A quick search shows that most brands are still attached to the old layout – and considering the speed at which fashion usually embraces anything new,  that’s not much of a surprise. They won’t have too long to cling to the familiar: on March 31st all pages will get the timeline treatment. Though the fact that Facebook is discouraging overt promotions or headlines in favor of photography and visuals should make fashion and design brands feel right at home.

In case you need a bit of inspiration, here are a few timelines from some of our favorite fashion early adopters.

Burberry

In spite of the fact that Facebook is the number one site for wealthy Internet denizens in several countries, some luxury brands continue to be holdouts when it comes to getting involved with the largest social media site in the world. For those who have decided to be part of modern marketing, rather than hoping it goes away, who’s getting their social strategy right?

L2, the NYU think tank that tracks social media and online efforts among luxury brands, recently published a Facebook IQ report with data from Buddy Media that attempts to answer that question.

The "Genius" brands of L2's Facebook IQ Report

Unsurprising to us, only one fashion brand made the top 10 (well done, Tory Burch). BMW took the top spot, and among the “Genius” level brands, automobile makers in general had a strong showing. While fashion brands are still struggling a bit, spirits & champagne brands had a respectable showing as did beauty brands like Clinique, Bare Escentuals, Benefit and Bobbi Brown. Those brands not only allow fans to post to their pages, most do Genius things like actually responding to create a 2-way conversation as opposed to a broadcast.

Hint: that’s what makes social media different from traditional media. Fortunately Facebook realizes that there are enough brands who will ignore that important differentiator for as long as possible, so in August brand pages will be forced to *gasp* allow their fans to post comments, making social interaction mandatory. That should be fun to watch.

The ranking was based on 4 primary criteria: size and velocity (how large the brand community is, how fast it’s growing); content (types of content, variety, e-commerce integration); engagement (if a brand posts and no one is paying attention…); and integration (no Facebook page should be an island).

All good criteria that help to identify which brand efforts are making the most of Facebook beyond fan counts. It’s not that Burberry’s millions of Facebook fans isn’t impressive: it’s definitely an achievement from a company that’s made online marketing a priority. In a case study in the report though, Tory Burch’s end-to-end integration with “Like” buttons on each product page of their e-commerce site, header and footer links that actively drive people to their Facebook page, and f-commerce Facebook store to complete the circle pushed them further ahead in spite of a fan count that’s a mere 6% of Burberry’s.

We take a similar view of influence: reaching large numbers of people on the web, on a social network or anywhere else is great, but how those people respond is even more telling. It will be interesting to see how upcoming fan page changes that push brands into two-way interaction will affect future rankings, but now is as good a time as any to benchmark the brands already getting things right, and which are luxuriously anti-social.

Download the L2 Facebook IQ report here.

Get ready to retire your skinny jeans and say hello to a fresh fall style this year. Last weekend we had the pleasure of attending Tory Burchâ€s Fall 2011 runway show as part of New York Fashion Week, and the designer delivered a ‘70s style collection with looks for work, weekend and evening.

The show was dominated by 70s-inspired pants with super wide legs in camels, plaids and prints and also featured models with center-parted,unfussy tresses that recalled the decade. Some of the models also wore red leather boots, grey stockings and blouses ruffled at the neck.

Our favorite look (which, according to Twitter, is one of Toryâ€s favorites too!) was a matching camel and navy print ensemble with, of course, wide leg pants and a blouse with matching scarf. Our other favorite? A black lace top and super flare leg pants with layers of shimmering  detailing at the collar, cuff and hem that was the perfect blend of ’70s inspiration and modernity.

According to show notes, Burch was going for something currently American with touches of English country. We certainly got that vibe from the furry parkas and previously mentioned blouses and tights that were mixed with of-the-moment trends like sequins and lace.

Overall, Burch stayed true to her signature styles while coming up with a fresh set of looks. Almost makes us want to rush through summer to next fall so we can wear the clothes. Almost.

We're not jumping on these trends, but they're still interesting.

