“Supermodel on deck” was how the contestants were supposed to greet host/producer Gemase Simmons when the cameras were rolling on his model reality show — except he never had Tyson Beckford’s career. And his little show? Well, that wasn’t real either.This weekend, I caught a cold, so I had the pleasure of staying in on Friday night to watch Chris Hansen’s special on Dateline called Reality Bites, which was about the 28-year-old con man known as Gemase Simmons and his years of deceit.

In short, the San Antonio resident lured young people via Myspace looking for a promising modeling career a la America’s Next Top Model by telling them they could win $50,000 and a possible modeling contract on his “show.”

And once the group of 10 made it to their modeling quarters, that’s when things really start going awry. Some of the major offenses committed by Gemase include:

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Carnegie Mellon University: Elite American institution, future home of the Gates Center for Computer Science, and educator of the inner workings at Blue Ribbon Sports aka Nike?

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania university currently offers an undergraduate course that is devoted solely to sneaker culture - sneakerology 101. Yes, you heard a correctly.

The class covers everything from the Adidas Superstar that Run DMC championed in the 80s to the day-glo throw-up currently dominating the backs of sneakerheads in the form of hoodies and graphic tees.

Bobbito Garcia’s Where’d You Get Those? - documents sneaker culture in New York from 1960 to 1987- is used as a reference as well as various sneaker sites. (Are they using Hypebeast as a learning tool? WTF!)

However, like any other college course, there is a mid-term. In particular, a project that deals with the overall design of a sneaker.

So, if you’re able to afford the $50,000 tuition next semester - openings are still available.

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If there were ever a time to rejoice in being broke, it would be now.

Miuccia Prada may not win the masses over with her Art Nouveau-ish collection of skinny-rib knits, flared trousers, and checkered dresses this season, but the fairy bag she created with artist James Jean is driving people completely b-a-n-a-n-a-s.

Like any good “it” bag, the fairy bag, which retails for $2290, has an annoying three month waiting list and the only people currently toting the bags - of course - are celebrities: Tilda Swiden, Sienna Miller, Catherine Deneuve, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Bee Schaeffer.

Well, there are a few “commoners” who managed to snag one and although they love their new purchase - it seems to be melting. The ink on the handbags is bleeding. According to Purseblog, quite a few people have been complaining to Prada SA’s about the problem. It’s unknown if Madame Prada and co. will be giving people refunds, but there definitely will measures in place to make sure the next round of bags are a more water-resistant.

Eh, we still wouldn’t mine owning one.

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After Paulo Andersson’s most recent collection for the house of Chloe, fashion critic Cathy Horyn said the following:

“…Paulo Melim Andersson, cannot create a look that is either uniquely Chloé or interesting. He creates pastiches from three or four trends, like the filmy draped dress and tweed boyfriend jacket, and then adds splashes of embroidery and sexy pointed footwear. Paisley and floral prints, in rose and slate-blue tones, at least looked fresh, but as with any magpie operation, most of the styles had a half-consumed look.”

Ouch. But it seems as if she wasn’t the only one not totally impressed with Mr. Andersson.

Yesterday, Chloe announced that it would be parting ways with the creative director after only three seasons together. Hannah MacGibbon - former assistant to Valentino - was named as his successor.

While we think it’s a bit unfair to compare him to Phoebe Philo, Cathy was spot on with her assertion about the unoriginal aspect of Paulo’s designs (think:chunky platforms from Fall 07).

Also, the accessories - the handbags in particular - were really tragic under Paulo’s control. And since that’s what accounts for the majority of the brands revenue, the split makes a lot of sense.

So, Auf wiedersehen Paulo.

Meanwhile, we think Esteban Cortazar will be up next on the chopping block. Unless Naomi and Cindy plan on saving him again.

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It’s finally here:

The Pierre Hardy limited-edition collection of sandals for Gap.

Pierre designed six different styles of sandals ranging in prices from $78 to $98. This weekend, we ventured into our local G-store to check the designs out in person, and what we found kind of surprised us.

First, there was no one as excited as us in the entire store. No one. In fact, we drew a few stink eyes from customers who just coulnd’t understand our excitement over the hundred dollar sandals that nobody else was drooling over but us — like a bunch of chicks who just found a pair of Marc Jacob jelly sandals for 50% off in our size.

And why might that be? None of the sandals had Pierre’s name on them. They all were branded with Gap’s Design Edition. Strange, no? Of course, the Frenchman designed the shoes. And anybody who has been patiently awaiting his “affordable” collection to hit stateside knows this as well. But the average non-Balenciaga worshiping customer doesn’t know this. And isn’t this the demographic Gap is trying to lure back into their store?

With no major advertising about the collaboration, why does Gap expect customers to pay a hundred dollars for a pair of sandals? If we didn’t know Pierre was behind the design, we wouldn’t.

Oh, well. This just means we’ll be able to catch the rest of the sandals on sale. Yay!

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Over the past few years, I’ve been so caught up in the campy deliciousness that is Tyra Bank’s America’s Next Top Model that I’ve never been able to catch any of the foreign reincarnations of the show.

I mean, what’s ANTM without Tyra’s pointless “Tyraisms.”

Anyways, I’m slightly regretting missing out on the episodes from “down under” because Australia’s winner Alice Burdeu actually has the idustry buzzing - but in a good way.

The knock-out red head made her prescense known at Proenza Scouler last week - causing the people at Marc Jacobs to take notice.

Like Saleisha, Alice is also signed to Elite NY. Can we give a boom-kat to the agents at Elite for all the MA-jor talent they have been scouting? (Karlie Kloss, Ali Stephens, Coco Rocha) IMG and Women/Supreme better watch out.

With Alice’s success in the NY market, it will be interesting to see how this will translate in terms of those key bookings in Milan and Paris.

In the meantime, Tyra’s tenth cycle on ANTM starts next Wednesday. Get excited…

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