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February 2008 Archives

February 1, 2008

Backstage at Heart Truth

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Molly Sims, backstage before the Heart Truth show (Korin Miller)

Hey there, "Gossip Girl" fans!

The big news out of the The Heart Truth red dress show is Leighton Meester, star of the CW's hit Upper East Side-centric show, has dropped out at the last minute due to an ear infection.

"That's really disappointing," one publicist lamented backstage before the show. "It's a lame excuse," another griped. Oops! Ear muffs!

No word now if they plan to replace Meester in the show or scrap her outfit entirely.

The backstage was teeming with celebu-models. Molly Sims had her hair and makeup done in a separate area from the other ladies, for some reason. The rest of the celebrity hoi polloi were seated at the usual well-lit tables.

A taller and skinnier in person Joss Stone (in a brightly-colored jeans 'n' T-shirt ensemble, waltzed by Cheryl Heines and Camryn Manheim in hair, who sat across the way from "Juno" star Allison Janney and Mary Lynn Rajskub.

Although this is Manheim's first fashion show, the actress said she's not nervous at all about her runway walk, adding, "I've been walking for 40-some odd years. I think I can handle it."

And - heads up! - the woman behind the show's beauty, legendary makeup artist Bobbi Brown, confessed that she gave up coffee to prep for Fashion Week. Uh, wow.

- Korin Miller

Just don't call him Mr. Big

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Ohmigod - Chris Noth was seated front and center at the Nautica show this morning. Yes, yes, I'm a "Sex and the City" fan. Judge if you must.

"Don't ask him about 'Sex and the City'," his publicist cautioned. Don't ask him about the HBO series that made him a household name which, coincidentally, has been turned into one of the most buzzed about movies of 2008?

Uh ... OK.

What to discuss ... what to discuss? Noth had a baby with his longtime girlfriend Tara Wilson a few weeks ago. How's that working out? "So far, so good," he said. Fatherhood is a "progressing notion," he said, adding, "I never thought that I'd like to hear the sound of a baby crying. When it's your own, it's like music."

Decked out in a suit and vintage Led Zepplin T-shirt (Mr. Big would approve! Oops - can I write that?!), Noth said he came to Nautica to scope out the clothing: "I need some ... I'm probably the worst-dressed actor in New York."

Down the row from Noth was Fashion Week fixture "America's Next Top Model" judge Nigel Barker, who declared that the hit reality show is guaranteed to crank out six more seasons. As Tyra would say - that's fierce!

Pearched near Barker was super-chatty "Kyle XY" star Matt Woods, who I only recognized for his one-time guest-starring role on "Entourage." Oops.

- Korin Miller


Liza steals the show

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Who knew Liza Minnelli was so popular among the fashion set? (Kidding!)

The singer was the Heart Truth's final celebu-model, decked out in a sparkly Halston pant suit. Despite the star power that walked before her (Joss Stone, Cheryl Hines, Heidi Klum), Minnelli was the only "model" to get the crowd on their feet. (One guy in the third row looked like he was going to cry. Seriously.)

To top it off, we were all treated to a rendition of "New York, New York" by the famous crooner. And she sang it live! Check out the video here.

Lord knows how long it's been since all of us have actually heard a real performance. (Mr. Third Row looked like he was about to have a heart attack at this point, by the way.)

As for the other catwalkers, Camryn Manheim put on a fantastic show, hamming it up for the audience, while Klum showed off her stunning body in a gorgeous, asymmetrical Marc Jacobs frock.

Despite dropping out of the event last-minute, Leighton Meester was somehow wiped from the show's pamphlet and there was no mention of her or her absence.

Check out my favorite Webbie Lauren Johnston's writeup of the show here

And see all of the show's highlights--shot by guess who?!--on our video page.

- Korin Miller

Men - would you wear this?

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It's no easy feat, but Perry Ellis designer John Crocco found a way to add a fun twist to traditional menswear at this season's show.

Just out of curiousity, fellas - would you wear these looks on the street? The deer-emblazoned zip-up sweater? The suit pants tucked into wellies, topped off with a down vest? One model wore an oversized shirt which - oops! - revealed more than a few indecent glimpses of his upper thigh.

Looks great on the runway. On the streets ... um, maybe.

