This just in:

DNR, Conde Nast's trade publication for the men's end of fashion, was just folded into WWD.

We can only assume this is part of Conde Nast's company-wide 5% budget cut.

No word yet on what happens to their staff, and to that half floor on Third Avenue, but stay tuned..

On a related note, does this mean the WWD site will become even harder to navigate?

Update: DNR's last issue publishes November 24th, and WWD will publish a "comprehensive" men's section every Thursday from there on out. Conde Nast will also publish a twice-yearly menswear magazine, WWD Men's Collections in addition to creating a WWD Men's channel on WWD.com in December.

Don't ask why, but I recently had to create an avatar - a character/person (for those not in the virtual gaming world) - in Second Life. Then, after some minor Googling, I entered this vast world of virtual fashion - think people creating full clothing lines, garnering major "celebrity" (in the meta way) attention, and actually making money (in the real, cold hard cash way) off of it.

If you've never heard of dresses from Simone!, lingerie from Insolence, or stilettos from Shiny Things, it's ok, neither had we. Not only are these virtual designers getting a virtual (but still real) audience, but some big name, real designers are too - Armani has his own virtual boutique, and Jean-Paul Gaultier used the virtual world as a platform for launching his "Fleur du Mâle" fragrance through a VIP event that gave invitees access to a new Second Life area.

We even found Second Style Fashionista (we're so happy to get a mention in the virtual world), where a woman has been wandering "all over the grid" - Second Life speak for looking all over the place - in search of a wedding dress!

If all this seems too fake to be real, you might remember that story about a real-life couple divorcing over Second Life. So just remember - if you're actually into this, and you think there aren't any real-life consequences to donning a puce, sequined tube dress in your Second Life, think again.

--ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION

The Post devotes some serious space to Barneys' possible Beijing expansion today.

Basically, according to sources, the store might be looking to grow in China, as well as Dubai and Macau, even though their previous stateside expansions (Boston, Dallas, Vegas) have been less than well-received - not to mention they can't hang on to that Meatpacking District location.

And despite the fact that China's rife with competition, including the almost perfect Lane Crawford, and that Barneys is totally unfamiliar with the Chinese luxury market and still lacks a CEO, they're going ahead and talking to architects and looking at sites on the ground in Beijing.

Nothing like spitting in the face of a recession. If they're determined to press on with the opening of new stores, they're going to have to reduce their Goyard, Valentino, Lanvin stock to one piece per location.

Can you see it now?

Julie Gilhart fights for the Rodarte dress while IM Pei demands, "No, we need to put a window here," and Simon Doonan sqeals, "We must have both!" and all the while there's no CEO to mediate.

It doesn't take an MBA to realize now's not the best time to say, "Ni hao."

In light of diamond prices taking a significant dip, Harry Winston's made a big change. They've quietly launched an e-commerce site called the Harry Winston Online Salon.

It consists of only diamond jewelry, much of which is winter-themed (like at left), ranging anywhere from $6,000 for a pendant to $135,000 for a necklace.

Our first thought: Who the hell drops a mortgage payment online?

Our second thought: Well, it's Harry Winston, so even though you lose all the magic of the glittering jewels in their boutiques, you definitely know what you're getting, so the quality wouldn't be any different than from jewelry bought there in person.

And yet, we still can't help but feel like:

1. This comes dangerously close to diluting their brand image (Marilyn Monroe singing, the storied old house, etc) by placing their goods in the realm of shame shopping, which usually consists of bags and shoes.

2. Even though Harry Winston has famous standards, we still don't see ourselves casually charging $20,000 to our Amex, even though it's technically the same as doing it in the store (assuming you know what ten carats of bling look like on your ears.)

So many questions: Would you buy major jewels online? Or is that left for minor accessories - and should all major jewelry purchases be made in person? (Because, as much as we hate to admit it, we can't imagine how we'd feel if we were on the receiving end of a major gift, and learned that the necklace/earrings/ring was purchased while watching television...)

So you probably know Norma Kamali did a line for Walmart. Everything in the collection is exactly what you'd expect - cocoon sweaters, cropped jersey jogging pants, tank dresses, etc. But she also ventured into shoes and accessories which aren't exactly typical.

The only Norma Kamali accessories we remember are her signature turbans and the occasional sunglasses. Now she can add the patent wristlet clutch to her repertoire - or can she? The clutch seems a little too reminiscent of that signature Marc Jacobs key ring pouch that your little sister, best friend, and even mom might have.

We really love that Norma Kamali joined everyone else in doing a cheaper line for a large retail chain, but that doesn't mean you have to change up other designers' ideas. Just saying.

--ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION

If ASOS stands for As Seen On Stars, Carine Roitfeld's the newest it-girl.

The British chain's famous for ripping off the "style" of starlets, aka ripping off the designer clothes and accessories they wear.

We're used to clicking through cheap versions of Kirsten Dunst's Marc by Marc favorites or Lindsay Lohan's Stella tops, but ripping off Carine Roitfeld's Balmain dress, and doing it so so terribly, is borderline despicable.

They've shortened the hem, changed the leopard spots to zebra stripes, and lost the deep red color by using £38.00 fabric.

If you're of the opinion that rip-offs are ok because one should be able to be stylish without spending obscene amounts of money, we're going to steer you toward this dress. It looks ten times nicer and has a Balmain vibe without stealing straight from from Christophe Decarnin.

Otherwise, we're thrilled that even ASOS recognizes Carine's superstar power.

"It is the haberdashery equivalent of a Maserati." --Cintra Wilson in The New York Times on Oscar de La Renta.

Think models can't be athletic?

Think you can't potentially kick the ass of that bike messenger who's always locking up your work elevator, and never even coming close to saying sorry for it?

Think again. Style.com pit Nicole Trunfio, armed with her skateboard, against an NYC bike messenger in the first of a new series that throws models and "real professionals" into weird races with each other to figure out... well, nothing, but it's fun to see the models work so hard.

You'll never guess who wins.

Some would say you've made it in New York when Patrick McMullan takes your picture.

But really it depends on how exactly you want to make it.

If the fashion and socialite party scene is your dream, then yes, Patrick, or lately his son Liam, is an important part of one's initiation into the world of parties and its fervent online documentation.

So we're guessing there's supposed to be something very aspirational about the Patrick McMullan Studio 54 shower curtain for sale on Urban Outfitters, (or here). Every time you get out of the shower to slip into your party dress you get a black and white glimpse of the New York party scene at its height and inspiration for the night ahead.

Now we're just waiting for word of people commissioning their own shower curtains and bringing the party into the bathroom, which we think is kind of creepy. But, if you love the scene so much that you want all of your friends in the shower with you, this is probably meant for you.

So, um, enjoy!