The L Word

WHAT The seductive androgyny of Showtime's ''The L Word,'' exemplified by sensitive predator Shane (the deliciously sulky Katherine Moennig), a style ringer for hair cropper to the stars Sally Hershberger (right down to Shane's occupation: hairstylist). But that's crazy talk, according to creator Ilene Chaiken: ''I know Sally, and she is not Sally.''
ROLE MODELS ''Shane's meant to look thrown together, just out of bed with no care,'' says Moennig, who, much like a hairstylist, recently chopped her own hair into a punkier 'do. The first season's influences were ''Keith and Mick, late '60s, and a little Iggy Pop. This year it's the Strokes meet Patti Smith. Shane is definitely the slumlord of the group.''
J. CREW PUNK'D ''Last season there was more leather, which we're staying away from in season 2 [February '05],'' says stylist Ilaria Urbinati. ''It's much more village hipster with a preppy edge. So ripped jeans mixed with a preppy sweater vest and a studded belt and Converse sneakers. The whole Johnny Depp vibe.'' Featured designers will include Marc by Marc Jacobs, Costume National, Theory blazers, pieces from Defacto Deathcamp, vintage from Lo-Fi in L.A. ''Katherine turned me on to Yanuk jeans, which she'll be wearing a lot.''
WHY WE LOVE THE LOOK ''The characters are sexy, but there's no over-the-top sexuality,'' says Urbinati. ''Nothing is tacky.''