The book's similarities with Gossip Girl don't end at using the internet as a literary device to move the story forward — according to a review in the UK Independent of the English translation of Girls of Riyadh: "Like their New York sisters, the girls of Riyadh live lives of branded plenitude," writes reviewer Alev Adil. "They watch Hollywood blockbusters, carry miniature pedigree dogs in designer handbags, go to the gym, console themselves with rhinoplasty and chemical peels, drink daddy's secret stash of Dom Perignon and dance the night away in Badgley Mishka or Roberto Cavalli. However, sequestered under Sharia law with little in the way of basic human rights, they must display a great deal more ingenuity than their Western counterparts in order to meet men."

So the acquisition of $3,000 handbags is so important that it's worth circumventing Sharia law. Obviously. It's unclear why disgustingly expensive accoutrements have become such a staple of the chick-lit genre. A book about young, urban women can, in fact, be published without referencing Manolo Blahniks. Guess the notion that women are frivolous label whores transcends cultures!

Saudi Girls Gone Wild [Forbes]
Girls Of Riyadh, By Rajaa Alsanea, Trans. Marilyn Booth: Funny And Chilling: Sex In the Saudi City

• Fergie absolutely does not rap about Candie's shoes because she is paid to rap about Candie's shoes. She only raps about brand names she's not paid to rap about, like Bentleys and Taco Bell. She keeps it real that way. [WWD, 1st item]
  
• Yves Saint Laurent has been hospitalized and is reportedly "not doing well." But he's kind of a hypochondriac so whatevs. [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• Our favorite fashion blogger, Lauren Goldstein Crowe, is not happy. Because she used to be able to get Miu Miu on the cheap, and now, shit is fucking expensive. We get the feeling her press discount might've gone bye-bye. [Portfolio]
  
• England continues to lay down the law when it comes to models: Not only must they be over age 16, but now there can't be any cigarettes or (gasp!) recreational drugs backstage! And blah blah blah they want the girls to weigh more, unionize, go to school, get acupuncture, find spiritual well-being... basically turn them into Mount Holyoke students or something. Yeah, THAT'LL sell clothes. [WWD, sub req'd]

• Badgley Mishka to debut its first-ever swimwear line at Miami Fashion Week. We can't help but conjure up images of intricately beaded maillots... which, frankly, sorta creeps us out. [Vogue UK]
• Listen up boys and girls! Even people who run international ice cream companies can become CEO's of luxury houses one day! [Vogue UK]
• So you know how haute couture means that the garment was hand-sewn and made from a custom pattern for your perfect little body? Um, not so much. [WSJ]