The trend for ridiculously high heels has reached an all-time, with the announcement this week that Christian Louboutin is designing a spike-stiletto with an 8-inch heel. For the past few seasons, Louboutin lovers have been tottering around in the designer's 7-inch heels.

One can't help but wonder how much higher the shoes can get. They're obviously not made for walking any great distance, no further than the car to the red carpet, and even that seems like it'd be a struggle. A friend to hold on to for dear life as you walk is a definite must for these shoes.

What goes up, must come down, and I predict the super high heel craze has reached its peak and will soon go down.

What recession? While much of the population is considering soup and grilled cheese for dinner for the forseable future, the well-off have these exciting new baubles to look forward to: Louis Vuitton has launched two new patented diamond cuts. One is a rounded-cut flower diamond, and the other is a pointed-cut flower diamond.

The LV diamonds have between 61 and 77 facets, and are set into various pieces of jewelry, including a necklace with 108 carats of diamonds retailing at $4 million. The collection has been named "Les Ardentes", which translate as "teh blazing."

Just as the LV bags and accessories have been cheapened by the shoddy knock-offs that are available on every street corner and every mall kiosk, you can be sure that somewhere, someone's already designing a look-a-like cubic zirconia version.

No matter what country we're talking about, Fashion Week tends to bring out the most interesting and quirky new fashions in everything from clothing to shoes and accessories. The 2009 Spring Paris Fashion Week shows were absolutely no exception.

Of particular interest this year was the footwear. Killer high-heels are still the "in" thing, and that trend doesn't look like it'll be dying off anytime soon, despite a handful of models having fallen over on the catwalk. The hottest of the hot in super high heels are platform high heels that are nearly impossible to walk any great distance in. These are what are known as "taxi to table" shoes - the kind you wear only from walking curbside to your dinner table.

Another interesting new twist on the dangerously high heel craze this year are the intricately designed heels themselves. If you want your shoes to stand apart from the crowd, you have to try something different, and by that we mean something really out there. Check out a selection of funky high heels below. Is it just me or do some of them look more like artwork than something you'd actually wear?

Basso & Brooke (Spring '09)

Dior Fertility Goddess Heels (Spring '09)

John Galliano Swirly Metallic Platform Shoes (Spring '09):

Gucci Platform Shoes (Spring '09):

YSL Wireframe Heels (Spring '09):

While the trickle-down effect might not be working out so well in the financial sector, there is one industry where it is always in full-force: the fashion industry. What starts out on the catwalks in Paris or Milan quickly works its way into the closets of celebrities and onto the streets of Hollywood. Eventually, it makes its way down to the masses. One hot new fashion trend bound to make the trek from catwalk to your neighborhood is the dominatrix look.

The S&M variety of attire has been spotted on everyone from the Pussycat Dolls to Rihanna, Mena Suvari, Christina Aguilera, Madonna,Supermodel Agyness Deyn ,Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Paris Hilton, Fergie, Victoria Beckham, Charlize Theron, and even Gwyneth Paltron. With leading ladies such as these sporting the edgy look, there's no doubt that our favorite retailers will also soon be picking up on the trend, if they haven't already.

The opening of the very first Topshop store in the U.S. has been delayed. The New York store is set to be the very first flagship store outside of the UK, where the chain originates, and was initially slated to open this fall.

Earlier this month it was reported that the store wouldn't open until November due to some construction problems, but now that's been pushed back even further.

A source revealed that the opening has been pushed back til spring because Topshop doesn't want to open up during the sale period after Christmas, or during bad weather in January or February. So NYC fashionistas will get their first taste of the British import this spring.

In the meantime, Americans can shop Topshop online. This month Topshop launched a transactional website for US shoppers, located at topshopus.com.

Topshop is perhaps best known for their collection of fashionable, yet affordable, women's clothing, although they do have a men's line known as "Topman". Kate Moss has designed a collection for the retail chain, which has brought them further interest and acclaim abroad.

With some of the stands half empty during the women's table tennis matches at the Olympics in China, the International Table Tennis Federation is hoping that a few small changes will help them attract more viewers. The solution? Getting female players to wear skirts and shirts with more "curves."

Female table tennis players typically wear baggy shorts and shirts. The ITTF would like them to sex up their image a bit, and dress more like their tennis counterparts who dress not only for comfort, but also style.

China is one of the countries most into the sport of table tennis, so if they can't fill the stands there, what kind of hope do they have in other countries where the sport isn't nearly as popular? This is why the ITTF is determined to make over the image of women's table tennis.

ITTF vice president Claude Bergeret said: “We are trying to push the players to use skirts and also nicer shirts, not the shirts that are made for men, but ones with more curves.”

One player is ahead of the game - Naomi Yotsumoto of Japan, who consistently sports stylish outfits of her own designs at matches.

Summer is slowly nearing its end, at least in the fashion world. Sun dresses and short shorts have been relegated to the clearance racks, while the rest of the shops fill up with the hot new autumn styles. This fall one of the hottest colors that is sure to add a little spice to your wardrobe is red - from shiny apple red to a deep, luscious crimson, red is hot in both block colors and plaid prints.

Red has been dominating the season's catwalks. Ralph Lauren got his taste of red, working it into a beautiful array of checks and plaid. Marchesa and Temperley's hot new cocktail dresses might inspire you to ditch the little black dress in favor of a bit more color, and Alexander McQueen used deep ruby reds in the most beautiful fabrics to give off an air of luxury.

If you're looking to rock the red shades this fall, make sure you pick the right shade. There's a number of shades, and certain colors look better with different skin tones. For those with porcelain or alabaster skin, go for a blue-based red. Dark, olive skins should go for tomato, scarlet, and orange-based reds.

Playboy celebrated the Olympics as best as they know how: by getting their girls to don Team USA's Olympic swimwear. Not only do the girls slip into the controversial 2008 swimsuit, the Speedo LZR Racer, but they also sport swimsuits from the past 20 years of Olympic swimming.

The pictorial gives an interesting look at the progression of the women's competitive swimsuit over the past two decades: from the classically cut swimsuits of the 1980's, to the more advanced suits of the 90's, to the super high-tech bodysuits of the modern era.

Here's a sampling of some of the photos.

Female police officers in Germany have been issued new bulletproof bras which will act as a second line of defense if they are shot on duty. The bras are designed to be worn underneath a bulletproof vest in order to better absorb the impact of gunshots.

More than 3,000 officers are being encouraged to swap their regular lingerie to the new bulletproof bras.

The creator of the bulletproof bra, Carmen Kibat, is with the police herself, serving as an adviser on equal opportunities for the Bundespolizei, Germany's federal police force. She says that she thought normal bras posed a safety risk, in that the impact of a bullet can push the metal and plastic parts of the bra into an officer's body, causing significant injury.

I thought the original Crocs were bad, and hoped that the fad would pass. Unfortunately, they seem to be multiplying in not only availability and use, but also in style. Last year we saw the introduction of the fur-lined, waterproof version intended for use in winter, and now they've come up with Crocs for women who want a little height. That's right, high heeled Crocs.