If you’ve been musing Australians have been blowing up on the design scene as of late, you would be hailed as correct yet again.  La Cav Du Bon may be a mouthful and not too familiar for many, but these are world class beauties in bag form that are going to be commanding the attention of many very soon.

This collected, dubbed Late Nights With Charlie Wrights, and it is a rough yet tempered collection of beautiful bags.  They make me feel like they have a bit of Km Rii’s manic design effects dashed in the mix, with a bit of Be & D’s refined luxury and roughness from the fur usage.

These are incredibly special statement pieces that will last you years.  Trust me, you’re going to be seeing these babies on Gossip Girl.

If you’ve ever wanted a fake leather and likely uncomfortable version of the Jeffrey Campbell 99, Forever 21 has your back!  F21′s zip up wedges may only be $23.80, but I can’t imagine there would be any sort of padding in the sole.. you may as well strap planks of wood to your feet.

It’s such a shame to see retail outlets closing, but as a customer it’s a chance to grab some prime sale items.  Pieces at Standard Deviation are up to 90% off, which requires immediate attention.

There are some gems in there; Preen’s sarong skirt ($57, 90% off), Vena Cava Jet vest ($71, 85% off), CHREE Mapmaker skirt ($60; 85% off), Vena Cava Chief dress ($110, 75% off).

Check out the entire stock, though it’s dwindling fast in its final days.

Leather jackets and accessories usually cost a decent amount of coin if they have a reputable country or origin, but they are skins of an animal that must be raised, skinned and treated for fabric use.

Faux leather is not only a refuge of those who can’t afford the real thing; Stella McCartney won’t use for moral grounds, Forever 21 got pressure from animal activists and some companies (like Urban Outfitters) choose to carry polyurethane items because they cost less to produce, and will sell more to due the lower price point.

There came a point where we rounded the bend on what was acceptable for faux leather pricing, and what was ridiculous [ahem, Stella].  Not just with top tier designers, but within the high street – modestly priced pleather wears poorly, breaks down when stressed, won’t stretch, gives you a strange plastic scent and [usually] looks very cheap.

To pull a few examples together, we’ve got a round of items to mull over: a Sparkle & Fade aviator jacket from Urban Outfitters ($128), a PU bomber gilet ($80) and shell top ($55) from Topshop, a pair of Love Moschino polyurethane leggings ($200) and a pair of boots by Stella McCartney ($754).

Let’s break it down.

All of these pieces are insanely priced; we’ll ignore Stella’s design because that’s a major price point no brainer, but what about Love Moschino’s leggings? You could get a pair of Guess front leather panel leggings ($178; $22 less than the fakies) or Vila’s all over leather pair – $6 less than the Moschino pair.

For outerwear, real leather pieces aren’t as much as you’d think: a detailed Miss Selfridge biker is $185, an Alice Temperley bike gilet is $252 on sale at The Outnet or this A.L.C. perforated leather jacket on sale at Shopbop for $299.

When the real thing is cheaper or just a few 20s away, why are we settling for a piece that will get destroyed in a year?! It’s not good for the environment when your cheaper man-made material jacket ends up in a landfill or the back of your closet, never to be seen again.

It’s GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN!!!

This one’s a gooder: one freaking lucky winner will get to pick one pair of Jeffrey Campbells and one pair of SENSOs from Solestruck.

We’re all familiar with Jeffrey king-of-the-highstreet-shoe-castle Campbell, but Senso is new on the block.  What are they about? One word: radness.  Just like JC, Australia’s Senso has committed to be a brand that’s going to give you some of the wickedest shoes without personal bankruptcy.  They’ve got some pretty spanky kicks, including one that looks just like Acne’s Admire wedge.

Solestruck, Jeffrey Campbell and I thought including wunderkind Senso was a no brainer, so here we are! Instead of one pair of shoes, the winner is going to get two.  Did I mention Solestruck is the only North American retailer to carry Senso, so this is a crazy chance to get some rare shoes? It’s all over wonder-awesome.

TO ENTER: Make your Jeffrey Campbell AND Senso pick, then tell us why you want them so badly!! It’s not mandatory, but if you’re on Twitter, you should follow @demiCouture.. I create witty banter, and you’ll hear about stuff before it’s posted on the blog.

Fine detail-ification:

Contest is closed after 12:01 AM September 19, 2010.  A randomly selected winner will be offered a choice of any one pair of Jeffrey Campbell and one Senso pair of shoes that are in current stock at Solestruck.  No pre-order pairs may be chosen.  Contest is open worldwide.  One enter per person.

