Gina Michele in Coveted NY Times Sunday Styles

Excerpted from "A Different Beat" (The New York Times, Sunday, August 20, 2006): A mod twist on a tweed coat by Gina Michele is $210.

And what better time to show off this shawl-collar wide cuff coat--which will be available at unsungdesigners.com in September--and Gina Michele's other gorgeous pieces than right before Labor Day (when summer is unofficially over, booo!). We can't do anything about the end of summer, but we're super excited for Gina Michele's Fall collection of tweeds, corduroys and luxe printed satins (think pinecones, bonsai trees, unlikely color combinations, a whole lot of fun!).

You'll want to grab some of Gina Michele's spring/summer pieces on sale at Unsung now. Very limited quantities of her popular Bianca Dress, Owl Tank, and Bottle Top (as seen in Daily Candy) are still in stock, but not for long.

Phyl Casual Couture in September Lucky

We want to give a shout out to the talented designer of Phyl Casual Couture, who was featured as a "great pick" in the September issue of Lucky. Phyl Couture is understated, elegant, comfortable and always pretty. We love the soft jersey dresses with details like beading and lace trim because they travel like a charm (they take up no space in a suitcase and resist wrinkles) and they look great from day to night. Shop Phyl at unsungdesigners.com now!

Who Has Better Hair?

Daniel V. from season 2

OR

Alison from this season?

They both have the deep side part thing going. And great bangs. I love Alison's shade of blonde, plus she's adorable. But then again so is Daniel. I'm going with Alison on this one. Alison has the best hair of all the designers so far.

(photos from BravoTV/ProjectRunway)

Our Interview In BussBuss.com

Take a look at our interview in BussBuss.com (your guide to totally haute stuff), where we talk about the importance of buying indie. BussBuss is a style & shopping guide/blog with sections like 'haute clicks,' 'haute talk,' haute shops,' and 'total hauties.' And while you're at it, sign up to receive your Daily Buss.

gr.dano in WWD

Always a best-seller at Unsung, Bay-area indie designer gr.dano was recently featured in WWD. This comes off the heels of the 7x7 magazine "The Very Best of SF"
edition naming gr.dano "Best Fall Fashions to Covet Now" as well as receiving the "Masterminds" award in the SF Weekly "Best of SF" edition. Congrats!

You can shop gr.dano now, or check back with us in September for their Fall collection. Remember, we ship worldwide.

Our Fave Show: Season 3

I almost forgot that season 3 of Project Runway starts tonight! I can't imagine getting as sucked in by the drama as I did last season--Frau Klum's pregnancy S&M outfits, Kara's breakdowns, Michael Kors' crazy irrelevant critiques, Daniel V's hair, the Tim & Andre show, Santino in general... so emotionally draining. Everyone watch at 9 and we'll discuss who we hate tomorrow.

Keeping America Beautiful, Homeboy Style

We hate how some people get to bask in the limelight while others--usually the ones doing all the real work--get no credit at all. So we're here to give a MASSIVE and HEARTFELT THANK YOU to the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District cleaning crew.

Not only do they keep the neighborhood and our beloved alley in ship shape, but they do it with a sense of humor and a whole lotta style. Pictured here is one of the fellas, who stepped in to relieve our tired model during our last photo shoot. Maybe he should try another line of work? Looking good guys!

Angel is the Centerfold

Whether or not you're into football or into the 'Skins, there's no denying these Redskinettes are smokin' in Belabunda's Mermaid bikini. The halter-style tops are covered with lightweight discs that look like scales. The bikinis in this picture are mix-matched; normally the tops and bottoms are the same color and all bottoms have a contrasting lace trim.

Check out Belabunda's other styles. They're cute, funky and totally fun to wear. They are also very limited edition, so get yours soon!

They're Heeeere!

We've been waiting for November 18's leather bags for months, and the result is sweeter than we could have imagined. The oversized shoulder bag is ruched at the top and the handles are covered in leather. The clutch has an ingenious handle and pleat details. The bags come in black and white.


Also check out November 18's one-of-a-kind necklaces. The pieces are composed of lightweight chains, asymmetrically placed beads and pearls, and finished with a raw silk ribbon at the closure. If you're a smart shopper, you'll notice similar (but we think overdone and not as nice) pieces at Barney's for about 10x the price.

Underground Indie Website No Longer a Secret

We're in the July issue of Lucky! Loving the emails from indie fashion lovers all around the world: Belgium, England, Australia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia. Unsung ships globally so you can protect your identity from mass-produced generica anywhere in the world!

Alek Wek and Smith on Sullivan Summer Sale

What makes this supermodel so beautiful? Hint: It's more than what's on the outside. Come see for yourself at Smith on Sullivan this weekend. Alek will be debuting her collection of gorgeous handbags at this great new boutique all week (June 20-27). And she'll be at the store this weekend if you want to meet her and find out more about her line.

Kareen Smith Designs will also be holding its summer sale this week. Come browse the designer's irresistable summer dresses and meet Kareen in person. She'll even do minor custom alterations for you if needed.

Smith on Sullivan is located at 171 Sullivan Street (b/t Houston & Bleecker).

Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this Weekend

Some of the best designers and crafters we've ever seen will be found at the Renegade Craft Fair in Williamsburg, Brooklyn this weekend. Many are our beloved Unsung Designers, so drop by, do some shopping and support these indie designers!

11am - 6 pm Saturday & Sunday at Williamsburg's McCarren Park. The easiest way to get there is to take the L train to Bedford Ave. and walk up to N. 12th St.

Hot New NYC Boutique: Smith on Sullivan

One of the most talented designers we know, Kareen Smith, has opened her own boutique in the Village. If you're in NYC you should stop by and say hello. The store is filled with the most adorable undies and bikinis, hard-to-find European skincare products, vintage pieces Kareen has collected throughout the years (she has been a stylist for years and her taste shows in her selection), and of course, the latest by Kareen herself.

Her summer collection is to die for. She uses the lightest, softest, sheerest, gauziest materials to create pieces to make you look and feel beautiful in the hot city summer. Our faves include the Safari Dress that will take you into the bush in elegance; the Grecian Dress that will make you look like a goddess; and the Delphinium Blouse that will travel stylishly with you all summer long.

Don't worry if you won't be in New York anytime soon. Unsung is the only place to buy Kareen Smith Designs online anytime.

Onion Trunk Show this Saturday 6/10

We Don't Care About Celebrity Sightings...

we'd much rather spy on people we know.

The Apple flagship on 5th Avenue documented the 1st 24 hours of the store with a live webcam, and we spotted our favorite web designer, J (name withheld to protect his top secret identity), cruising by on his bike at 11.

You can't hide from us--we have eyes everywhere. MWAHAHAHA-MWAHAHAHAAA!