Diane von Furstenberg: How Thick Is the Wool?

Designer labels dominate the boutiques in the French Concession. Almost never are they authentic, but store owners swear to God they are (as the light burns in the Buddhist shrine behind the counter). Don't be mistaken; the quality and variety is MUCH better than what you find in Chinatown; truly not even the same realm of Fake; in fact more like a sophisticated version of H&M; ok definitely not real, but good enough that often I can't tell how thick the wool is being pulled over my eyes.

The way I see it, there are three levels of inauthenticity:

> GRADE A: They're off-the-truck (pieces from actual production orders)
> ABRIDGED: Modified versions of the real versions (e.g. substituted fabric, simplified construction, stock hardware)
> VOID: Nothing was inspired by the name on the label, except for the logo font.

Help me figure it out....this cute dress says Diane von Furstenberg. Was it part of her Fall 06 collection?

>February 2007. Fuxing Road, Shanghai.