StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

I spoke with Michael Kors just before his runway show Wednesday morning...

Just as New York Fashion Week ends, another style marathon will begin -- this one about fashion's past rather than fashion's future. 

On Saturday, September 13th, Lifetime Television debuts "Coco Chanel," a three-hour original movie starring Oscar-winner Shirley Maclaine.

Talk about pressure for costume designer Pierre-Yves Gayraud, having the task of re-outfitting one of the best-outfitted women of all time.  Raid the archives, you say?  One would think, however no vintage Chanel garments were used in the film.

"I created around 70 costumes," Gayraud explains.  "All the photographs documenting her work were a huge source of inspiration.  I prepared a large look book of Chanel designs and created the wardrobe according to the different periods in the script."

ABOVE LEFT: Barbora Bobulova portrays a young Chanel.

ABOVE RIGHT:  One of Gayraud's sketches.

Gayraud adds:  "I hope the audience who did not know her before will now realize that the beginning of what we think of as ‘street wear’ came from a brilliant and inspired poor little girl from Aubazine, France.  The viewer should know that the sweatshirt of ‘today,’ is just the child of the jersey sailor blouse of Chanel."

Michelle Obama upped her burgeoning style star status last night in Denver, where she chose to wear an on-trend, yet appropriate art-print dress from It-designer Thakoon Panichgul (Kate Bosworth is a fan).

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Panichgul, of course, is pleased: “I am incredibly honored that Michelle Obama chose to wear a dress from my collection on such a historical night for her, her family and this country.”

SIDE NOTE:

While the presidential race heats up, so does the race for most-fashionable- woman-to-potentially-land-in-the-White-House.  According to a recent CNN update, John McCain has officially chosen the "Hottest Governor in America," Sarah Palin of Alaska, as his running mate.  Game on!

Elettra Wiedemann (face of Lancome and daughter of Isabella Rossellini) is teaming up with JustOneFrickinDay.com -- a charity whose mission is to unify and concentrate resources on a number of global charity projects -- and The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) in an effort to raise money for the Burundi Solar Project.  The goal is to equip a hospital in Kigutu, Burundi, one of the world's poorest countries, with sustainable solar power for the life of its existence.

The organization needs to raise $450,000 to accomplish their goal, and there are two ways YOU can help. 

First: put your energy into FASHION.  Power-house designers Chris Benz, Phillip Lim, House of Diehl, Giambattista Valli, Rag & Bone and Rogan have designed limited edition t-shirts (100 only, $60 each), available starting TODAY at JustOneFrickinDay.com.  You can also score a non-limited edition House of Diehl tee for $30.

Second: if your closet is already too full (if that's true, I'd like to meet you), you can donate one day's worth of your annual salary instead.  The website (hence the name) has a built-in calculator which determines "Just One Frickin Day" of your annual salary for donation.

More about the project:

According to JustOneFrickinDay.com: "Rampant illness and ailments include HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, malaria, measles, diarrhea, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and an infant mortality rate that is approaching 20% [in Burundi].  The health crisis facing the southern part of the country is especially severe due to a lack of electricity.  When the sun goes down, doctors use kerosene lamps and headlights for night work, which can include emergency surgeries and child birth."

Click here to buy a limited edition t shirt, to donate and day's salary and to learn more.

Most of you have probably seen the Gap's hot fall ad campaign (launched August 12th) featuring enviable stylemakers such as Liv Tyler, Marchesa's Georgina Chapman (left) and DJ Leigh Lezark (right; j'adore her hair).

Shot by Mikael Jansson, the edgy black and white images showcase the first complete collection by head designer Patrick Robinson (LOVE him!) and celebrate the label's emphasis on mixing classic pieces to create your own personal style.  (See what our pals at Fab Sugar have to say about it).

BUT what you probably haven't seen are these behind-the-scenes outtakes...and that's because they're exclusive to In Style!

ENJOY!

Liv Tyler had her locks chopped at the shoot....

...but clearly had nothing to be scared of.  FAB!

Liv gets sexy and snuggly in Gap's boyfriend cardigan...

And then looks rad in plaid...

Here's the shot that made the final cut:

TALK TO ME! 

Are you edgy, dramatic, minimal, sexy OR...?  How would you describe YOUR personal style?  

You gotta love New York City.

Where else could you find a Ford-model-slash-yogi offering free weekly yoga classes (FYI: the best way to score a bikini bod like Jennifer Aniston)?!  Even better, you never know with whom you'll be downward dogging.  Everyone from software CEOs to fashion models to reality TV stars have stopped by for a collectively chic "om."

Classes are usually on Thursday nights in Central Park, but the lovely Ms. Stiles likes to keep things fresh, so be sure to check out her Facebook group page for exact times, dates and locations.

I recommend Tara Stiles' instruction not just because she knows her craft, but also because she's not a freaky yoga person.  I asked her to explain her philosophy, and here's what she told me:

"Yoga is for everybody, not just "yoga people" or people who dress like them.  Certain yoga traditions can feel as exclusive as those high-school clicks.  You don't have to become a Hindu or quit your job and move to an Ashram.  I won't read out of my journal or instruct you to become one with the earth.  You will sweat and improve your strength, flexibility, balance and feel great.  I don't preach spirituality. It's not necessary. It's a big area of confusion that you have to have certain spiritual beliefs to practice yoga. When you start yoga, you get stronger, health improves, and things get more obvious. Nothing mystical, it just happens."

And did I mention the classes are FREE?  Beat the recession, stay in shape and rub toned shoulders with Manhattan's elite beneath a canopy of green trees.  Run don't walk!

psst...got a recession-proof activity to recommend??  please share!

