I just came out of my first meeting with Mr. Ferosha Coutura himself, and I am pleased to report that our fave rising star’s exclusive collection for Bluefly is beyond FABULOUS (yes, I am forcing myself not to use that other “expired” F word). To be unveiled in late July, Christian’s collection will consist of gorgeous jackets, tees, dresses, skirts & pants with signature Christian detailing (ie. ruffles, pleating, and skinny pants galore). And--as if the thought of finally getting my hands on one of those gorgeous elaborate blouses isn’t enough--all styles will be 20% OFF!

Be ready to get it first, before (in Christian’s own words) "my mom buys it all."

Checking out the sneak peak of this week's 'Ugly Betty' episode on The Cut reminded us of when Christian came by the Bluefly office to discuss the possibility of creating a capsule collection just for us. The 'Ugly Betty' ep seems to pretty much nail him, especially on the "fierce" tip. He only said it once.

>Shop our Christian Siriano-inspired collection!

It seems that no one can get enough of Christian Siriano. Scheduled to play himself on an upcoming episode of Ugly Betty, the Project Runway winner will be wooed by several magazines to work on a custom spread. After working with the UB cast, Siriano confesses: “Vanessa Williams is the queen of fierceness and Becki Newton is the princess… I’m inviting them all to my Spring 2008-09 collection — it’ll be a great front row!”

[Image courtesy of StyleCrunch.com]

So by now you've seen the pics and trend watch pieces on spring's museum/gallery pieces. Personally, I'm digging every paint-splattered minute of it -- just stay AWAY from the jeans. Check out the surrealist chic Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana and others sent down the catwalk -- then let us know how you feel about the Art Basel-ification of spring fashion.

Just in time for spring coat season, Nina Garcia is all about the African safari-inspired khaki trenches, blazers & vests Donna Karan, Lanvin & Proenza Schouler sent down the runways, and the batik prints too. The jury's still out for me on animal prints, though. What say you?

Christian Siriano stopped by the Bluefly offices today to discuss the possibility of creating a capsule collection exclusively for Bluefly -- remember the Season 4 winner had the "opportunity" to sell on Bluefly. Sketches were shared and there were ruffles, skinny pants, and dresses. All wearable and all ferosh. Of course.

I caught up with Project Runway's Malan Breton at Tracy Reese's Secret Garden party last week and the man has been putting in some serious overtime since he was auf'd in Season 3. Between launching a new line of handbags to complement his ready-to-wear and couture lines, and starring in his own reality show for Bravo, Malan's been moonlighting as a fashion journalist for an online magazine. If Christian Siriano's the next Marc Jacobs as Tim Gunn predicts, maybe Malan's the next Isaac Mizrahi?

As Sex & the City Movie fever continues to ramp up, Nina Garcia gives us the go-ahead to let our bra straps show Carrie-style.

What's cool about beatnik chic is it basically incorporates spring's other big trends. So you're actually saving money with this look -- at least that's what you can tell yourself when you're filling your shopping cart* with goodies. So go 'head and get yourself some funky florals, a really great pair of wideleg jeans, gladiator sandals for day and some hot platforms for night -- and you're good to go.

*You have till March 31st to use the FLYPAPER30 discount. If you're a new customer, you'll get $30 off your order of $150 or more.

We've been hearing a lot about the waist as a focal point for designers this season, but Nina Garcia says we should add the shoulder to the list thanks to strong showings of spring power suits and jackets. (Between now & March 31st, if you splurge on a suit -- and you've never bought anyhting on Bluefly before -- you can save an extra $30 just by typing FLYPAPER30 at checkout!)

MORE NINA
>Flowers are Power!

>It's Electric!

Shop our Christian-inspired styles right now. If you've never bought from Bluefly, knock an extra $30 off your $150 order just by typing FLYPAPER30 at checkout. And don't forget to sign up so we can keep you posted on exclusive hook-ups. As for Christian's finale collection, you can bid on all the outfits worn in the show on projectrunway.com until March 19th.

This spring it's all about powerful flower patterns, but how to wear 'em without looking like an overgrown garden? Watch Nina Garcia's latest vid to get her expert tips. And don't forget: Only for this month, if you're new to Bluefly and spend more than $150, you get $30 off just by typing FLYPAPER30 at checkout so watch -- then shop!

>Nina's got The Bright Stuff too!

When the designers first previewed their looks back in November, it seemed a lock for Rami. Christian's pantsuit and crushed-on-purpose hat were intriguing, but Rami's draping column gown was by far the most sophisticated piece to strut down the runway. But when the Tresemme challenge had Christian creating a couture quality gown literally overnight, that was when Christian came out in full fierce.

