One of my favorite aspects of the unveiling of a new collection is when the parading looks are so obviously inspired by an offbeat trip a designer has taken. Witnessing the translation of tribal ornamentation and indigenous dress to something we wear on more of a daily basis rather than ceremonially makes each piece that much more special. Givenchy's Ricardo Tischi must have worn muse velcro as he traversed through the Middle East and far reaches of Morocco, as an air of Arabian warrior meets harem princess wafted its sweet, exotic aroma through this visceral collection.

There’s a veritable mascara war going on out there, and it’s getting serious. It started off small, pitting two vibrating mascaras against one another -- Lancome Ôscillation and Estee Lauder’s Turbo Lash, but now it’s spreading with Givenchy eschewing a traditional brush or comb for a porcupine-eque spherical applicator, while SpinLash has a rotating version. What do we make of all these newfangled lash-lengthening devises?

Looks like Givenchy has been tapped to dress aging anglophile, baby adopter, and sometime singer Madonna on her upcoming "Sticky and Sweet" tour. The house has created two outfits for Madge; the first is reportedly a "Gangster Pimp" ensemble, sporting a black satin coat trimmed with jet beads (?) and a black satin waistcoat with a corseted back. The second outfit has a "Gypsy" look and features a long hooded taffeta cape with fuchsia lining and a black dress with ribbons and metal chains. "I feel incredibly fortunate to have been given the opportunity to offer the world of Givenchy Haute Couture to Madonna the Icon, the Artist, the Woman for whom I have so much respect and admiration," said head designer Ricardo Tisci, known for his gothic influence, use of dark fabrics, and audible capital letters.

The discipline of haute couture in Paris boasts the highest embodiment of craftsmanship in fashion. The exclusive couture houses see to it that the finest and priciest silks, wools, and chiffons are woven into elaborate fantasies for their most illustrious clientele. But far from the City of Lights, the overlooked countries of Latin America have yet to make their mark in the fashion industry. At Givenchy's fall 2008 couture show, Riccardo Tisci took us by surprise in trading European society muses to excavate the luxury of ancient Peruvian royalty. Likewise at New York's Metropolitan Museum, a special exhibition -- "Radiance from the Rainforest: Featherwork in Ancient Peru" -- eclipses neighboring European sculptures with a display of perhaps the finest featherwork in existence.

If designer Raf Simons has his way, future men will wear galactic jumpsuits and pleated mini-pants with jackets coated in plastic coconut flakes. Over the weekend in Paris, Simmons rolled out a new line that's part Blade Runner, part Merry Prankster. The materials ranged from "plasticized waffled cottons" to light wools which appeared to be coated in fragile coconut flakes. Part of the Paris menswear show that included Givenchy and Lanvin, the International Herald Tribune says Simons' creations exuded "power" with its "exquisitely sliced tuxedos, sleeveless and pared down to a shorts jumpsuit. Worn with winged flaps on sandals that pushed the show toward the futuristic, the rigorously tailored outfits were, as Simons said, 'the antidote to pajamas.'" Throughout the show, a message flashed on the wall: "There is a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in." Truly, Ken Kesey missed his true calling.

He may be suffering from OCD and ADD, but that doesn't mean Justin Timberlake can't pose for some pics, right? The dancey crooner has signed with Givenchy as the face of their new scent, Play. "Beyond his huge celebrity appeal, we have chosen Justin because he is a world recognized trendsetter who redefines modern elegance," said Givenchy prexy Alain Lorenzo.

Every woman deserves the perfect bag. And, hey, we found it. Givenchy's Fall/Winter 2008 Nightingale bag collection by Riccardo Tisci, which has been praised by collectors and celebrities season after season, sports new textures, exotic skins and new metallic colors perfect for colder weather. (We can’t believe we’re already talking about colder weather! When will the heat subside?) The assortment includes embossed crocodile, embossed stingray, “bubbled” leather, patent leather and marbled python skin. If you’re looking for something a bit smaller, the Nightingale is also now available in a new mini for evenings out. It's also available with pale gold or black opaque gunmetal finished hardware.