">Photos from the Perry Ellis show

Photos from the Duckie Brown show

- Korin Miller

Patricia Field shows off the goods

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Patricia Field vogues in front of "Sex and the City" costumes for Samantha, Carrie and Miranda (Korin Miller)

"Sex and the City" costume designer Patricia Field isn't down with fashion designers. "I don't know labels, really," she said backstage at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week’s Star Lounge. "What's the point?"

Gasp! Fashion Week blasphemy!

Field was on hand to show off several costumes from the upcoming SATC movie, which were artfully draped over mannequins dolled up to resemble the film's main characters.

The movie is set five years after the hit HBO series left off.

Here's the breakdown of how each character's big screen style, according to Field:

Carrie Bradshaw
"Carrie was always an eclectic fashion-forward girl. I think she's still that eclectic girl."

Charlotte York Goldenblatt
"She's moving toward Jackie Kennedy."

Samantha Jones
"Five years wouldn't change Samantha. She just gets bigger and bolder."

Miranda Hobbs
Miranda looked "Park Avenue" and "waspy" in the series. "I wanted to push that a little farther."

When asked to judge her work on the film, Field gave herself "a B-plus."

- Korin Miller

Dangerous curves

future.jpgA model’s work can be pretty darned treacherous on the best of days, but there was real runway peril at Thursday night’s Earth Pledge show. To keep to the message (earth-friendly at all costs) organizers built the catwalk out of rough wood planks.

The troubles multiplied as the show progressed. Models dressed by some of fashion’s most notable names (Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, so on and so on) could barely keep vertical on one particularly slippery patch. By the finale, they all simply stepped off at that spot and walked around.

Even worse, the planks didn’t meet up in several spots--causing a gap that only the Long Island Rail Road could rival. And it’s not so easy to jump over when you’re wearing the likes of a floor-length Versace with significant train. Oh, well.

— Barbara Schuler

Who would of thunk it?

Mary Lynn Rajskub -- you know her as Chloe on Fox TV hit, "24," -- has a small tattoo on her left shoulder -- so at odds with the uptight character. This she revealed on the runway at the Red Dress Collection where she modeled a showy red Monique Llhillier number along with other red wearing luminaries including Lisa Rinna, Liza Minnelli and Molly Sims. The tattoo was too small to describe, but in our fantasy we imagined it said, "I'll doing anything for Jack Bauer." -- Anne Bratskeir

Tyson Weighs In On BCBG

That chiseled hunk, Tyson Beckford, who hosts Bravo's "Make Me A Supermodel," sat front row at the afternoon BCBG show and was, shall we say, less than enthralled. When asked how he would rate the show on the sexy meter he first said, "I plead the fifth," but went on to give it a five out of 10. In other words, not so sexy. He also expressed disappointment with the model mix, noting the absence of women of color. "Chanel Iman was the only black model," he said.

Photos from the BCBG Max Azria show

-- Anne Bratskeir

Another one bites the dust

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Mary Lynn Rajskub

Not one, but two models fell over in the second half of the BCBG Max Azria show - both taking a tumble in the exact same spot. Was the runway rigged or what?

At least the not-so-glam action took place on the opposite side of the runway from celebs like Joss Stone, Sophia Bush, Tyson Beckford and Mary Lynn Rajskub, who turned out to see one of Max Azria's three Fall 2008 shows.

And, whoa. Celebrity patrol was out in full force. Each star was mobbed the second he or she arrived. Stone was nearly swallowed up by camera folk on her way to her seat, while Bush stopped and preened for shutterbugs until it was just about show time. Beckford simply avoided the melee by talking (or faux talking) on his cell phone en route to his chair. Smart man, that Tyson.

While caught behind the Joss Stone crowd, Rajskub confessed that she was a little disappointed in her Heart Truth runway walk. "It was a lot more intense than I thought it would be," she said. "I have to work on my walk ... I'll take some walking classes."

Hey - at least she didn't fall over!

Photos from the BCBG Max Azria show

- Korin Miller

More photos from the runway shows

Jason Wu show


Duckie Brown show


Yigal Azrouel show


Perry Ellis show


Heart Truth

Hot start for Fashion Week

Hey, it's the weekend--so here are hundreds of photos from the hot shows that kicked off Fashion Week, organized by designer:

Rag and Bone show


BCBG show


Yeohlee show


GQ fashion show


Rubin Singer show


[More designers]

February 2, 2008

Kimora's A Doll

Front-rowers at Kimora Lee Simmons' Friday night show (among them gossip guru Perez Hilton, Tyra Banks and Vivica Fox) were treated to more than an excellent view of the gem-studded garb on the runway. Everybody got their own personal Kimora Barbie Doll.