Remember these fab pieces? Even though the prom dress wasn't his best work, you can feel the model's inner fierceness shining through. Isn't that what fashion's really all about?

It began with paint: a rusty orange and an electric blue. Our photo studio at Bluefly Corporate Headquarters was being painted, transformed into The Workroom. As I sat behind my receptionist’s desk, the pleasant scent of fresh paint hit my nose. Then the production crew, known as the Magical Elves, came onto the scene: a bombardment of metal, lighting, and men and women in hooded sweatshirts. Their presence proved less subtle than that fresh paint smell.

Monday arrived. Now I had assumed that all of the work was going to take place inside The Workroom, but apparently all that behind the scenes stuff—that was going to take place in the lobby, five feet away from my desk, and on the three-seater couch. Also set up in my lobby (hooray): the Craft Services table! Energy bars, bagels, soft drinks, a basket lined with Hostess cupcakes. Amy, the production manager, noticed my lustful glance and said: "The food is for the whole floor, in appreciation for you having us here." Us included the crew, and of course, the designers.

Incidentally, I did not meet any designers. When a designer did breeze past me, someone would say something like “Designer coming through!” I never quite figured out the reason for this. Was I to alter my behavior in some way at that moment? I did meet Tim Gunn, however. He was very elegant, very nice. And of course -- the models. During casting for the Project Runway Finale, approximately 200 models hovered in my lobby, which made me feel rather -- short.

Through it all, I -- being the receptionist -- answered the phone. Obviously. But whenever I said "Good afternoon, Bluefly," I was greeted with a giant "Shhh!" They were filming a television show, you see. Sigh.

Then, the requests: Kelly, what's up with the wireless internet? Do you have any power cords? Why isn’t that printer working? Suddenly, my clipboard disappeared, then the wastebasket, then my highlighters. I was losing office supplies! My sanity! I countered these losses by emotionally eating. Craft services comforted me during my time of stress.

My stress was minor compared to the frantic work of the Magic Elves, however. Juggling laptops, cell phones, headsets, they worked 24 hours a day. And of course, the Project Runway contestants were busy designing amazing new collections in the next room, soon to be critiqued by millions of views, (plus Heidi, Nina, and Michael, of course).

When the shoot was over, I said goodbye to all my new, tired television friends; they promised to get my clipboard back to me. I told them not to worry about it. It's been nearly two weeks since they were here, but I still find remnants of the show here and there. An empty water bottle that I remember from craft services, a spare Non-Disclosure Agreement. And I smile.

Oh, and the painters: they came back and painted my lobby blue.

--KELLY DUPUIS

Just call me Deep Throat. (I’ll explain why in a sec.)

About three months ago, my CEO called me into her office to say she had a "special project" for me. Because I designed the Bluefly Accessory Wall, I was going to be the sole "connection" to the Project Runway finalists who would be accessorizing their Fashion Week collections with Bluefly shoes and shooting all the final workroom scenes at Bluefly.

(Don't miss our receptionist, Kelly Dupuis’ hilarious account of the PR shoot at Bluefly!)

I was to tell no one, sign Non-Disclosure Agreements in triplicate, and basically go into full cloak and dagger mode while helping the Finalists pull their collections together with Bluefly footwear. Now, that's all fine and well except that I work in a full exposed cubicle, in an office full of obsessed fashionistas and SICKLY obsessed PR fans. How was I NOT gonna breathe a word of this to anyone four weeks into the season? I knew everything. And everyone around me knew nothing.

Here's how it went: each finalist (then there were five) was given my phone number and email address. As in, don't call us, we'll call you. Slowly, the communication began. It was as if they'd been in a bubble -- which they were -- and so excited to talk about their collections with SOMEONE. They were total non-divas, super humble and grateful for the mega-shoe hook-up.

As the convos progressed we all became super chummy and actually couldn't wait to meet. They kept saying "Oh, Mindy you're the best, when are we finally going to meet?" which was pretty cool. In my regular day-to-day it's rare that I get a phone call from anyone besides my mom -- and now, all of a sudden, I'm ringing off the hook, hunched over in my cube whispering in code, a key participant in one of my favorite shows.

There were times where it got a little crazy and I had to sneak into a conference room for some private time with Chris or Jillian to decide between the thigh-high boots and the stilettos. But, overall, what started out as a daunting task actually became the highlight of my job hands down.

