How is a label like Rochas reborn after being closed for two years? First find a Fairy God financier who resurrects the label after being closed for two years by its previous owner Proctor & Gamble, next define a new direction for the label, then pluck a young talented designer out of joblessness, and voila, the label is reborn. Gibo Co. SpA was the Fairy God financier, Marco Zanini, formerly of Versace and recently Halston, is such said designer. The first showing for the renewed label will be a Fall 2009 collection in March, which will be a quick turn-around design test for Zanini.

Gibo SpA’s President, Franco Pene, told several news sources during the company’s Rochas announcement that, “We’re not looking to generate editorial hype, because we’re thinking of a sensibly priced luxury brand that caters to the everyday needs of women,” he said. That may be true, but all eyes will be on the fabled house, especially since it enjoyed editorial success and red carpet style attention under its previous designer, Olivier Theyskens. The current owners seem more interested in craftsmanship over bravado or showmanship, so to that end, Mr. Zanini seems a perfect fit. His tenure at Halston was short lived, and only relatively well received, but his daft craftmanship hand and attention to detail should breath a new streamlined and luxurious life into the brand.

If you thought your Apple Mac Book Pro was the hot 'it' fashion accessory, think again. Fashion designer Vivienne Tam has teamed up with Hewlett Packard to create a HP Mini Vivienne Tam edition which will retail for $700 and will visually reflect her colorful design sensibilities. The mini laptop is geared towards a female consumer audience with its light weight, 10.2 inch screen, red and pink peony plastic exterior (which matches Tam’s Spring clothing line thank you very much), red interior, gold letters, and the double happiness Asian symbol printed on the enter key. The new laptop is also full of the usual suspects such as, a web cam, wireless and USB/USD, a 60 gigabyte drive and 1 gigabyte memory, and an almost full-size keyboard. The HP Mini Vivienne Tam will be sold in Tam’s store in New York City’s SoHo district this Spring, but is available via pre-order through Hewlett Packard with anticipated shipment date of early December. If you cannot wait until then, a plain version in either black, pink or silver will be available in November. Um, if I were a PC (I’m a Mac), then I would wait for the easy to carry, clutch-like appearance of the designer edition with the eye-catching colors, symbols and gold lettering. Really, isn’t that the point of it being a designer item, the perfect blend of technology and fashion?

Puff and circumstance – as in a chic, down filled bomber-inspired jacket, that is. Throw on a silk scarf for a little vintage feel meets modern proportions. However, lose the aviators (it’s a bit too Top Gun) and wear it with a knee-length cream skirt, cami, light cashmere top and boots.