This is a tricky silhouette to pull off but with the right balance, cropped flaired trousers can be flawless. To us, these trousers scream of waterfront chic with a striped boatneck and something like a red-heeled sandal. Trousers available at Forward.

Sophy Robson has recently been posting up some amazing nail art images on her site. Clearly she has a gift for the craft, with not only an eye for color and what’s fashionable now, but also crafting designs that are meticulously applied and look great on the nail. Which is tricky as nails provide a very small canvas and they’re sitting at the end of a set of hands so while the design idea in your head may look amazing, once applied it can appear entirely different. This design was done for nail art devotee Katy Perry. See more at Robson’s site.

It’s good to see an industry leader create a compelling flat sandal. It seems of late there’s been a lack of design innovation where flats are concerned, and yet that’s all we see women wearing these days in New York. Via Carolinesmode.

This is interesting, Urban Outfitters has issued a statement responding to the much-covered charges that it stole a design idea (see one example above–it’s a state featuring a heart cut out) from jewellery designer Stephanie Koerner. Here is an excerpt:

In her recent blog post and on Twitter Koerner claims that Urban Outfitters stole her designs or was inspired in some way by the items in her Etsy shop for our I Heart Destination necklaces. In fact, a quick search on Etsy for ‘state necklace’ reveals several other sellers with similar products (as seen here on Regretsy) who offered their wares as much as a year earlier than Ms. Koerner. We are not implying that Koerner stole her necklace idea from one of these other designers, we are simply stating the obvious—that the idea is not unique to Koerner and she can in no way claim to be its originator. Normally we would not respond publicly to Koerner’s allegations, but we believe the media response to her campaign is threatening to impact the dozens of independent designers we work with on a daily basis.

I could see where UO would want to make a statement. Certain stories spread like flash floods on the fashion blogs and this was definitely one of them, which eventually became a trending topic on Twitter. You see the story picked up on one blog and then suddenly it’s everywhere, and given the nature of blog reporting (a skeletal staff and an insane pace) very little is done to fact check to see if the story is actually true.

I don’t believe this UO statement puts an end to the story that it would steal from an independent–actually I believe in the past it has, which is why this story had legs, but I personally know four independent designers who have sold to UO and I specifically asked each one if they every experienced UO ripping off their designs during or after their relationship with the company ended. They all said UO looks for margins that are almost painful but overall their experience with the company was a good one. So while UO may not be perfect, my belief is that it’s also not as evil as it’s currently being represented on blogs.

Another set of images from Carol’s Daughter Monoi event at Sephora  featuring Solange and Selita, by Hanna Newbery. The shot above is just classic. More on the next page.

A Marchesa-designed Playboy Bunny costume has been in the works for a while and now we finally get the big reveal. The big change is that the Marchesa version is all black, including the cuff, collar and tail, which have traditionally been white, which, not so sure about a black bunny tail–that just goes against nature. That aside, it occurred to me while writing this that Playboy has been a groundbreaker in terms of public bodysuit wearing, ahead of Beyonce, Rihanna and Lady Gaga…all of ‘em!

Image above includes a Bunny withMarchesa designers, Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman. See another image on the next page.

Featuring sturdy cotton canvas, theses roomy tote bags by Ika feature an array of colors and patterns perfect for Summer 2011. Available on Etsy, they’re priced around $59, though postage is hefty ’cause the designer is Paris-based.

I’ve had a secret love for neon for a long time now. Doubting that I would actually wear it head to toe  in manicures with nail art, the thought has lingered. Spotting Haus of Lacquer’s neon manicure looks like the inspiration needed to take the leap. On the next page more psychedelic nail art.

The closest to being a male supermodel would have to be  the incredibly easy-on-the-eyes, David Gandy. Considered the muse for the Dolce& Gabbana men’s line, he announced this week the launch of a book in his name. In partnership with Dolce & Gabnana the book will document all his work with the label for the past couple of years. Available June 20. Via Vogue UK.

Fresh and retro, calling for white jeans or poom-poom shorts, yes they’re for dudes, but Size UK  has a nice assortment that is selling out fast check here.