In an age of rampant designer/mass retailer collaborations, it's sometimes hard to get excited about the latest Target line—even if it's…Gaultier?!—or about H&M's next limited edition. But I have to hand it to Pendleton: For their 100th anniversary, the brand launched its first-ever such collaboration, with avant-garde label Opening Ceremony, a really surprisingly forward-thinking pick for such a traditional brand. My favorite pieces by far are the Native American-inspired printed-wool motocross jackets, but I like the parkas and miniskirts as well. (Is anyone out there knowledgeable about Native American patterns and able to tell us what tribe's work this one might be drawn from?) The line hit stores last month, but it had missed my radar until I walked by the NYC shop the other day and saw the Pendleton product in the window.

Although the Opening Ceremony designs are probably a little out of my reach, they've inspired new eBay searches for vintage Pendleton gear, and I'm definitely checking out the company's web site for winter blankets. (If the vaguely psychedelic bright-purple "Coyote and the Three Huckleberry Sisters" style came in a Queen, you better believe that puppy would be on its way to my doorstep right now!)

What's been your favorite designer collaboration in recent years? Any great buys? Any regrets?

Just because fall is officially here doesn't mean you can't still enjoy a slice of summer with a stay at the new Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Just opened August 26, the 134-room property—the city's only beachfront boutique hotel—is offering introductory rates starting at $179 per night.

With modern Asian influences like a torii-style entrance gate and elegant, dark-wood furnishings in the rooms, the hotel's design skews more toward a contemporary South Beach aesthetic than to the area's traditional high-society vibe. Outside, it's water, water everywhere: There are reflecting pools and fountains around every corner, and the palm-tree-lined infinity pool abuts a wide, smooth waterfall. And while all rooms have a balcony, terrace, or large picture windows with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway, there's no excuse not to take advantage of the resort's direct access to the beach (lounge chairs are free; an umbrella will run you $20 per day). If you prefer to spend your time by the pool, don't worry about grabbing a drink first—there's waiter service—and consider relaxing in one of the private cabanas ($40 for a half-day rental, $75 for a full day).

Cuisine comes courtesy of James Beard Award–winning chef Michelle Bernstein, who serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu focused on fresh seafood in her eponymous on-site restaurant. Guests can also enjoy breakfast and lunch in the more casual MB Terrace Restaurant, with indoor/outdoor seating overlooking the Atlantic. And, of course, no GG-friendly hotel would be complete without a place to "be seen": The casual-chic O-Bar aims to be just that. (Although with a pool table and a 64-inch flat-screen television devoted to sports, you may have to compete for attention.)

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Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Hard Rock Hotels will donate 25 percent of qualifying room rates and 15 percent of eligible merchandise sales to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Throughout October, five rooms in each of the six participating Hard Rock properties will be outfitted in pink Egyptian cotton sheets embroidered with tiny guitars. The rooms will also have pink bathrobes for you to use during your stay, but you can also buy the 300-thread-count sheets ($100) and plush robes ($80) in the hotel gift shop or on hardrock.com.

The Get Into Bed For the Cure program is available through Oct. 31 at Hard Rock Hotels in Chicago, Orlando, San Diego, Biloxi, Miss., and Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. Be sure to request a Pinktober room when booking. hardrockhotels.com, rooms from $89.

OK, so the point might be moot for most of us, as the price tag for spending the night in the new Barbie Suite at the Palms Casino Resort's Fantasy Tower in Las Vegas is a whopping $4,000 (they don't call them Fantasy Suites for nothing, folks). But consider this: The suite fits up to 50 people, making it a not-that-crazy choice for a massive bachelorette party or a big milestone birthday. Jonathan Adler created the rooms' interiors, and with the exception of a questionable sunburst-style mirror made out of Barbie bodies, they're pretty fabulous. In addition to the custom-made silver-and-pink foil wallpaper, tufted pink-velvet headboard in the master bedroom, and metallic Moroccan-style seating poufs, there's a two-way fireplace, full bar setup, and 2,350 square feet of space to spread out in. The suite's opening coincides with the launch of a new line of Barbie-themed Jonathan Adler housewares in honor of the doll's 50th anniversary, with many products—including those pink lacquered trays in the foreground of the photo—rolling out September 20 on barbiecollector.com.

What do you think—if money were no object, would you host a party in the Barbie Suite? And is it wrong that my favorite thing in the room is the couch—maybe the only non-pink object in the bunch? Although, come to think of it, those neon wicker peacock chairs in the back are pretty amazing, too…

In honor of back-to-school time, I thought I'd do a little post about my most recent girlfriend getaway, all by the numbers. (Stay with me here—we're pretending it's math.):

• 5 friends—3 newlyweds and one mom-to-be among them
• One gorgeous 3-bedroom house in the Catskills (Thanks, Tina!)
• 2 truly horrifying horror movies, selected at the Phoenicia, NY gift shop/moccasin store/movie rental place/used book seller by our resident scary-films expert
• (I won't say how many bottles of wine)
• 4 badminton rackets, 3 of which were functional
• 3 different kinds of bug repellent (more on that later)
• And an embarrassing supply of tabloids, replenished midway through the trip when we'd all made our way through the rotation of magazines at the dining room table

It seemed pretty miraculous that we managed to pull this thing off with only about two weeks' notice, but it was well worth the effort. My friend, Michele, documented the trip over at cafemom.com, as part of her pregnancy chronicle; I love that she was able to take the time to get away with us before her twins (twins!) are born this winter.

