance the sweet look with something sleek – pair it with metallic flats and a no-nonsense tank top for a modern look.

Well, as in her new fragrance name, that is. Jessica, along with Parlux Fragrances Inc., is launching her first scent, a floral oriental, which will launch in August and be available at Macy’s, Dillard’s, Belk and Bon-Ton in addition to additional stores in the US and Canada, as reported on July 18 by WWD. The fragrance is composed of pear, apricot nectar and red fruits in the top notes, gardenia, jasmine, toasted almonds and caramel for the middle notes, and sandalwood, vanilla creme and amber crystals for the bottom notes. If any of you are familiar with her Dessert line of body care products, you will recognize the similarity between the two (vanilla creme, caramel).

Ms. Simpson has been very busy over the last three years, and not just in her social life. In that time, she has developed her Hairdo line of hair extensions with Ken Paves, the Dessert body care line, the successful and ever-expanding shoe line, her swimwear, handbags, intimate apparel/shapewear (as reported here in the Couture blogs on July 10th) and eyewear. Ms. Simpson choosing this time to add a fragrance to her empire was the logical next step. Whether or not the market can bare yet another celebrity fragrance (Mariah Carey’s fragrance is due soon, as well), remains to be seen, but that won’t stop many from lining up to not only look like, dress like and have hair like, but now have the opportunity to snap up the fragrance to smell like Jessica, too.

Couture tried its hands at a video blog, and we think it came out okay. Watch it and tell us what you think, we'd love to know your opinions!

Want a clutch that’s sleek, serious, sophisticated and will fit more than just your cell phone and wallet? You’re clearly in need of an envelope clutch. This one by Alexander McQueen encompasses all these qualities, and would look hot with any little dress and stilettos. Clutch it and go!

I can’t be the only one who would plan a trip to London around a shopping trip to good ‘ol Oxford St. and a three to four hour stop at TopShop. Now, I guess I’ll have to center my future trips to New York around a TopShop trip, because finally, Sir Philip Green has announced the first US TopShop will be in New York!

I, for one, am excited. The store is said to open October 10, and Sir Philip Green, the man behind the plan, plans to keep the store quintessentially English. Exactly what that means, Green wouldn’t elaborate, but since TopShop UK is one of the greatest places to shop ever, it can’t be a bad thing!

Of sorts, that is. The model collaborated with Belvedere Vodka and designed a limited-edition ice pick made of white gold, diamonds, sapphires and lapis. The $350,000 version is for sale at Harrods in London. Don’t have quite that much? You can see the less-pricy versions being used in select bars around the world, like 1Oak in New York City. Now that’s one expensive way to chip away ice.

The What: Menswear-inspired pieces for women to love

The How To: 1. GF Ferre Tuxedo-style jacket 2. C'N'C Costume National five-pocket
jean 3. A crisp white shirt with cuffs 4. D&G Dolce & Gabbana stylish silver-tone watch
5. Giuseppe Zanotti sexy peep toe zipper back stiletto booties and 6. Kate Spade
Anguilla Eva Clutch 7. Alexander McQueen Bordeaux Skull Insigna Scarf

The When: Date night or drinks out with the girls

The Why: Its edgy, sophisticated with just a touch of SJP

Nelson Mandela might have been imprisoned for 27 years, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost his fashion sense. To commemorate his 90th birthday (July 18), the former prisoner 46664 is collaborating with Montblanc to create a bracelet. It will be made with South African precious metals and have his prison number engraved into it. Proceeds from the $225 bracelet will go directly to the Mandela Foundation, which supports AIDS sufferers.

The bracelet is available upon request and is only sold in the UK right now. So, information is available at 020 7730 7681. How’s that for kind of complicated? But so worth it – gorgeous bracelet, helping those with AIDS and commemorating Nelson Mandela.

Summer isn’t quite over, so there’s still time to hit the beach, pool or the mall in a breezy, chic caftan. Shorter caftans don’t look like any old cover up when you pair it with high heeled thongs, some bangles and a jeweled necklace, and this long one by Natori is a bright, unexpected evening look.