We’ve been hearing rumors of a collaboration album between Esau Mwamwaya and Vampire Weekend, Ruby Suns, Santogold and more for a while now, so when last.fm released the video cover of M.I.A.’s Paper Planes a while back, we were stoked…

Well, now Mwamwaya has released his cover of Vampire Weekend’s Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa on his myspace page, and we’re here to tell you that it might be even better than the original. Which makes us pretty damn excited for this upcoming CD… stay tuned for that one!

As we mentioned last week, the Spring 2009 RTW collections were fairly impressive this year, so we’ll be sharing some of our favorite looks and details with you, starting with these ‘knit’ sandals from the Ohne Titel collection that reminded us a bit of the Rodarte Fall RTW collection.

While the minty aqua is a bit (ahem) much, we love the fun and frilly quality these bring for spring.

Found in the pages of Vogue Italia this photo has us craving fall style. Time to go shopping!

A little promo email showed up in our inbox this week for the gorgeousness that is The Tides Hotel, reminding us how alluring Miami can be… when it’s not hurricane season, of course.

The queen of modern hotel decor, Kelly Wearstler redesigned the interior of this South Beach luxury spot last year, and we’ve been dying to visit ever since.

Tufted sofas and glamorous chairs as pool decor? So ridiculous, and so chic.

The room interiors are part retro south beach and part hollywood glam.

The bar beckons with sumptuous coral coloring and intimate spaces, and the restaurant is all class.

We’re thinking as soon as those pesky winds die down, we might just need to hop a plane…

While we love tracking all the blog and news posts on the runway looks from Fashion Week, we might love the behind-the-scenes looks even more. There’s such intensity throughout the shows, and Eric Ray Davidon’s Photo of the Moment posts are perfectly capturing the energy and emotion.

Oh, and the shows? So far we’ve actually been fairly impressed. More on that next week!

If you haven’t heard of Calexico by now, you should have. Since their first CD in 1997, they’ve released sixteen more albums. And they’re about to do it again.

Their latest release Carried to Dust is personal, haunting and sweet at the same time. A tribute to their hometown of Tuscon, Ariz. the first single, Two Silver Trees certainly echoes the feeling of the slow pace and dry heat of the desert. For more insight into their inspirations for the record, check out the Calexico preview on NPR with video of the band, the city, and a couple more songs to get into. While their sound can be an acquired taste, it’s definitely grown on us.

If you only follow one rule for fall accessories, it’s this: go for the drama. Chunky gems, statement pieces, and serious detailing are all here. Designers are taking a cue from eras past for this season, and the Art Deco style is just one of the many that we’re loving. Here are our picks:

Deck your arms in Deco drama from CC Skye and Janis Savitt with this stunning bracelets.

Simplified Deco style is perfect for a cocktail ring. Isharya, Alexis Bittar, and Juicy all get it right with these designs.

Taking a cue from Deco architecture, these earrings each have their own take on the style. Clockwise from left: Vanessa Montiel, CC Skye, Mallary Marks, and Bounkit for Vivre.

Stunning beauty from Patrick Demarchelier for India Vogue. Red lipstick and feathers for fall? Definitely.

Two things to do today:

1. Bookmark Hedi Slimane’s photo diary blog.

2. Get your hands on a copy of his much awaited Rock Diary anthology that arrived this summer

Slimane says that before he was a desiger (for YSL and Dior, no less) he was a photographer.

ìI started taking pictures before I even began in fashion. I didnít start with clothes until I was 16, but I had my first camera when I was 11. Iíve always taken pictures, almost like some people take notes or write down their thoughts.î

With images like this, we believe him. And we want more.

Culver City is one of our favorite growing neighborhoods in LA. So when Rush Street came to downtown we couldn’t wait to check it out.

Inspired by the Chicago strip, Rush boasts a “Chi-town vibe” with gourmet bar food and a relaxed urban style. Not to mention lots of gathering spaces.

The patio out front is great for people watching, but the lounge upstairs above the dining area is perfect for cozying down with a signature cocktail, of which they have a fine selection.

Of course, with a outdoor patio out back and a bar this stocked… it’s pretty hard not to have a good time. And, they’ve just added a simple brunch menu, which means you can take full advantage of all Rush has to offer… all day long.