Definitely not your run-of-the-mill Barbie, this dolly came with a shaggy full-length faux fur coat, over-the-knee pink boots (to go with the pink hot pants) and a little leashed Pomeranian.

It was actually a pretty good representation of Kimora, though one cautious mommy decided to leave hers behind because it was too sexy for her seven-year-old.

- Anne Bratskeir

XOXO, Non-Gossip Girl

We’re so happy that Taylor Momsen seems as genuinely sweet as the character she plays on “Gossip Girl” (Jenny Humphrey). Waiting for the Erin Fetherston show to start, the stunning teenage starlet stuck out her hand and said, “Nice to meet you,” when I asked if she had a minute to talk. The crazy part? I believed her!

The chatty Momsen, clad in a breathtaking Erin Fetherston flowered jacket/dress combo, told me about the overwhelming reception she’s gotten from NYC private school students. “One day we were filming on the Upper East Side and these kids ditched school to watch. It was so cool. But then the teacher came and yelled at them to get back to class,” she said. Aw! And ew!

Also there were actress Anne Hathaway and boyfriend Raffaello Follier, who were surrounded by a mob of cameras the second they were escorted in. Anne looked extremely happy and held her honey's leg during the entire show.

No so happy? One of the models, who literally looked like a scene out of “Night of the Living Dead.” Each time she walked the runway, attendees giggled and pointed. Hmm, I didn’t know fashion shows could be scary.

— Julie Gordon

The Devil Made Her Do It?

anne-hathaway.jpgHow often have you bought an article of clothing that looked just swell on someone else, to find that it made you look like Bjork in her swan dress?

Anne Hathaway says it happened to her when she jumped on the “skinny jeans” bandwagon a while back.

“I love skinny jeans on other people, but I don’t think skinny jeans love me,” Hathaway said at the tents in Bryant Park, before the start of Erin Fetherston’s show on Friday.

“You know, some girls can wear them with flats. It’s all about making a trend your own.” So she wears them sometimes? “When I want to look like a Tranny.”

Hathaway, like dozens of other actresses, already has her mind on Oscar dresses, assuming the writers’ strike doesn’t quash her plans.

“I left it to the last minute last year, and even though the dress was beautiful, it didn’t get unanimously positive, uh, reaction,” she said of the tuxedo-inspired Valentino she wore to the 2007 Academy Awards. “So I’m thinking about it nice and early this year.”

-- Robert Kahn

February 3, 2008

Caffeine!

Spotted at the 42nd Street Starbucks this morning: Two headset-sporting fashion assistants buying 23 cups of joe. (And ticking off a lot of people behind them in line who had to wait upwards of 20 minutes.)

The total? $90. "Uh ... we usually get a discount," one said. Make that $70. What a bargain!

- Korin Miller

Million Dollar Baby

Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank is a confirmed front-row guest for Monday's Jill Stuart show at the New York Public Library.
- Robert Kahn

Caution: Children at play

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There were not one, not two, but five kids at the Lela Rose show.

One boy hid behind his mom's leg as she posed for photos, while another pigtailed little girl perched on her mom's lap, ready to take in the sights. One tike even grabbed my hand for a pre-show stroll down the catwalk. Work it, baby!

"CSI" star Mariska Hargitay arrived early to the show, sans her son, August. The 1-year-old has "never been better," she said. Since this is apparently a kid-friendly atmosphere - where is the little guy? "He's at church with his dad."

Smart mom.

- Korin Miller

Super Sunday Loyalties

So a celebrity from Boston and a quarterback-dating model from New York walk into a bar … and naturally, they talk football.

It happened Friday at Cipriani 42nd Street, when “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo and Brazilian beauty Gisele Bundchen both attended the Rag & Bone show, as did Julianne Moore and Zoe McLellan of “Dirty Sexy Money.”

Pompeo and her hubby, music producer Chris Ivery, debated how they would spend Super Bowl Sunday: fashion shows or TV watching?

“Both,” Ivery said.

“Both,” Pompeo repeated, sounding very Meredith Grey-like.

It sounds as if there was some negotiation there, an interloper said.

“We’re going to the Adidas Y-3 show, then straight home to watch the Super Bowl,” Pompeo said.

The pair grew up about 10 miles apart in Massachusetts, and so their loyalty to the Patriots was not in question.

