Jammie Jam

As one of my best friends and I meandered through the H&M store in quaint Georgetown this past weekend, she succinctly asked, "Valerie, what are these silk pajama pants all about?" I smiled and said, "well, according to The Man Repeller, innerwear worn as outerwear is so hot right now." She just smiled and continued to browse. I smiled too, as the pants, which are slightly less baggy than bedtime flannels, appealed to me the moment I met them. I love when fashion is comfortable.

We had this conversation after two hours of sleep on a red eye from the West Coast and a triple latte from Dean & Deluca, so it's a miracle I remember the words that made me feel so expert-like. Every new, far-fetched trend deserves to "have a moment." Therefore, I am bestowing pajama pants (or as designer Karen Walker calls them, boat pants) with their moment.

Here's a visual explanation of how to wear them. Guys, pay attention, too; pajama pants are the best way to express your mack daddy/Hugh Hefner side.

Proenza Schouler Fall 2011 RTW
(photo via nymag.com)

Haider Ackerman Resort 2011
(photo via nymag.com)

Karen Walker Spring 2011 RTW
(photo via nymag.com)

Erdem fall 2011
(photo via nymag.com)

Lanvin via Mr. Porter

Behold, the Eyes of Barneys New York

You know the phrase, "eyes are the windows to the soul." We'll our favorite department store, Barneys, just launched "The Window," an up close and personal, witty Website designed to let us all into the soul of the shopping mecca's glamorous, chic, and cutting-edge universe.

It's an intimate way to get acquainted with the season's new Louboutins and a device for peering into the mind of, wait for it, Simon Doonan. I already feel a stronger connection to overpriced couture mecca o' wonder, which is now even more of a happy thought for me. If Peter Pan were a true story, I would definitely being flying now.

In the form of worship, here are Simon's reflections on Lanvin's eponymous genius, Alber Elbaz:

Alber Elbaz is not just the genius designer for Maison Lanvin, he is also a part of the Barneys family. We go way back. We love him because he designs the chic-est, most wantable clothes and accessories on the planet — but there is something else. We dig him because he is a great person.

He is, in fact, a total MENSCH.

(For those of you who don’t know what “mensch” means, here’s some help:

Mensch [men-ch]:  a decent, upright, mature, and responsible person.)

… is for Magic.  Alber’s personal journey via Morocco, Israel, NYC and now Paris, gives his designs eclectic electricity. He has the multi-culti magic of Yves, as in Saint Laurent.

 … is for Exuberance. A typical Lanvin show juxtaposes moments of somber drama with bursts of colorful joie de vivre.  Isn’t that what life is all about?

 … is for Noir. Nobody does black like Alber. He gets the nuances of noir, and the subtle naughtiness of noir.

 … is for Self-deprecation. After his last show Alber told WWD, “I’m not a cool designer, and Lanvin is not a cool brand.” ( By which he meant, Lanvin is not relentlessly trendy and insider-ish. ) He’s right: Lanvin is not a “cool” brand. It’s a timeless brand.

 … is for Chandeliers. Alber loves them. In 2004 we restaged Alber’s Paris Fall show in our Beverly Hills store. When Alber arrived and saw the runway, he felt we needed more chandeliers. We ransacked the movie studio prop-rental houses to get him what he wanted. We were so anxious to please Alber that we seriously contemplated stealing some chandeliers from Candy Spelling’s Bel Air living room.

 … is for Humor. Alber is rigorous about his seams and his designs, but knows when to turn up the laugh track: Check out his playful Frenchy foofy window displays, to mention nothing of his drag-queen-filled NYC Halloween party last year.

Vive Alber! Vive le Mensch!

(Photo and Content from The Window/Barneys New York)