Holy bananas, batman.. The Outnet has heaps of awesome, FW10 ready stock on super sale that have just been released today.  These may be past season items, but do they look like past season?! Didn’t think so.  I normally only put together two looks, but this week’s new items were too plentiful to have half my choices sit out! We’ll go top to bottom:

Graphic tanks and printed tees are a fun foundation; build a look with Jonathan Saunders’ crystal tank and Vanessa Bruno’s striped sweater.  Don’t be afraid of cropped sleeve sweaters in colder temperatures; layer with a longer sleeve under or a button up on top!

Thicker knits are ace for fall bottoms, so See by Chloé’s pleated crop trousers and Y3′s loose pants are ideal for anchoring your outfit.  Top off with a scarf like See by Chloé’ rugby style, and you have a multi dimensional look ready for dropping temperatures.  Finish your look with leather or suede footwear, like Newbark’s perforated leather Dylan loafers or Antik Batik’s buckled Gab boots.

When it comes to going out, nothing turns up the heat like Vivienne Westwood’s satin corset dress and a pair of Charlotte Olympia Ziggy ankle booties.  If you’re looking for a little less vamp, a demure polka dot dress from See by Chloé with Charlotte Olympia’s leopard Dolly pumps is a beautiful mix of prints.  Cold weather always demands more accessory, so fill that with a Jonathan Saunders’ graphic print scarf and top off with a See by Chloé boyfriend cut tweed jacket.

It’s Juicy mania at Hautelook – watches, clothing, accessories, shoes, jewelry.. they’ve got it all, and it’s up to 60% off.  This is perfect for back to school shopping, so take a closer look.

demiCouture favorites include the the large leather Lolita satchel ($192 from $428), the black Dalton stainless steel watch ($162 from $295), large Scottie Dog watch ($107 from $195), Rose crinkle flats ($75 from $150), Sparrow ring ($23 from $58), Tangled Pom Pom necklace ($71 from $178) and the  boyfriend blazer ($67 from $148).

Need an invite to Hautelook? Get one now!

It’s that time again.. LnA is holding their super awesome warehouse sale starting tomorrow, so if you want leggings, super rad tees and other spunky casual wear.

WHEN: September 1-4, 10AM-6PM
WERE: 6344 Arizona Circle, Los Angeles [Googlemap]

These boots are so incredibly heinous I can’t imagine anyone would actually want to put them on (much less spend their money on them), but I’ve seen some cray-crazy looks across this globe and this kind of faux pas is always worth a mention.

To clarify, I’m not talking about the ultra cute and sleek foldover boots (think Be & D’s Cornwall), but the trouser-style that Guiseppe Zanotti for Balmain knockoffs.  These are so incredibly horrid, I can’t even imagine a bar star kicking drinks over on a counter with these beasts on!!

Outerwear trends usually stick to the same lines each year, though in 2010 we have one difference: lack of arms.  That’s right, capes aren’t just for your neighborhood LARPers anymore thanks to brands across the globe creating their own vision of the classic look.

These vary from the ponchos of the summertime in fabric and detailing; these are heavier pieces that you can wear in lieu of a traditionally cut coat in any day, ranging from fall breezes to winter chill.  Military is also a heavy trend within cape designs; if you want to be super trendy, that’s the style to go for.

As for military inspiration, Topshop’s aptly titled Ultimate Military cape is just that; the piece has the look and feel of a pea coat, yet the flow and movement of a cape.  Both Topshop and Gryphon’s Sherlock cape have beautiful double breasted buttons and epaulet detailing – the mainstay of any proper military outerwear.

Fatigues are also a hot topic right now; traditionally speaking Miss Selfridge’s khaki cape is the basic for a rough design.  For more of a refined shape, Lounge Lover’s Sweet Insomnia cape provides the feel of an earthy fatigue without having a true military style to it – it’s the color that will give this piece more of a uniform look, not the detailing.

The remainder holds the more feminine pieces; Alexander McQueen’s feather print and Charlotte Taylor’s Anna cape.  Both have very different detailing styles, but one aspect unites them – they are not utilitarian, but feminine stunners that would break up an androgynous look incredibly well.

After so 14 vintage rip-off collections over the past three years, it’s finally happened – Topshop and Kate Moss are no longer collaboration butt buddies.

The last bite of the Kate Moss x Topshop apple will be had during the fall collection, which launches October 2010.

We’ve been waiting for this band-aid to finally be torn of, so the question now remains – who will take her place, and will it be another model?

