A trend toward kid-friendly fashion is continuing, and I don't mean in the vein of Stella McCartney's kids line for the GAP. More like Stella's Bambi-themed SS10 ads, Harper's Bazaar's Sesame Street-themed editorial, Marc Jacobs and Miss Piggy, and Uniqlo's teaming with Disney. Next up: Dov Charney. Sesame Street and American Apparel may seem like a wildly bizarre combination, but the celebrated children's show is in fact the latest place the latter has sourced inspiration.

She came of age as the quietly brooding Angela Chase in TV’s cult series My So-Called Life. Now, after years spent turning Juliet on her head, romancing Steve Martin, dodging tabloid scandals and finding true love in the fine form of fiancé Hugh Dancy, Claire Danes has finally come into her own. (Check out a pair of exclusive bonus photos for this photo shoot.) On the eve of her bachelorette blow-out, the stage beauty, acting powerhouse and diehard New Yorker gets down to business—and her skivvies—while inviting Ray Rogers into the private world of America’s most grounded leading lady.

At first I was like, "Let's make this a 'SAVE DOV CHARNEY' war cry," what with the whole Woody Allen debacle threatening our elegantly licentious messiah of sexifying your wardrobe on a budget. But as the guy has maintained his sly smile while swatting court cases like flies for years now, we trust he'll weather this one like a pro -- and instead we'll focus on the latest visual venture from our favorite purveyors of chic jersey.

American Apparel is notorious for flesh-friendly ads (as well as one not-so-skintastic billboard that’s causing its fare share of controversy with a certain Hollywood director). Now the perpetually envelope-pushing mega retailer is letting the public have some say in what AA ads they’ll be forced to confront on a daily basis. Specifically, Racked notes that with regard to the brick storefront of its Harlem outpost, American Apparel is offering a slideshow of shots chosen by the store's neighbors. The winner will grace the boutique and greet passerby for weeks to come.

In 20th Century Chocolate Cake, a young Dov Charney (and future American Apparel CEO) mugs for the camera about summer camp life while hating on communists and advising the viewer not to eat too many grapes (diarrhea!). One thing is clear: Young Charney knew to handle his money back then. "I manage," cackled the little thug. "But a lot of other kids have problems. I know how to cheat the system ... but it doesn't matter if you're poor or rich, they all come and go anyway." I don't know where this gem originally came from, and I don't much care. All I know is that it's hilarious when a 12-year-old talks tough like a longshoreman. "This crazy communist camp is awful. Despicable." Commie bastards! Charney's reportedly none too pleased that this clip is making the rounds, so watch while you can.

● Rumor has it that Brad Pitt just photographed Angelina and the brood for W's November issue. You may remember Brad and Angie played house for a Steve Klein photo portfolio in W's July 2005 issue. You know, the one where Jennifer Aniston remarked that Brad was "missing a sensitivity chip." Certainly the title "Domestic Bliss" had to rankle her.

Jane Mayle may be bowing out of her New York shop, but in her place comes gothy Danish designer Camilla Staerk. The designer, who relocated to New York from London after losing her namesake to her backers there, says of the change, "I'm going back to my roots in leather and texture." You see this not just in her latest collection but also in the design of the 500-square-foot store, with its dark wood floors, leather, and walnut chairs. In other retail action, it's expected that China will see its first American Apparel store after many delays.

If I had my druthers, I'd wear shorts year around. Then again, having my druthers would consist of sailing the blue, warm waters of the Caribbean and points south of Mexico. Listen, I like shorts, Bermuda shorts specifically. But there's a fear in wearing shorts in more style-conscious urban areas. The New York Observer explores the psychology behind the fear of shorts-wearing, and more disturbingly, the new trend of short-shorts for men. My advice is unless you want to walk around looking like John McEnroe or Larry Bird in the 1970s, don't wear them. So who's behind this terrifying new trend? Why, it's Dov Charney and his minions at American Apparel of course. Mathew Swenson, a spokesman for AA, said that while short-shorts used to be solely hipster-garb, they're becoming more accepted by mainstream wearers. “Now you prove your masculinity by wearing short shorts or pink underwear,” he said. Or by shooting something.

One can imagine Woody Allen’s young bride Soon-Yi Previn on the back of Vice magazine, her no-fuss Asian blandness hawking American Apparel knee-highs and a turtlenecks, but not Woody himself. However, AA has erected billboards featuring Allen dressed as a Hassidic Jew from a scene in Annie Hall. But Woody’s always been more of a hepcat than a hipster, so he’s decided to file a $10 million suit in a U.S. District court in Manhattan against Dov Charney and his AA army. Allen claims they never contacted him about using his image and finds them “especially egregious and damaging.” We still don’t get what Woody Allen dressed as a Hassidic Jew has to do with selling skinny jeans, but that’s probably the point.