Vera Wang is set to give the girl on a budget the wedding dress of her dreams.  The reigning queen of bridal gowns has teamed up with David’s Bridal to bring affordable dresses to the masses.  Gowns will range from $600 to $1,200, a relative bargain when you consider a Vera Wang gown can cost you between $4,000 and $25,000.  Now this is what I call business savvy.  In order to maintain dominance one has to continually extend into other markets, and this is a logical extension.  We are all living a new reality, we live in a fashion world where high-end and lower-end lines collaborate everyday.  It was only a matter of time before bridal entered the arena.  Lucky for David’s Bridal’s customers, Wang plans on providing the same quality fabrics for her lower-priced designs. 

Vera Wang to Design A Line For David Bridal [The Cut]

Scarlett Johansson’s new summer 2010 ad campaign for Mango is here.  It was revealed that the actress would return as the face of Mango earlier this year.  She looks as pretty as a china doll in the ad, but we also get a glimpse of a more comtemplative Scarlett.  Her usual sexiness was played down and a softer look was brought to the forefront.  The campaign was shot by fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti.  Cotton and pretty lace make up the collection of dresses and tops, they are lightweight and perfect for the summer weather.  Even the colors are soft and neutral.  Comfort and ease comes to mind, and that’s just the way we like it during the summer months.  I’m already transported into  summer by the ad, the only thing missing is a pitcher of lemonade.

Some of Hollywood’s leading actresses have graced the cover of Vogue Paris for the May issue.  They are some of the best actresses working right now, Penelope Cruz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet and Julianne Moore.  These ladies prove that talent and beauty are an unbeatable combination.  The black-and-white photography gives the cover a classic and nostalgic feel, while the Gap attire says they are all confident and modern women.  Make no mistake, this is not Old Hollywood, these ladies are powerhouses in both their craft and in their own right. 

Costello Tagliapietra are two of my favorite designers, and they have collaborated with Uniqlo to bring us a lower-priced collection.  The duo work wonders with jersey for their high-end line, and they plan on doing the same with the new capsule collection.  There are 14 differently styled dresses in a range of spring colors that are beautifully draped from silk jersey.  You can have your pick at Uniqlo on May 20th when the collection hits stores.  The dresses are moderately priced at $29.50 to $39.50.  Summer has definitely gotten more stylish for the fashion maven on a budget.

Fashion’s Night Out is coming on September 10th, and there’s cause for celebration.  It was arguably the best part of New York Fashion Week last year, and I’m betting it will be the same this year.  Anna Wintour and Vogue were a major force behind the evening.  The event was created to support retailers worldwide, and besides, a late night of shopping and champagne provides much needed retail therapy.  The only difference this time around is our ability to get our hands on even more FNO merchandise.  Yes, Fashion’s Night Out has a collection of limited-edition T-shirts, tanks and hoodies with the printed logo.  Retailers interested in selling the merchandise should contact the FNO team at fnocollection@fashionsnightout.com, orders must be placed by April 30th.  We’re also looking forward to the CBS special on the making of Fashion’s Night Out on September 15th.  Who doesn’t love a good behind the scenes view on fashion?  So Fashion’s Night Out makes our Rollcall list this week because on this night retail fashion becomes a sorority/fraternity.

Related Articles:  Plans for New York Fashion Week At Lincoln Center

Fashion’s Night Out 2010 to Host A Runway Show With Over 200 Models

Countdown to Fashion’s Night Out: Video

Rachel Roy Showcases Her ‘Rachel Rachel Roy’ Line

Dana Lorenz celebrated her new limited-edition jewelry collection last night with a launching party.  Lorenz collaborated with J.Crew to create the Fenton/Fallon jewelry line.  She designed beautiful pieces that will glam up even a simple white T-shirt and demin look.  The collection has an antique-like quality, but it’s been updated with a great mix of metals, from silver, gold and pewter to diamond like crystals.  Looking chic does not have to break the bank because they’re priced from $95 to $295.

Many have wondered what it would be like to walk the famed halls of Vogue magazine.  Well one lucky person will find out.  Anna Wintour is auctioning the opportunity to spend one week at the fashion bible for charity.  Bidding starts at $1,000, but it’s likely to go for much more.  They had us at authorized visits to their offices, and so we have named Vogue and Anna Wintour to our Rollcall list this week.  The best part of this whole experience is the winner gets to meet Anna herself.  That would make it all worth while, but I’m sure the accessories closet would be a very close second.  Now I doubt it would be anything like The Devil Wears Prada, but I would suggest the winner wears stylish, but comfortable shoes because there might be a few coffee runs on this gig. [Charity Buzz] Via [The Cut]

The ladies of Vena Cava are all set to launch a new T-shirt collection in the fall of 2010.  The ready-to-wear line will offer T-shirts at a lower price via Viva Vena.  Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai saw an opening in the market for printed tees and embarked on this new venture.  The collection includes tees, tanks and dresses all made from organic cotton and jersey.  You will be able to shop the collection at Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop an La Garconne for under $200 in July.  Judging from the excitement from this announcement, it looks like Vena Cava will have a very successful collection.  The demand is there, and the lower price only sweetens the deal. [WWD]

Gisele Bundchen was already back in model shape weeks after having her son, Benjamin.  Here we see the supermodel in an ad campaign for Colcci, the first since becoming a mother.  She does make motherhood seem effortless, but we know it takes work to make it look so easy.  The Colcci campaign was shot in Boston about eight weeks after Gisele had given birth, and you can barely tell she’d even had a baby.  She still looks great in front of the camera.  It’s too soon to tell right now, but it will be interesting to see the new dimensions motherhood brings to her performance.  Such a life changing experience will only bring more depth and emotion to her photographs. 

They’re Out: The Colcci Ads From Gisele Bundchen’s First Postpartum Photoshoot  [Fashionologie]

Related Post: Gisele – Behind the Scenes for Vogue Cover Shoot

When I say sweatpants you think, the gym.  That would usually be the correct answer, but we now live in an alternate universe where sweatpants are associated with luxury.  If designer Michael Kors has his way, you will be casually chic in a pair of cashmere sweatpants for $995.  I remember a time when the money crowd would rather be caught shopping the sales rack than be seen in public with sweats.  What’s changed?  Maybe all they needed were for said item to be made by top designers in the finest fabrics.  Kors is not alone, Alexander Wang was among the first to start this trend along with Isabel Marant for Spring 2010, then Rag & Bone and Bottega Veneta.  The trend appears to be catching on judging by the reported sales from designers and stores.  Will this be more than just a fad?  I doubt it, we have far too much history with sweats to fully find them acceptable for anything other than lounging or exercise.  It should go without saying that sweatpants should not be worn on a date, even if they are paired with Louboutins, your date will be left underwhelmed.  There’s a time and place for everything, and sweats may be fine for shopping, but not for fine dining.

The $1,000 Sweatpants  [WSJ]