The new reins behind Coach

Wondering about that brand new name recently opened near the Trevi Fountain at the Forum Shops? Reed Krakoff is best known as the current president of Coach, Inc. - and the man that brought said label back from designer handbag purgatory and onto the arms of many a well-heeled suburbanite and city-dweller. His first eponymous collection showed for Fall/Winter 2010, and he's wasted no time opening up stores in New York, Tokyo and Las Vegas.

At Reed Krakoff, you'll find urban warrior shapes in a fall-friendly palette, focusing on cozy oversized sweaters, structured dresses and shearling-trimmed jackets. All in all, an edgier look than you might expect from the fellow who launched that familiar Coach monogram back into the stratosphere. But isn't it fun when kids and executive creative directors rebel? Reed Krakoff at the Forum Shops, 644-4153

New to the racks
Local department store buyers are either responding to a feistier vision of Vegas or simply in an apocalyptic mood lately, judging by the latest labels to make it to our hometown shops. This fall Barneys at the Palazzo Shops added Altuzarra, a name familiar to anyone who stalks the blogs for news of what the Paris Voguettes are wearing. As often as not, Carine Roitfeld's black-clad army are decked out in the wares of this Paris-born designer, known for the kind of grown-up sexy looks that Bebe aspires to while remaining, tragically, Bebe. Think black leather packages tied up with strings, and skip breakfast - these sizes run small.

Elsewhere, Neiman Marcus has added Balmain and Thomas Wylde, two labels known for dressing bad girls with a lot of money (which is the best kind of bad girl: She buys all the drinks). Seek out the Balmain rack for expensively distressed jeans and T-shirts, and keep an eye out for the gorgeous brocade jackets from the fall collection. Wylde, meanwhile, is a steady go-to for tasteful chain embellishments and feather and skull prints. Barneys at the Palazzo Shops, 629-4200. Neiman Marcus at the Fashion Show Mall, 731-3636

Style Secret
It may well reinvent the term, "It sure doesn't look like much," but don't judge this shop by its exceedingly humble facade. Designer Fashion Clearance, next to Off 5th at the Las Vegas Outlet Center, has a selection rivaling any high-end boutique on the Strip - because that's where much of their product comes from. The difference: seriously discounted prices on labels like Lanvin, Robert Rodriguez, Sophia Kokosalaki, Matthew Williamson, Nicholas Kirkwood, and a head-spinning array of others.

Recent finds include a Viktor & Rolf runway dress marked down more than 90 percent off just because it was missing a few sequins, and a whole shelf of half-price hats by legendary milliner Philip Treacy. Designer Fashion Clearance, 7680 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Suite 207, 699-9964.