Talk of the Tents

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