“It’s a very serious day,” Pompeo said.

Backstage after the show, Gisele was lingering, and it seemed fair to question whether she’d be pulling for her “hometown” New York Giants, or the Patriots, led by her boyfriend, Tom Brady

“I love New York … it’s a beautiful place,” came the polite, yet evasive response.

-Robert Kahn

Fashion or football?

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Joy Bryant, Mandy Moore and Ginnifer Goodwin watch Herve Leger by Max Azria

When the weather gets chilly, don't expect Sophia Bush to sound too pretty.

The "One Tree Hill" star had a raging sore throat while sitting front row at Herve Leger by Max Azria. "It's the weather," she croaked. "I have such a low voice. When the temperature gets below 30 degrees, I sound like this."

Bush said she was pumped to check out Max Azria's revival of the Leger brand, but will definitely skip out on Fashion Week around 6:30 p.m. "Root for the Giants, baby," she cheer-whispered.

Herve Leger was a celeb goldmine with stars like Joss Stone, Joy Bryant, Amy Smart, Mandy Moore, Padma Lakshmi, a newly red-haired Rose McGowan and Ginnifer Goodwin in attendance.

Amid the shutterbug crush around the young stars, Goodwin said she plans to camp out in front of the tube later — but she's rooting for the Patriots. "Boston! Boston! Boston!" the "Big Love" actress said. "I used to live there. My heart is still there."

Alas, Moore has no intention of skipping out on the shows to watch football: "I'm not a big sports fan. I'll take fashion over sports any day."

— Korin Miller

Fall back into The Gap

“We took the great Gap classics and made them relevant. We got the cool back in,” said top design talent Patrick Robinson, the Gap’s new executive vice president of design, who worked the crowd at the presentation-style show at Exit Art on 10th Avenue on Sunday.

Indeed – groovy washed leather jackets and vests, cute drop-waist dresses, cozy waffle-weave sweaters seemed new yet familiar and were playfully and proportionately styled. Yay…the Gap is back.

– Anne Bratskeir

Lela Rose (and maybe Jenna Bush!)

Word on the street is that this Dallas, Texas-based Rose is still in the running to design first daughter Jenna Bush’ wedding gown for her upcoming nuptials.

The lovely last look at Lela Rose's Sunday morning show -- a slim, ivory silk job with a gigantic wool back bow -- might be just the thing.

That said, the collection described as “Sporty Cocktail,” bordered on conservative – lots of drawstring tops, pencil skirts, mid-calf hemlines and big, flouncy collars that were a tad mumsy. Young women might well drool for Rose’s paillette-covered racer back tank dress in cardinal red, and anyone would covet the dove gray ripstop trench, but some of the feather embellishment was . . . well, for the birds.

Of note, and in reach, Rose’s terrific black pumps with pretty bows on the back…at Payless.

– Anne Bratskeir

To clap or not to clap?

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"What the f-?"

That was the reaction of the guy sitting next to me after the odd Herve Leger by Max Azria finale.

Azria rolled out the usual 25 or so outfits during his main presentation - and then unleashed another 15 new dresses when models took their final walk, followed by two gowns that we'd already seen.

Spectators were confused as to whether they should start clapping when the models quickly strutted out after each other or sit quietly like good fashionistas. There was a smattering of applause, responses like the one from my row mate and a bunch of folks looking just plain confused.

This is one of Azria's three shows, by the way. How did he find time to design so many clothes?!

- Korin Miller

Say cheese!

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Bobbi Thomas, with her pup

Oh, the trials of being a Fashion Week photographer!

Shutterbugs at Twinkle by Wenlan struggled in vain to find a famous face seated in the front row before the show began.

One photographer resorted to shooting everyone in the front row on both sides of the catwalk - presumably to cover his hide.

"Is anyone here famous, Bill?" one asked. "Nope," came the reply.

Well, "America's Next Top Model" judge Nigel Barker finally arrived. Pre-Nigel, photographers were left to fawn over some woman with a dog, who no one else seemed to recognize. Turns out, it was "Today" show fashion reporter Bobbi Thomas.

Uh, can I bring my Labrador to the next show?

- Korin Miller

One for you, one for me

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Grasie Mercedes and Damien Fahey

Damien Fahey was all about being a dutiful boyfriend at the Tracy Reese show.

"My girlfriend is a huge fan," the MTV VJ said of the line, grabbing the hand of gal pal Grasie Mercedes.

