Expect more handbags from Christian Louboutin's brand expansion, which also includes up to ten new U.S. boutiques and "aggressive protection" of the brand's trademarks, like those lovely red soles. [WWD]
• Sheryl Crow is the latest celebrity to elbow her way into the clothing market: This summer, sales floors welcome her affordable denim collection, Bootheel Denim Trading Co., made by the same company that makes Victoria Beckham's DVB Denim collection. [WWD]
• Eric Wilson likes Rag & Bone, thinks Duckie Brown designers should have put elbow patches on the elbows, and likens Tim Hamilton to J. Crew from twenty years ago. [NYT]
• Lauren Conrad took a break from "working" at Fashion Week to attend the Playboy Super Bowl party with Hills co-star Audrina Patridge. They refused to walk the red carpet but had no problem posing for pictures. Yeah, we dunno either. [Page Six]
• Cathy Horyn but finds it "unfortunate" that many fall '08 looks have padded shoulders, pushed-up sleeves, layered and cinched waists, and all the other little things that make everything "convene" in the middle. Clumpy. [On the Runway/NYT]
• Harmless pre-coffee rumormongering: Betsey Johnson may have a second granddaughter on the way. [Fashionista] —Amy Odell