Everyone loves Gemma. Everyone talks about Gemma. Everyone want to be or be seen with Gemma. (I’m over her, but that’s me.) Just when we thought our infatuation with the Ward name was almost over, here comes little sister Sophie. With her sister’s “off” looks and the Ward height, Sophie looks as if she will inherit modeling’s royalty crown. Duncan at IMG told Vogue.co.uk that “At an impressive 6ft with a flowing mane of chestnut hair, piercing blue eys and limbs that wouldn’t look out of place on a couture runway, she seems to be mesmerising all the clients she meets.”

The New York Times reports today that TopShop, the UK store that we have been pining for to make its way over to the States, is scouting out space for a flagship store in Manhattan, and that the store could open as early as next spring.

Unfamiliar with Topshop? Some excerpts from the Times do a good job at explaining why, when Topshop opens stateside, you will not only be familiar, you will be a devout worshipper and incessant frequenter of its endless racks…

Topshop targets customers who are “knowledgeable and demanding, with a near insatiable appetite for novelty and a bargain.” …um, yeah, that would be us.

“At peak shopping periods, the Topshop at Oxford Circus ferries in goods by the truckload, with two to three deliveries of fresh merchandise a day and 7,000 distinct looks each season.” …even though everyone is shopping there, no one ends up wearing the same thing. Perfect.

“By keeping manufacturing runs limited, Topshop has created what Ms. Shepherdson calls a ‘dynamic of desperation,’ that has customers feverishly zooming in on sought-after items, enticing them to visit all the time.” … we at Papierdoll do not advocate shopping with desperation or under the pressure to buy something because it won’t be there anymore (remember, the shelves will always be restocked with more gorgeous designs, and if you miss it now something equally as fabulous will literally materialize), but the business model, from a retail perspective, is genius, and can work in the consumer’s favor if you go in with a cool head and discerning eye.

It’s European style, inspired by the runways, but with a touch of timelessness as well. Basically, Topshop is like Zara or H&M, but with an even wider array of choices at a quicker turnover rate and with better quality (and thus, slightly higher price points).

Still need convincing? Here are some selections from TopShop’s online store (which is much more limited than what you would find in store).

Mac Style Shirt Dress, £55 (~$101) and Short Sleeved Wrap Top, £28 (~$52)

Crinkled Effect Camisole, £22 (~$41) and Premium Short Sleeved Blouse £30 (~$55)

And now the real question becomes: where on the island of Manhattan will they put it?

My favorite fashion mommy’s new son Kingston James McGregor Rossdale was born on May 26. Needless to say that little Kingston will have an exstensive wardrobe thanks to her Harajuku Lovers kids and babies line.

Some sample sales promoters are full of it. No special deals, items that you can get at lower prices in most stores etc. Two sample sales I always check for are The Art of Shopping Sample sales and the Catherine Malandrino sales. Just so happens that there is a Catherine Malandrino sale coming up. See below for even more sample sales happening in New York and LA.

Catherine Malandrino - Sample Sale

June 20th - 23rd
Tuesday - Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

The Metropolitan Pavilion
North Pavilion
110 West 19th Street
(6th - 7th Avenues)
212.840.0106
www.catherinemalandrino.com

Prices are wholesale and below
Sizes 2 to 12
Cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express
Spring Collection 2006
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For more sample sales happening this week checkout the Thriftychick sample sale section by clicking here

Far be it from me to be the rebellious type, but I absolutely love Zoozoom’s newest photo feature, Myspace. I’ve had issues with the networking site for awhile. Never had the forum to publicize it but I just don’t dig it. Virtual “friends” who invite you to be their “friends” after coming to your hobbled html page? Eva says, Je n’aime pas.