I still love the Water Taxi staycation...

I find the tabloids' latest bombshell, the rumored affair between Madonna and Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez, aka A-Rod, interesting only because of the professions of those involved: mega-celebrity and star athlete.

Whether or not there is truth to the rumor (Madonna denied the allegations in an official statement on Sunday), this illuminates the trend of Hollywood A-listers dating pro athletes. 

Have leading men lost their mojo?  Have musicians gotten musty?

Eva Longoria Parker is celebrating her one-year wedding anniversary with hoops star Tony Parker (check out our gallery!).

Gisele and QB Tom Brady are possibly the most beautiful couple on the planet (sorry Brad and Angie).

Hilary Duff's romance with hockey star Mike Comrie continues to sizzle.

Kate Hudson and Lance Armstrong's "friendship" appears to be heating up.

Jessica Simpson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo are still going strong.

Victoria's Secret supermodel Adriana Lima was recently taken off the market by basketballer Marko Jaric.

What is it with athletes (besides their bods and bankroll)?  Is their brand of celebrity less threatening to red carpet regulars?  Are they in the limelight just enough, but not too much to overshadow the starlets?  Or is it just a relief to date outside the industry?  Or am I over-thinking this?!

As a big fan of all things POP, I am always mesmerized by products inspired by POP-CULTURE and POP-ART that boast both form and function -- particularly when said products look like kids' toys.

I suppose for many these products do double as kids' toys, but due to their inherent functionality, I also consider them "adult toys" (in the most innocent way, of course; but that headline got your attention, didn't it?)

Take a look at three I'm currently coveting:

1. TOY WATCH'S NEW NEON PLASTERAMIC, $195

Like a swankier Swatch (my all-time favorite), Toy Watch nods to the neon trend with this bright series.  Considering the continuation of the all-things-colorful trend, TheCoolhunter.net makes a wise observation: "..the Toy Watch could be the new RayBan Wayfarer."

2. DREAM KITTY'S SOLAR-POWERED HELLO KITTY CHARGING STATION, $159.99

This 5x3-inch, eco-friendly charger powers to full capacity after 6 hours in the sunlight, or after about 1 hour plugged-in.  Charge computers, cameras, cell phones and MP3 players.  The charger even has a built-in LED that provides 48 hours of interrupted light.

3.  MIMOBOT USB FLASH DRIVE, from $39.95

Launched in 2005 by mimoco (MEE-mo-co), these limited edition artist-designed flash drives carry all the typical tech-y stuff (files, pictures, documents, presentations) without making you yawn --- or yearn for something chic.  There's something very Gwen Stefani/Harajuku Lovers about these cute little pals...I like the stripes and bears, but there's also a Princess Leia version for those truly pop-culture obsessed.

WANNA PLAY????

I was saddened to read about the death of Kermit Love, 91, the man who created the legendary Big Bird costume.  Jim Henson made the original character sketches in the late 60's, but it was Love who brought the 8-foot, 2-inch fellow to life.

I will pause here to answer the question I know you're all asking:
"Is Kermit (the Frog) named after Kermit (Love)?!"

According to an Associated Press obituary, the answer is no.   Apparently an uncanny coincidence.

I grew up a "Sesame Street" kid, and I always considered Big Bird my best friend.  Sure Cookie Monster and I share a passion, Burt and Ernie do 70's-chic better than any Brooklyn hipster, and Oscar can trash-talk with the best of them, but Big Bird was different.  Somehow more human.  Maybe even a little bit sad...

Those doleful eyes, that soft-looking beak; the yellow feathers that flutter behind him like butterflies.  The quirky, baby-bird-just-woke-up-from-a-nap plumage atop his fluffy head.  Striped pink and orange legs that not even Wolford could successfully recreate as hosiery.  And those hands!   Mitten-like "claws" that always seemed to be gently grasping for something...

Thank you, Kermit Love, for creating someone we can all look up to.

If you ask me, it's also a bit of a coincidence that after years of being out of favor, or only acceptable in small doses, the hottest color this season is...bright yellow. 

In celebration of Big Bird yellow, I tracked down a few bright spots:

Kate Spade clutch

J. Crew dress

Marc Jacobs flats

Pringle of Scotland top

According to a recent interview with Angelina Jolie in Entertainment Weekly, her beau Brad is not only difficult to shop for, but he also gives good gift.

Jolie tells EW:

''Mad, our 6-year-old, draws lots of war scenarios. He's all into war and guns. So for Mother's Day he drew a machine gun, and Brad had it made into a necklace, which is really sweet. It's really cute. I think it's really good!''

Encouraging a child to draw war scenarios and immortalizing one of his creations in the form of jewelry is not exactly what one might expect from the soon-to-be mom of six and UN Goodwill Ambassador, but then again when has Jolie ever been predictable, much less conventional?

This is the same woman made infamous for incestuous kisses and wearing a vial (vile!) of Billy Bob Thornton's blood around her neck.  Jolie has also admitted to collecting knives since she was a kid.  Not to mention, the sexy screen siren is almost always fully-loaded in her films. 

Seriously, who else could rock a closet full of St. John suits alongside a kickin' collection of Banksy artwork? 

The same woman who can pull off both sensible Cole Haan shoes and a Thomas Wylde dress on the red carpet at Cannes.

What do you think about golden guns as gifts?  Sweet or scary?  Weird or warm and fuzzy?  Is this a cute case of boys will be boys, or should parents institute their own brand of gun control?

Click here what LilSugar has to say about it.

Click here to get your own gold machine gun charm.