Vogue Italia editor, Franca Sozzani, sure knows how to stir the pot. First she creates a special section on her website devoted to black beauty, then “curvy” (can’t stand that term–it’s the ultimate in meaningless descriptions), and now she has a cover featuring three models who are stacked, aka thick*. That this creates a stir in 2011 is somewhat amazing and speaks to the stranglehold that anglo-beauty standards still hold over the industry. We’re glad to see signs that the tide is turning, but damn the pace sometimes feels positively glacial!

*Thick as defined by Urbandictionary: a word used to describe a female who may be defined by health charts as “overweight,” but still attracts mad guys because the weight is in the right places (hips, buttocks, and breasts).

When I first saw this tee I couldn’t help but think, but it would be so much cooler if it were Mothra and Godzilla holding hands, but then I realized this was a tee designed by N.Y.-based Milk on the Rocks as a fundraiser for Japan….and thus, a U.S. beast extending a hand to a Japanese monster makes total sense. The one catch is that this is a kid’s tee, but some of them come in fairly large sizes and there is a tank top version for the ladies. (And if you go to the site try and also check out the mini-sized harem pants—cuuuuute!)

Tory Burch  Rachel Zoe* does her usually deft job of creating a collection that seamlessly ranges from youthful looks for her contemporary customer to cocktail-party and office ready for her women-of-a-certain age fans. The theme as reflected in the feel of the shoot itself, is for the most part fluidity and long lean lines, jazzed by shades of blue, purple and rose. Via TFS.

*A reader informs  that this lookbook is Rachel Zoe not Tory Burch. Funny, looking at the original post at TFS I was thinking that the styling had a Zoe feel and there were a couple of items where I was like, since when did Tory go goth??  But oh well, that is the nature of blogging for you–sometimes you make those major mistakes that make you look like an idiot. It happens.

More looks on the next page.

In my my mind summer coincides with the beach and of course fly swimwear. Tavik gives us a look of the ir latest summer collection of swimwear through a video look book. You can find Tavik at Karmaloop, where the Lola is a fave. View in detail on the flip.

Incorporating elements of menswear which we adore, Tim Hamilton women’s Autumn 2011 collection uses layers and tailoring to create very desireable  city appropriate silhouettes. Every single piece is a want on our end.On the next page a closer look courtesy of Tim Hamilton

Adorned with a little hand-stamped fish, this cozy sweatshirt by Johanna St. Clair is perfect for foggy days by the ocean or any other fun juxtaposition you stylish snobs can come up with. Available at Mollusksurfshop (A hidden gem in BK!)

While customization has become a sought after feature in fashion,  custom swimwear not just in color selection but also in fit is practically non-existent. Partnering with Medialab Waag Society, designers  Ellis Droog and Romy van den Broek created Lemonbow Swimwear, a line of bathing suits customized to the wearers body using no thread or needle:

A computer controlled laser makes it possible to fabricate on-demand swimwear with a near perfect fit. By measuring and entering points on the body the system will automatically convert the points into the right measurements which can then be sent to the laser cutter.

Via Mocoloco take a look at more styles on the flip.

Newcomer Erevos Aether launched itspremier collection with a statement video showcasing the Autumn/Winter 2011 collection. Inspired by Baudelaire’s “Les fleurs du Mal,” the looks are futuristic and statement making in every way. On the next page a look at the “Gaping Void” collection.Via Abfhya.

Cassie was featured in Vibe magazine’s “Sexy’ issue, which hits stands June 7th. She’s rocking a Diesel swimsuit and Fendi heels and looking banging as always.

In celebration of the remodel of its Off 5th Outlet store in Woodbury Commons, Saks Fifth Avenue invited a bunch of bloggers a week back to take a tour of the store. Woodbury is about an hour’s drive from New York City, and is known for the high-end, designer names it attracts, including Balenciaga, Gucci, Prada and Tory Burch ( which has velvet ropes outside its store for crowd control purposes!).

The Off 5th store looked great, with an open air, spacious feel to it that makes it easy to shop. Overall, its shoe department is its biggest draw, offering a wide range of the poshy-posh designers (yes, the above image is of THOSE Chanel boots) it sells in its full-priced doors, but at a deep discount. The handbag department was also well stocked with juicy items, and the contempory department is highlighted by a Rag & Bone line, created exclusively for Off 5th. We were mesmerized by the shoes (I snagged myself a pair of Cole Haan sandals), but for accessory lovers, there’s a very large department set up right near the entrance that has a lot of tempting items, especially watches.

See shots of Miu Miu, Camilla Scovgaard and Burberry shoes on the next page.