5. The Return of the Fanny Pack

Ah, the cyclical nature of fashion can be a fantastic thing when lovable trends are re-invented and made exciting to wear again, but some fads should be left in the past (and by the past, we mean the ‘80s). This year, Rihanna was spotted wearing a fanny pack and Tory Burch even began selling them. Most of the ones we found online carried a hefty price tag, and we never thought Tory Burch would ever be making one, so weâ€ll see if the hip bag catches back on for good. If it does, then boy does whoever markets that thing deserve a pat on the back.

4. iPhone STD Testing

Researchers in the U.K. announced they were in the process of coming up with a way for young adults to test themselves for STDs by essentially inserting their own urine into their iPhones or other mobile devices. The object is to get the STD rate down by allowing for increased testing privacy. We had to put at least one IEJ topic that gives you the willies on the list.

3. Japanese Anti-Aging Goggles

One of our favorite IEJ trends this year involved brands that were essentially attempting to charge consumers for a product that did basically nothing the average person couldnâ€t do themselves for free. We thought weâ€d seen it all in the ant-aging game when British beauty brand Rodial came out with snake bite anti-aging serum, but these goggles claimed to fight wrinkles and lines by holding the skin around your eyes taut. The makers declared that holding the skin in place for an extended amount of time would cause it to stay that way. (Helpful hint: if you believe them, you can hold your skin that way using your own fingers – or a pair of swim goggles that at least you can take to the pool once you realize they donâ€t work like Botox).

2. Teva Stilettos

The Teva stilettos are meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but they are a fantastic oddity nonetheless. This fall, news spread through the blogosphere of Tevaâ€s partnership with Grey Ant to sell hiking sandal meets New Yearâ€s Eve party shoes. That horrible combination was running for more $300. ‘Nuff said.

1. The Snazzy Napper

The informational video for this thing is definitely in the top 10 most entertaining things weâ€ve ever seen. The Snuggieâ€s weird younger sister popped up across the Web this summer, and it is basically a blanket with a hole in it that is supposed to help you sleep in public. A big IEJ trend this year was strange products with huge price tags. The Snazzy Napper (aka the “snazzy way to sleep while you travel”) takes number 1 partly for the fact that it is not insanely expensive. That and itâ€s sheer WTF genius.

A fanny pack by any other name is still a bit cheesy, but at least Tory Burch's take doubles as a clutch.

One of the things we love most about fashion is its cyclical nature – the way trends come and go and are reinvented again and again, but it is always surprising when fads that seem like they are destined to be one hit wonders come creeping back into the fashion conversation.

After the fanny pack craze died with the ‘80s, there seemed to be no chance of its return, as it became the brunt of countless jokes, but low and behold, we now present to you the potential resurgence of the hands-free purse.

Pop star Rihanna was recently spotted wearing one, and so many designers have been coming out with “waist bags” or “hip bags” (read: fanny packs) lately that the consensus seems to be that fanny packs are officially back. All of the ones weâ€ve found look like the creator was attempting to make the look high fashion with extras like flower prints, metal studs and animal fabrics that are very in right now.

Rebecca Minkoff now has a $240 studded version, Tory Burch offers a $195 “hip bag” with a removable strap to double as a clutch, Zambos & Siega are showing a python print number and French Connection has a $58 retro flower print pack that is more casual. And it does not stop there: Gwen Stefani has also come up with a fanny pack design – this one with a silver zipper print. {SheFinds, The Frisky}

We never thought weâ€d live to see the day when Tory Burch made a fanny pack, and we aren’t sure what to make of it. Will you be wearing a fanny pack any time soon? All we know is if you are, it might be best not to invest in one thatâ€s over $100. Save your splurges for true classic pieces.

Past guest judges include Faith Hill, Apolo Ohno, Selma Blair, Nicky Hilton, Catherine Malandrino and Tory Burch, so Betsey will be in good company.

The episode has the competing designers working with a theme quite fitting for the always colorful and sometimes wacky Johnson. The contestants are creating works of fashion art using materials from a party supply store! Known for party dresses that are often an explosion of tulle, satin and ruffles,  we love the idea and think Betsey has the perfect eye for this one. {People}