What with all the ugliness eminating from the collapsing Balenciaga bench story, here are some soothing pictures of J.Cole, courtesy of The Source, to calm everyone whose nerves were jangled by the idea of various and sundry editors landing on their rears.

J., aka Jermaine, is working the publicity curcuit ’cause he just released an album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” which is looking like it will take a No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts next weeks. Check out more of his fineness in a behind-the-scenes video on the next page.

Sperry Topsider ruled the boat shoe trend this Spring, and this Autumn what the brand has done for women in the “Trinity” boot is pretty snazzy.  A rugged look suitable for the season of inevitable slush, allowing us to still “wurk it” with a sturdy heel and a cool outdoorsy look. Available at Karmaloop, who by the way seems to have gotten a webstore makeover!

This may not be the kind of publicity Balenciaga was seeking for its Paris Fashion Week runway show yesterday. Apparently someone went cheap on seating (who was responsible for THAT decision–omg, the horror for him/her) and the benches all started cracking and attendees were forced to stand throughout the show.  Check out the image above–folks are looking real happy, aren’t they?

Of course the fashion press will jump all over this story and rightly so because truth be told presentation is everything when it comes to a runway show, but one has to guess regular news outlets will have some fun with this story, too, because, well, in general the media despises the fashion industry with all its snooty, better-than-thou airs and relishes moments when it falls on its face or in this literal case….its backside!

If this skirt silhouette is not already in your wardrobe, this version by Holy Tee can definitely give you a fishtail fix. Available at the ever so cool bonadrag.

Highsnob (and Solange) fave Boxing Kitten has posted up its new looks for Autumn 2011, and this time around designer Maya Amina Lake shows longer hemlines and works in some solid-colored, transparent fabrics, which contrast gorgeously with  the brand’s signature African prints. Via Trendoracle.

More on the next page.

Via Style.com

The opening look for Thierry Mugler Spring 2012 sets the tone for a slick modernist look by Fomichetti anchored on strong shoulders and sexy cut-out details . Lots more to come…

At first glance the idea  of the woman as creature/fierce thing, as directed by Ruth Hogben  for  Gareth Pugh’s Spring 2012, can be dismissed as been-there-done-that futuristic. However, on a deeper level  I happen to think that  the representation aptly exemplifies the all encompassing power of female energy that too often get misunderstood or belittled. Ok,  got really cerebral with that one, but I think that ’s the idea. Hope you like it!

The idea of the little demure black dress gets turned on its head by Anthony Vacarello for Spring 2012. Cutouts, peeks of flesh bringing “torrid sexy” back in a way we have not seen in a while, and we like it. See the whole line here.

If like us you have a weakness for bold jewellery, you will love Jewel Lee’s Jubilee Riot, whose design concept is built on the idea of layering! A peek on the flip.Images by Bazza Alzouman.

Send out the alert to media types interested in falling model video….designer Nicola Formichetti has leaked images of the shoes he plans to show later today for his Mugler Spring 2012 Paris Fashion Week runway show. Via Racked.