The fashion world was jolted last weekend when Milan officially announced that their fashion week would overlap with the New York shows next fall. The news comes after New York insisted on showing the second Thursday of September rather than the first Thursday after Labor Day, resulting in a one-week pushback for MFW. While the city is set to duke it out with their fashion capital counterparts ("Let the best one win," was Italian Chamber of Fashion Mario Boselli's now-infamous response), a slew of fashion heavy-hitters are doing whatever it takes to change Milan's mind. The latest effort comes from CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg.

Forget International Women's Day, this is International Women's Week! First it was Prabal Gurung's wise words of admiration earlier this week. Now Women's Wear Daily reports that fierce female designer Diane von Furstenberg will be awarding Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the first-ever Inspiration Award at tomorrow's Diller-von Furstenberg Awards.

Diane von Furstenberg, she of the wrap dress and general amazingness, is bringing her fabulous style to London's Claridge's hotel. She's decorating twenty of the five-star hotel's rooms with original furniture and fabrics, with four of the rooms set to open next Wednesday. "One of my fondest memories was when I was in London as a young, independent businesswoman and stayed at Claridge’s. I knew I had made it," Von Furstenberg said. "To me, Claridge’s is the most glamorous hotel in the world." Now it'll be even more glam, it seems.

● David Bowie sought the help of a witch after suffering from crippling paranoia and depression from his cocaine use; Bowie was convinced that witches were after his sperm to create a child to sacrifice to the devil. [ContactMusic] ● Despite being a vegetarian, Alexa Chung has a thing for collecting taxidermy animals, having picked up an alligator’s head in New Orleans. [3am] ● Microsoft has pulled their sponsorship of the upcoming Family Guy variety special after seeing a preview, which includes jokes about the deaf and incest; MS decided the program did not fit with the Windows brand. [Variety]

She of the universally flattering wrap dress (and also, The City) is about to bring her design talents to Claridge's in London. She says she'll be designing "just a few rooms at [her] favorite hotel, Claridge's in London." No word on what rooms will get the DVF treatment, or if said treatments include complimentary wrap robes or wrap sheets or even wrap curtains, but surely whatever she chooses to do will be beautiful and flattering.

The recession has taken quite a toll on this coming New York Fashion Week. Numerous designers are forgoing presentations in locales beyond Bryant Park’s tents (in hopes of saving funds), while a handful of seasoned designers have chosen to bow out of the bi-annual event entirely. Peoples Revolution designers Mara Hoffman, Sergio Davila and Nicholas K will even stage a first-ever joint presentation to save on expenses. But rather than cut back, it seems Diane Von Furstenberg is forging full steam ahead with not one but two FW09 presentations.