As for Fahey, well, he's not really a big fashion guy. "It's Superbowl Sunday," he said, grinning. "Any straight man in his right mind would be home."

The VJ said his woman plans to support him later during the big game, when he hosts a party at his apartment. "She'll be in the kitchen cooking," he said. "Not to be like that ... she's good at it!"

Also at the show: Slimmed down "Run's House" stars Vanessa and Angela Simmons and Miss USA Rachel Smith, who said she has big dreams of becoming an entertainment reporter when her reign is up in April.

- Korin Miller

Mama knows best

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Tracy Reese smiles at her parents before taking her final bow

Designer Tracy Reese might want to consider adding her mom to her PR team.

"Are you kidding?!" Pat Reese responded when asked what she thought of her daughter's latest line.

"This is fabulous," Mama Reese said. "It's so wearable - no matter what your body type." The Reese matriarch, seated alongside Tracy's father, clapped wildly when the show concluded and doled out hugs when her daughter took her final bow.

The proud mom noted that Tracy's grade school teachers always said she was great with her hands. Plus, she added, her daughter got her start designing clothes for her Barbies when she was a little girl: "We had the best-dressed dolls in the city."

- Korin Miller

A One Brand Man

It’s nice when a designer believes in his product, and Patrick Robinson, the newish executive VP of design at the Gap certainly does. He told us that since he’s been at the helm of the company – he started last May --he has worn everything Gap, every single day, “including my socks.” He looked darn good in jeans and a v-neck sweater and pointed out his rugged-meets-chic Pierre Hardy desert boots, also from the Gap. Robinson, who hails from big labels –Armani, Perry Ellis, Paco Rabanne – is one cool cat. Cool enough to keep his Sunday afternoon presentation closed for a few extra minutes so he could meet one-on-one with fashion royal Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue. "Anna at the Gap? How absurd," exclaimed one not-so-in-the-know fashion type. But then she may also not have known, Robinson has an in – his wife, Virginia Smith, is Vogue’s fashion market editor and accessories director. – Anne Bratskeir

February 4, 2008

Fix New England? Fax New England?

Nobody who showed at the tents on Super Bowl Sunday got anywhere NEAR the applause reverberating up and down the canyons surrounding Times Square last night, after the you-know-whos beat the YOU-KNOW-WHOS.

As the Tents emptied out after the Terexov show (Russian dude--did he even know what he was up against?), fashionistas and outta state journalists alike wandered toward Times Square, which was jam-packed w/ Giants-mania. Hundreds? Thousands? It was like New Year's Eve, with people hootin' and hollerin', leaping in the air, running in all directions--and without any Cloverfield monster in sight.

New York's finest were mounted on horseback (poop--everywhere) and cars trying to get down 7th Ave. crawled through the gauntlet in one lane, honking horns, folks sticking their hands out windows high-fiving the sports fans on the street.

This being New York, we do everything--even mob activity--with style. And so the t-shirt of the night had to have been the one seen on several male, uhhh, "models," one of whom stood in the middle of Broadway displaying for all the backed-up traffic to see, the simple message emblazoned across his tee.

Three words: F--- New England.

Not Fix.

Not Fax.

Fu...

geddaboudit.

--Joe Amodio

Tress talk

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Piper Perabo at Peter Som

Attention, everyone: Piper Perabo has a new 'do.

The actress, best known for her role as super shy Violet Sanford in "Coyote Ugly," debuted a textured blonde bob at the Peter Som show. "I just cut it off," she said, giggling. "I've never had short hair!"

Perabo arrived just after Ginnifer Goodwin, who said she's "bummed" about the Patriots loss last night. But, she conceeded, she's "a big fan of the Manning family," including Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Atta girl!

Chick lit author Plum Sykes also turned out for Som. And, sorry ladies - the former Vogue-ista doesn't have any new books in the works. Sykes just cranked out an HBO screenplay based on her novel "The Debutante Divorce," she said, adding, "It was really good fun. And really hard."

- Korin Miller

Fashion Week, fashionably late

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A woman uses a Swifter on the runway before the Malo show.

Well, it's happened.

Despite a great start, nearly all the shows at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week are running at least 30 minutes late. Jill Stuart pushed the envelope today to begin nearly an hour late, but I have high expectations for the wait on the ever-popular Betsey Johnson show, set to kick off in a half hour.