Last night, I was staring at pieces cut up from a pair of too-small leather trousers found at F As In Frank’s $10 fill-a-bag sale, and had decided to make an attempt at a caplet.

The plaid strip is from an old shirt, and the zipper was found in one of my sewing drawers.  Everything is recycled, found a cost nearly nothing.. it just goes to show what you can do if you sit down in front of a sewing machine for a few hours!

I’m thinking of making a bunch of stuff from my leftover fabrics. LET THE DIY MADNESS BEGIN!

Nicola Yoon designs handmade jewelry with a vintage with an old world aesthetic.  While her entire collections are classically lovely, her vintage collection caught my eye – these pieces reminded me of what I would play with in my grandma’s collection when I was a child; very old school indeed.

Check out her site for the entire collection of pieces in the collections, all of which are handmade.

There’s no better home for style and price balance than at Betsey Johnson, more so now that there’s a BJ sale going on at Ideeli.  There is a haul of awesome stuff on sale here – Raven Modern wayfarer sunnies for $26 (which look just like Chloé’s Tila IIs), multi charm necklaces and other awesome stuff.

Favorites include the multi link chain necklace ($54 from $155), two row Python Neck heart pendant necklace ($22 from $50), Retro Stripe sunnies ($26 from $75), cross ring ($16 from $40),

Get an invite to Ideeli and start shopping!

Pour La Victoire boots are super chic and now on super sale, thanks to Gilt Groupe.  There are a half tonne of pre-fall 2010 boots on sale right now, so don’t delay!

Favorites include the Victorina over the knee boot ($179 from $465), black Kesha bootie ($179 from $395), suede wrap Richelle booties ($119 from $315) and lace up Kerry tall boot ($179 from $495).

Need an invite to Gilt Groupe? Grab one now.

I love tall socks over tights, leggings, bare skin – even denim! Anything to give another layer, pop, warmth and depth for fall is always an awesome thing, and layering over the knee socks are leading the way this season.  Socks are also an excellent (and affordable) way to juice up your wardrobe, whether you’re bored of things or need a little something extra and can’t break the bank.

We’ve got a handful of tall socks for you to mull over; from super solids to pattern perfect, you’re going to find some spunky socks to mingle in with your fall styles.

Solid wins include American Apparel’s opaque and sheer designs, Madewell’s grey ribbed and Tabbiisocks Kawaii’s mustard crochet over the knees.

When it comes to patterns, you can go from basic stripes like Full Tilt’s to message styles like Vivienne Westwood’s Do It Yourself design – it’s all about the look you’re going for, and what suits your personal style.

If you think milliners are all about old fashioned, classic styles or head tops made for garden parties, think again.  French hat maker Marie Mercié is an excellent example of hat eccentricity, especially due to her cat hats.

These are available in black or leopard felt, though the leopard print is perfectly bizarre.  Enough with summer’s wire and mesh bunny ears, these cat hats are the new thing to be looking for.

Most will want to keep eyes peeled for high street adaptations, since each of these wonders will price you at about $450 CA.

Check out this architectural Rachel Gilbert dress.  It’s named the Chrissy, and with space-like silver and hip panels, couldn’t you see it being worn by the Gaga?

Either her, or Spock’s girlfriend.  Either way, this dress is a supreme vision of futuristic bold hauteness!

Picture this topped off with the new Alexander McQueen crowned skull ring and Mulberry studded leather booties, and the look would be unstoppable!

New York’s Be & D is thankfully focusing on more wearable shoes this season.  Not that heels aren’t super rad, but flats are long wearing, long lasting and the best shoes for every day wear.

Be & D has updated a few of their classic designs for the new season; the Cornwall is a cropped version of the Saratoga, and the Joe is an updated version of the classic Memphis.

New kids in town include the buckled and distressed Leo, sheepskin lined Wales, camo or sequin Cheshire booties and the very NYC Saville.  I’ve got a soft spot for the Cornwall, but hey, there’s always room for the rest of the gang.

The shape of the bag began as the Garbo , and has become something else entirely. This is the incarnation of one of summer’s most covetable bag, which has turned into an example of fall finery – it’s the Barclay.

It’s just like the Garbo in some ways; shape, vertical spikes and leather, though different in that there is a panel of fine sequin detailing up the center of the bag.

It comes with a detachable shoulder strap of added comfort and wearability (crossbody designs always win me first), could be worn during day or night jaunts.

The Barclay is $1,350, which equals some serious saving, though it’s going to be quite a statement accessory.