Anyone else care to share the stats of their last girls-only trip?

The Brooklyn Flea has always had a strong secondhand-clothing component, but on Sunday, September 13, Flea organizer Eric Demby is putting on a special-edition Fashion Week event, gathering 15 vintage clothing and jewelry purveyors in a one-time-only location at The Archway under the Manhattan Bridge, in DUMBO. Look for goodies from Vintage Loft NYC, I Heart NYC (the late, great Nolita boutique), Estate of Art Vintage Lifestyle, Treasures + Pleasures (jewelry and handbags), and lots more. (Then go read the roundup of the world's best Flea Markets on budgettravel.com.)

Sometimes, the best getaway doesn't even involve leaving your living room—just a night on your own, with no obligations, no email, and no one judging your Mad Men DVD marathons. Even celebs get a kick out of "mevenings": Kristin Chenoweth builds hers around a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough and a tub of vanilla icing, and Carmen Electra goes for back-to-back rounds of Guitar Hero. Now it's your turn to dish: What are the ingredients for your perfect indulgent evening alone?

At last, a gadget to keep your handbag from ever touching the floor again. Just put Luxe Link's zinc-alloy hook on any counter and hang your purse on it: The angle of the bag's weight on the base holds it in place. The three-ounce device supports up to five pounds and coils into a tiny disk, making it as easy to bring with you as your lip balm (luxelink.com, from $35).

For the last few weeks, I've been seeing ads all over town for the newest addition to Atlantic City's nightlife smorgasbord, Dusk, at Caesars AC (duskac.com). Naturally, it's got all the key things you would want in a club—10,000 square feet of space to strut around in, forgiving lighting, a self-adjusting cooling system to prevent the walk-in-freezer effect you sometimes get in these kinds of places, and music "designed and dictated" by high-profile DJ AM (also part owner of the club). There's also a kind of chill-out room, Dawn, with softer music and a cool, classy-pub vibe (think upholstered walls, chandeliers, and oil paintings) to which you can retreat if you need a break from the scene in the main room. But what really caught our attention about this club was this: The banquette seating at the 30 bottle-service tables has built-in drawers under the seats for stashing your handbag while you hit the dance floor. Each drawer has a lock, and your waiter carries the key. (I've been assured that the service is attentive enough to forestall any waiting-for-lipstick moments.) Your more-timid girlfriends can no longer use "I'm watching the purses" as an excuse not to get up and dance.

At GG, we know that the most important part of a trip with the girls is just spending time together—but a white-sand beach and a tray of fruity cocktails never hurt anybody, either. Of all the things you could do on vacation with your buddies—and of all the places you could go—which ones would make for the best getaway? Sunbathing? Shopping? A tour of Paris? Take our poll and see if other women agree!

Cast your vote here.

Checking into the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach, where we're shooting the cover for our Fall '09 issue, I didn't even make it past reception before seeing my first girlfriend getaway. Note the James Turrell installation in the background.

Last week, we threw an event at Henri Bendel's Chocolate Bar to celebrate the publication of our Spring/Summer 2009 issue. We put together all the ingredients that make a girlfriend getaway so fun—champagne, cupcakes, manicures, horoscopes, and even cute cabana boys!

The turnout was fantastic: 120 people showed up, from TV producers and other magazine editors to writers, tourism officials, and, of course, a few of our favorite travel fanatics and best girlfriends. One lucky attendee won a free trip (for her and her sisters!) to Mexico.

As with any good party, we made sure to have sweet gift bags with plenty of loot—Dashing Diva nail accessories, a bottle of Mionetto Prosecco, a DVD from Oasis Hotels and Resorts, JetBlue luggage tags, and OPI and Body Shop beauty products. And since no GG soirée would be complete without party pics, we've posted a few of our favorites here. Thanks to everyone who put the premiere party together, and thanks to all who came out to help us celebrate in style.

Here are a few of our favorite photos from last week's bash, from guests indulging in free manicures, having their travelscopes read, and getting some cabana boy QT.

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Whether you're headed to the beach with your girlfriends, planning a mother-daughter vacation, or taking a road trip with your best bud, Gigi can help! Send her an e-mail with all the details of your trip. If your letter is selected, you'll be featured in the Ask Gigi section of our fall/winter issue!

We're looking for the hottest cabana boy—and we're relying on you: Send pics to cb@girlgetaways.com. You could see your man candy featured on girlgetaways.com…and feast your eyes on cute guys galore!

See New York from a new perspective when the High Line debuts this June. The urban park will be on top of former train tracks that extend 22 blocks along Manhattan's west side and rise up to 30 feet above street level. With the transformation of the first nine-block section into a walkway that threads through native plants and grasses—other sections are in planning phases—the High Line will be one of the few places to take in views of the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River, and the Empire State Building without the usual Gotham hustle and bustle.

For the best views of the High Line itself, head to André Balazs's Standard hotel, which opened in December and was designed over, around, and under the promenade: The rooftop restaurant will launch on the heels of New York's newest sensation (848 Washington St., 212/645-4646, standardhotels.com, rooms from $195).

—Riki Markowitz, from the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Girlfriend Getaways