When it was finally time -- the Magical Elves (the production company behind PR) arrived, shuttling the designers up the freight elevator for Day 1 of the Finale Shoot at our offices. I'm not gonna lie to you. I was SUPER excited and actually got a little dressed up.

As they got in the elevator, one of my co-workers happened to be downstairs sneaking a cigarette. She said hi to Chris and without skipping a beat he said "OMG---are you MINDY?"

Not yet...( wasn’t to see them till later that day under very glamorous circumstances when Jillian and I shared a sink in the bathroom.

So, the shoot went on and our offices were taken over by the PR crew and cast. Everyone (especially my cubicle neighbors, after all that fuss!) was excited to be in constant buzz mode for a full week.

I must say that I also (kinda sorta) felt like a minor celebrity --- people were asking me to get photos, autographs and they knew I was the girl to do it!

Agent Dorf at your service.

But tonight, I'm back to being me, watching at home like everyone else in real time eager to find out which one of my new BFFs take it all home! My bet’s on Rami.

--MINDY DORF

How psyched were we when our Project Runway BFF, Nina Garcia agreed to break down how and where to wear spring's biggest trends exclusively for Bluefly? Nina shot TEN vids for us -- this first installment is about spring's fling with electric color -- so check back next week and the weeks after that for Nina's newest style notes. And after you watch, make sure to shop the spring dresses, shoes, accessories and menswear that JUST arrived in our warehouse. Only for this month, if you're new to Bluefly and spend more than $150, you'll get $30 off just by typing FLYPAPER30 at checkout. Yay for spring hook-ups!

PS -- Don't forget to check out our hottest spring accessories!

And we're sure you do too. Leave your question as a comment or vote here and we'll see what we can do to get one or two of you an answer!

...and Into your Closet This Spring

SHOP SPRING'S MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES

Neon-brights. Popping prints. Boho chic. Spring's trend reports are in -- but what to wear them with?

We had the exact same dilemma last summer when we were trying to figure out what to put on the Bluefly Accessory Wall. Bravo wouldn't tell us a lick about the challenges beforehand, and we knew from past seasons we had to be prepared for anything from straight ready-to-wear to a "make this dress out of poppy seeds" challenge. Here's the foolproof list we came up with that'll look amazing with brights, prints, boho or a mix of all of the above.

1. STATEMENT BAGS.
Doesn't matter if it's a satchel, shopper or oversized clutch -- a distinctive bag will literally carry an outfit. 'Distinctive' can run the gamut from quilted leather to studs and grommets to classic, definitive shape.

2. HEIRLOOM JEWELRY.
Could be a vintage from your diva grandmother, a one-of-a-kind ethnic piece, or a funky costume gem. Have fun with it. The point is to find one or two bold baubles that anchor spring's breezy styles.

3. SHEERS & CLEARS.
Lucite, glass and plastic are the new diamonds. Not really, but they have the same clean, sharp elegance when they're made and worn the right way. This season, clears are everywhere from from heels to bags to bangles, and with good reason -- they look great with everything, particularly the rainbow swirls of color you'll be seeing and wearing this spring.

4. PLATFORMS.
Platforms are probably the most successful reinvention of a retro trend, and they will not let your spring style down. Wear them with the season's minis, maxis or jeans to look and feel 10 feet tall.

By now you know that Chris, Christian, Jillian and Rami presented collections at Fashion Week with Sweet P throwing us off with a dope decoy line. But after watching the contestants answer design challenges week after week, and seeing the finalists' distinct visions on the runway at Bryant Park, it's clear they all have very distinct sensibilities. Christian is clearly couture. Jillian is sportswear. Rami is evening all the way. Chris is... a sweet person. But which one has a CFDA in 'em? (Let's assume all four won't go the way of most PR alums and never be heard from again.)

[from l to r: Rami, Christian, Chris, Jillian & Sweet P]
We have no idea who the judges will ultimately go for, but we'd love to know what you think. Personally, I'm leaning towards Christian.

>Watch Daniel V dish on finalist judging!

>Hear which collection Laura Bennett couldn't wait to see

Season 1 winner, Jay McCarroll hasn't come out and said it, but in a few of his blog posts for Elle.com, he's been really gunning for Christian. Season 2's Zulema Griffin emailed us that she's lost track -- she has been designing a fall collection, you know -- but "if the girl with the curly hair is still in the competition, then her..."

We caught up with Season 3 finalist, Laura Bennett at Fashion Week and asked her who she's gunning for. We were surprised to find out it wasn't Rami... Watch her answer below and vote /leave a comment to tell us whose final collection you can't wait to see.