Even Malo, one of the smaller shows at Fashion Week, started 40 minutes late - just after two women in white booties methodically Swifter-ed the catwalk while spectators sat patiently. (And this was after the usual tarp was removed. Can't say I've ever seen that before.)

One headset-sporting woman at the show seemed to give in to the tardiness, wiling away the time by knitting a scarf.

- Korin Miller

Madonna's Borderline

Paparazzi have to jump through all sorts of hoops to cover New York's nightly soirees, but the United Nations has upped the ante for obtaining press credentials to Wednesday night's Madonna-Gucci bash by telling journalists they need a "valid passport from a member state of the United Nations" just to work the red carpet.

“A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF” is the first event of its kind to take place on the North Lawn of the Turtle Bay landmark, which is technically international territory. The bash coincides with the opening of Gucci's new Fifth Avenue flagship store.

The party will include performances by Madonna, Alicia Keys, Timbaland and Rhianna, as well as a special presentation by Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs. Expected guests include Drew Barrymore, Adrien Brody, Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault, Sting and Trudie Styler, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Arpad Busson, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Téa Leoni and Lucy Liu.

We're betting that even though Madonna moved to England, she won't have to cough up ID at the door.

-- Robert Kahn

Chaos at Jill Stuart

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Hilary Swank enters the Jill Stuart melee

If looks could kill, the woman who stood in front of Hilary Swank at the Jill Stuart show would be long gone.

Swank, by far the most buzzed about celebrity at the show, arrived just before things got underway in the midst of an eight-man deep posse - and then proceeded to ignore the throngs of camera folk who struggled to snap a shot.

The Academy Award-winning actress casually chatted with the woman who stood with her back to the cameras - blocking the shot, of course - before security was called in to haul everyone away. Yowza!

There were rumors that Swank wouldn't pose for shots (per one veteran shutterbug), inciting a near-photographer riot: "No! no! no! That's not right!" one shouted.

Pre-Hilary, Vanessa Carlton made her appearance and noted that this was her first fashion show. The singer said she's a huge fan of the clothing line, adding, "The store is really close to my house."

Other celebs at the show: A svelte-looking Tyra Banks, who swam through a sea of media to locate her seat next to Nigel Barker, Amy Smart and maternity wear designer Liz Lange.

- Korin Miller

What's age got to do with it?

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Betsey Johnson with her granddaughter, Layla

Betsey Johnson's daughter Lulu has been a fixture at her mom's shows for years. Now, Lulu's daughter Layla is carrying on the tradition.

Layla was carried down the catwalk by her grandma last season, but, for this collection, the 2-year-old walked on her own. The tot has been practicing her cartwheel in order to keep up with Grandma Johnson's regular trick during her final bow, mom Lulu said, noting, "She's been practicing the walk, too." And it showed.

Layla strutted down the runway (and back) gripping Betsey's hand, past the celebrity table, which included Nigel Barker, Tyra Banks and an unusually chatty Russell Simmons.

"She sticks to her guns and her guts," Simmons said post-show of his designer pal, after watching a parade of crimped hair, leather, big skirts and leopard. "Those last 20 or so outfits were all Betsey."

The man who founded Phat Farm admitted that he didn't quite complete his Fall 2008 Argyle Culture collection in time for this season, but plans to show the next time around. The new line is for those "of us who got older," he said, adding, "I'm not getting older."

- Korin Miller

The return of low crotch pants

Look out, everyone!

Low crotch pants have made yet another appearance at Fashion Week. Last season, whimsical menswear line Duckie Brown debuted slacks with inseams down to there; This season, Max Azria adapted the look for women in a sweat pants-style slack.

Is the slouchy crotch inseam here to stay?

— Korin Miller

Rose goes red

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Max Azria and Rose McGowan

Speaking of new hair dos ...

Rose McGowan has a new look. The "Grindhouse" star showed off her new strawberry blonde locks this week — and she looks unrecognizable at first glance.

So, what's the deal? McGowan said she dyed her hair for a role right before the WGA strike and has to maintain it. "I'm stuck with it," she said at the Max Azria show. "It's a lot of upkeep. I have to do it every 10 days."

McGowan was one of the few celebs at the show who actually said anything. Rihanna, Jaime King, Joss Stone and a sunglasses-sporting Fergie stayed pretty silent, thanks to help from die-hard publicists.

A rope was even put up to separate media from the stars, with the stern warning that there would be no interviews and very few photos. Well I never!

— Korin Miller