Espadrilles: Comfortable Substitutes For Sandals

From the Pyrenees of France and Spain to becoming a staple of the urban man's (and woman) wardrobe, espadrilles provide simple comfort. Tom's Shoes' sole business revolves around their custom take on the espadrilles. Even highbrow fashion houses have taken strides to rekindle this Spring/Summer trend for those of us who find socks too cumbersome and sandals 'left for the beach' -- its breathable cotton constructed upper and tweed or rubber soles (depending on the brand) makes it just that much more appealing. Think of those Hermès espadrilles, below, as chukka boots for the summer.

-- Francis Bea

Photo: Hermès

Think of these Hermès espadrilles as chukka boots, but for the summer.

Quickies: Rumors still confirm Karl's out at Chanel, Fabien Baron is back at Interview, Hermes breeds crocodiles, +

So rumors in Europe are still flurrying that the Karl/Elbaz/Chanel/Lanvin rumors actually have some validity. Breath -- bated! [Fashionologie] 

The dust has settled at Interview, and it appears that Fabien Baron is back at the helm as editorial director. [Fashionologie] 

Gareth Pugh, along with, like, everyone else, won't show at Paris men's fashion week. [The Cut] 

So...Hermés breeds their own crocodiles for their bags. Nothing makes a statement purse like a little added morbidity. [The Cut] 

In Kanye West news: he shops at American Apparel with Amber Rose -- where they buy the same thing -- and blew off being Agyness Deyn's date for the Glamour fashion awards. Such a gentleman. [American Apparel] and [The Mirror UK]

Lady GaGa's stylist speaks! [Anthem]

Hermes Goes "Be-Spoke"

For a mere $4,000 you can have this Hermésified Batavus Old Dutch bicycle complete with supple Taurillion Clemence leather detailing and the label's signature orange color. It will park quite nicely right next to your Chanel Segway. 

via The Fashion Spot

Quickies: YSL On Stage? Georges Marciano Runs for Governor, +

YSL: The Musical! Apparently it's in the works, being penned by French singer Alain Chamfort and songwriter Pierre-Dominique Burgaud. Saint Laurent's partner, Pierre Bergé, approves thus far. [WWD]

Guess, Inc. co-founder Georges Marciano is running for California Governor. If Arnold did it...[WWD]

Models misbehavin'? Do tell...[WWD]

The recession a good thing for retailers...say what? [WWD] via [The Cut] 

Your next fashion-meets-art installation? The Hermes H-Box. Designed by Portuguese architect Didier Fiuza Faustino, it's been displaying the work of emerging video artists and lands in L.A. soon. [Racked] 

Quckies: Murakami wraps LV, Hermès' new Smart Car and more

Photo: Getty Images

Takashi Murakami (pictured) will wrap the 5th avenue Louis Vuitton store in signature print for the holidays. Does this label need any more gimmicks? Sure, why not? [WWD]

Hermès unveiled it's new Smart Car. The Fortwo édition Toile cars, manufactured by the Como group, are available in 10 colors including gold, indigo and the luxury house’s signature orange and the car is outfitted in Hermès leather. At $48,564 it's a bargain, and you can always scrap the interior for a new jacket or gloves. [WWD]

Sarah Jessica Parker will narrate the new Metropolitan Museum of Art’s audio guide tour on “Costume: The Art of Dress.” And Sex and the City continues it's inescapable domination of all things fashion, and all things Sarah Jessica Parker. [WWD]

Want every piece from the H&M Commes des Garcon line? Too bad, they're imposing a two garment limit per customer. Sharpen your nails, ladies. [The Cut]

A little style advice from Alan Flusser. And he's not afraid to sartorial bitch slap offenders. [Men.style]

Open for Business: MCM flagship in New York City's The Plaza Hotel. Also setting up shop in The Plaza? Seize sur Vingt in their new 750 square-foot outpost.

-- SETH PLATTNER

Quickies: Hermès heir on attack, men and their botox and more

Photo: Getty Images

Heir to the Hermès throne, Mathias Guerrand-Hermès, goes for low blows. He appeared in court on Wednesday on charges that he assaulted an airline captain en route from Paris to New York by grabbing the pilot's crotch and trying to punch him. He apparently became so unruly that he had to be handcuffed, shackled and tied to a seat in the first-class compartment, officials said. [NYT]

Tyson Beckford (pictured) blinged out his (hot) bod at the Africa Rising charity event last night. Chiseled pecs and diamonds?  Now that's a girl's best friend. [Socialite Life]

Former Project Runway contestant Jack Mackenroth designed a wedding dress completely made of condoms. Created for the "Condom Couture" charity fashion show for Project Inform in San Francisco, with all those rubbers on hand, the dress is perfect for the soon-to-be honeymooning couple and drunk wedding crashers alike. [Blogging Project Runway] 

Guess what? Men get Botox, too! While us gays have been pumping our faces full of the stuff for years, now the straights are on board too. Isn't solidarity wonderful? [NYT]

Open for Business: Confederacy in L.A.

-- SETH PLATTNER

Art on Tour; Smells Like Madonna; Zegna Pulls Out of Pitti Uomo

The Magical Mystery Tour...for art! Hermés and Chanel are hitting the road with mobile art exhibits. While Hermes' collection, called H Box, will travel in a movable metal, space-pod-looking structure designed by architect-artist Didier Fiuza Faustino, and Chanel's exhibit will float from location to location in a futuristic structure designed by Zaha Hadid. Stationary art galleries are so five years ago. [WWD]

Smell like her Madgesty! Madonna to debut her own fragrance...maybe. What does an aging pop star smell like? [Fashionista]

After 30 years, Zegna pulled out from Milan's Pitti Immagine Uomo fashion show. The company will present its Fall/Winter 2008-2009 collection at its new Milan headquarters and showroom while the Z Zegna line will continue presentations at New York Fashion Week. [Fashion Week Daily]

Karl Lagerfeld at Dior Homme; Topshop in NYC; Issey Miyake's Love of Vacuums; Coach Rips Off Hermes; Kanye West Loves Pastel

Kris Van Assche tapped Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld to photograph his first Dior Homme advertising campaign, further severing the ties between Dior Homme and Hedi Slimane—who used to photograph the collection in addition to his design duties. Divorce can be so cruel. [WWD]

Is Topshop moving to NYC? Rumor has it that England's cheap-chic answer to H&M (and purveyor's of Kate Moss' line) will sign a lease for a Manhattan store in December. Yay? [Fashionista]

Dai Fujiwara, creative director of Issey Miyake, loves his Dyson vacuum cleaner so much that he designed a stage set with the cyclone/wind tunnel idea in mind. Now that is a runway presentation that I would love to see. How many waifish models will withstand the winds and not topple over? It's like Survivor meets America's Next Top Model! [WWD]

Did Coach rip off Hermés' horse and carriage logo? Signs point to yes! [Fashionista]

Each week, it seems like another celebrity announces their plans to hop into the fashion world to produce a line of mediocre clothes. The latest to join the fun? Kanye West, who desribes his line, "Pastel," as "classic with a touch of Pop Art." Could Kanye please say something that doesn't sound like a purse flying out of his mouth? The man isn't helping his hetero street cred when he says things like that. [WWD]