[Nude pumps l to r: Jillian's look, Simone's look, Victorya's look, and Christian's look]

Based on the designers' repeat use of nude pumps, the brown boston bag, and the patent Versace heels our friends at ShoeBlog have been tracking, it's clear every gal needs these accessories in her life. They can't cure every fashion emergency -- as Simone and Victorya found -- but they certainly work with a myriad of looks.

The judges' rationale for saying 'auf weidersehn' to Kit eludes me. She has consistently created smart, forward designs while, Ricky, who has consistently turned out wrinkled, gaping, poorly put-together, eh pieces was spared yet again. But I digress... The question is:

Okay, we're seven episodes deep and we've seen some go before their time (Simone) and some stay way too long (Carmen). But now that we're just a few eps away from the fashion week finale, who do you think should never have to hear Heidi say auf wiedersein?

'08 is gonna be tasty. The PR Powers heard our collective groaning and started the new year with some chocolate fun -- dessert for all the holiday binging we've been doing. And speaking of, now that we've gorged on six episodes, which of the winning outfits make you want more?

Between the male models from the Tiki Barber challenge and the real women that modeled this week, I'm wondering if the professionals should be the only ones who have a crack at the Elle spread. After all, as Heidi says every week, "Models, this is a competition for you too." And so far, the competing models have had two weeks off. They better work.

Speaking of the professionals versus the real, for the most part, the judges played nice this week as far as their critiques, but Michael Kors went there a lil' bit when he noted that Elisa's layered design would've been better suited to a 5'11" model. Which begs the other question of the week: Would the clothes that look bad on the professional models look good on real women? What/who is a 'real woman' anyway?

[photo courtesy of Bravotv.com]
Remember when Michael Kors told Raymundo Baltazar the outfit he designed for the Barbie doll challenge looked better suited for "Appalachian Barbie"? Or when Nina hissed at Santino that his lingerie was "not aesthetically pleasing"? For me, the 'Project Runway' experience just isn't complete without the judges' disses. This season, between Heidi, Nina, Michael Kors and the guest judges, which judge's one-liners have been keeping you in stitches?

Which zingers did we miss?

Okay, when Nina started out the season by blogging that they wanted the designers to express who they were with fabrics instead of food, I understood where she was coming from. I get that the show is trying to be to fashion what 'American Idol' is to the music industry as far as successful post-show contestants, but three weeks later, I can feel my jaw dropping into a yawn. The guest judges have been amazing -- S. Jess, what took you so long to shrug and giggle behind a judges' card at Michael Kors' pithy quips? And speaking of quips, the gavel gang is sharper than ever. Heidi's "pooing fabric" comment was classic. But the designs have been so safe.

Even though the collar on Sweet P's shirt was crazy and Carmen's look was better suited to Dirk Digler -- thank you, Michael for the 'Boogie Nights' reference -- at least some forward-thinking design peeked through, albeit accidentally.

Note to the PR Powers that Be: Mix it up, quick! Sure we want fabulously wearable fashion, and finding out a hot football star is self-conscious about his butt is priceless for so many different reasons, but in the inimitable words of Britney Spears -- Gimme More. Challenge these designers to create outside the pattern. From their bios we know they're capable of sketching and sewing a saleable look. But we want to get psyched about the next Alexander McQueen, the next Marc Jacobs, the next Donatella Versace. If it takes flowers or food to get us there, then let the projects begin.

Am I the only one who wants to see a model wearing one of the designer's a la carte on her sleeve?

Talk about hi-lo. Sarah Jessica Parker -- of Manolo Blahnik-fiending, Carrie Bradshaw fame (not Jon Bon Jovi as rumored) -- breezed into the Project Runway workroom and challenged the designers to come up with a high-end, $40 look for her Bitten line.

It was genius -- and confusing -- this juxtaposition of S. Jess talking $40 when she was wearing what looked like a $4000 outfit. And based on the resulting styles that catwalked down the runway, it looked like the contestants were perplexed too as they seemed to be designing for the guest judge's 'Sex and the City' alter-ego instead of Bitten.

[photos courtesy of HBO.com and Bravotv.com]

But as I pored through her 'Sex & the City' looks, I appreciated the statement she was trying to make in spite of her celebrity self: $40, or $4000, it's all in how you Carrie yourself. But speaking of, I couldn't find Victorya and Kevin's winning, Carrie-esque shirt dress for sale on the Bitten site, as promised. Think it'll end up on Carrie in next summer's 'Sex & the City' movie?