KOEI announced today that it's coming out with a fashion-savvy game for Nintendo DS called POP CUTIE! The game is apparently one part trend-hunting, and one part retail management. Because it's every gamers dream to finally get to play a game that simulates the day-to-day business of a retail clothing store. Right? The game is not expected to be a hit with men ages 0-100.

POP CUTIE! will offer people who don't have jobs -- probably because they're obsessed with gaming -- a chance to have a virtual job where they run a small fashion boutique. Players will hire models and assistants, design their shop's look, place magazine ads, choose their own muzak, and even run the cash register. Yipee! Why is it that games marketed towards women always seem more like work than entertainment?

[via Fashionista]

We always love to see what celebrities wear to designer's parties. Of course they want to dress to impress, and when they're mingling with the fashion world the pressure is even greater.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Brooke Fuller who runs an online boutique stocked full of great original handmade goods from other independent designers.

Tell me a little about yourself and your shop. I am a busy woman! I run a shop at The Pear Project that focuses on artisan goods in everyday life along with a blog at thepearproject.blogspot.com under the same theme. At The Pear Project I carry handpicked goods from a variety of artists focusing on modern handmade items that can enhance everyday life. I have a love of sales, advertising and marketing that fits in well with running this shop.

I also am a trained photographer. I have a commercial portfolio, but most of my practical experience has been with portraits. I love Polaroids and spend a lot of time thinking of how I can transform my photography into more than prints on the wall. I have a popular series of sx-70 manipulations I did when that type of film was available along with a series of resin necklaces. I have also used my photography for inspiration in other mediums as well.

Felting is another passion of mine. I am currently working on a series of 4x4 wall pieces with theme of simplicity inspired by nature & a line of brightly colored felted bracelets that will include the actual bracelets along with a kit for those who would rather do it themselves. I enjoy dry needle felting and use it as a sculpting medium. The texture draws me in and I am always amazed at the finished product.

I also work with enamel, resin, paper & a few other mediums. Variety is the spice of life, and I don't think I will ever be able to specialize in just 1 thing!

Who are your favorite designers? This is an easy question because I carry many of my favorite designers in The Pear Project shop. To name a few off hand ... I adore the paper products from Papered Together. I can't even count the number of times I have given out the coasters we carry in the shop as an affordable, unique gift. They are just perfect! I also love to give salt shakers by Gamiworks too.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I love mineral make-up! It gives a great natural look while evening out my skin tone. I also have a bag and purse habit.

A bold text across the bottom of a London-based boutique's display window reads "25 cats, 17 dogs, 8 seals, 15 badgers, 14 otters...." No, Topshop is not working on a Noah's Ark window arrangement. Rather, the Oxford Street flagship store has devoted their entire window display to support PETA's anti-fur campaign.

A mannequin wearing a long coat composed entirely of teddy bears and other stuffed animals stands at the forefront of the display; the number of toys on the jacket represents the number of real animals required to construct one fur coat.

The windows of Topshop are also emblazoned with the circle and bar no-fur symbol famous in association with PETA.

I'm not extremely familiar with fur-harvesting, but with that many animals involved, it would have to be one heck of a coat. What do you think?

Let's be honest, when it comes to buying jewelry, sometimes it's more valuable to know who to ask than to know it yourself.

If you agree with me, you should check out the new website chicSherlock.com. The brainchild of an ex-Vanity Fair editor, chicSherlock is an online boutique that sells the best bling and baubles from well-known designers and a few fresh faces. What I like about this site is that there isn't anything crappy or tacky for sale on the site. It's just good taste, writ large. I guess that just goes to show you, what you know isn't as important as who you know to ask.