Talk of the Tents

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson front-row at the Charlotte Ronson show (Getty)

Our sleep schedules are back on track, our livers are healing and we've retired our heels. In other words, Fashion Week is over.

So many things happened, but here's what will stay in our minds until February:

Most ridiculous celebrity shill: Eva Longoria-Parker unveiling M&M’s Premium chocolate. We doubt the pint-size “Desperate Housewives” star is gorging on bon-bons.

Most sartorially insane: "America’s Next Top Model’s" Jay Manuel's Gothic Scottish doctor get-up

Most re-usable gift bag: Twinkle by Wenlan's reversible black-and-white tote

Best swag (for guys): Nintendo DS from Julie Haus

Best swag (for gals): Giant bag of NARS makeup at 3.1 Phillip Lim. Need we say more?

Best sighting:: Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson front and center at Charlotte Ronson's show

Craziest celebrity: Joel Madden of Good Charlotte threatening our photographer at the Charlotte Ronson after-party for snapping a shot of Madden's girlfriend, Nicole Ritchie

Designer who should teach a class in how to throw after-parties: Rebecca Taylor. Wine, cheese and fondue and Artisanal trumps cocktails at a noisy club.

Fakest Fashion Week injury: Jennifer Lopez, who said she couldn't attend the "Project Runway" finale as a guest-judge because of a foot injury but then ran a triathlon two days later!

Most real Fashion Week injury: Runway road-kill at Rodarte

Most annoying front-row guest: Leigh Lezark at seemingly every show

Most politically minded: Vogue's Andre Leon Talley, who showed which candidate he's tote-ally voting for

—Julie Gordon and Jessie Pascoe

Heidi Klum and Christian Siriano (Getty)

Like any fashion event involving "Project Runway" alum or contestants, Thursday night's Christian V. Siriano show was pretty much a circus of fans and fashion types.

"Runway" judge Heidi Klum said there's reason for the attention on the 22-year-old television series winner: He's actually talented.

"It's one thing to be talented, but if you just have personality sometimes you don't have to have talent to go with it. But Christian does," Heidi said before the show.

She also said the young designer gets so many props already and that he's "so special." And, obviously, fierce.

-<>See photos of what each Project Runway finalist presented here--with Christian Siriano's solo show photos at the end

-See videos of each show by clicking here, from our sister blog Project Runway.

--Click here for all the photos of celebrities who came Fashion Week, from Jennifer Lopez to Lindsay Lohan to Beyonce to Nastia Liukin.

— Julie Gordon

Actrress Mena Suvari and her fiance, Simone Sestito (Getty)

Actress Mena Suvari thinks her short blond haircut is a style "don't."

"I hate it right now," she told us at the Rebecca Taylor show Thursday. "Thank God for hairstylists."

Mena buzzed her hair short last year for a role, and it's still growing out.

"It's really in between. I just want it to be long," she said. "My hair grows very slowly so I'm just taking my vitamins and crossing my fingers."

Accompanying Mena to the show was fiance Simone Sestino, who designed the blindingly gorgeous engaement ring on Mena's finger.

"It's all about the stone," the music producer said. "Then you can design around the stone after you pick it." Nice work.

— Julie Gordon

Mena's engagement ring (Getty)

First photos are in, as the six Project Runway finalists--Kenley Collins, Korto Momolu, Leanne Marshall, Suede, Joe Faris, and Jerell Scott-- strutted their stuff at Fashion Week this morning.

And last year's winner, Christian Siriano, had his own star-studded Fashion Week solo show last night.

-<>See photos of what each Project Runway finalist presented here--with Christian Siriano's solo show photos at the end

-See videos of each show by clicking here, from our sister blog Project Runway.

--Click here for all the photos of celebrities who came Fashion Week, from Jennifer Lopez to Lindsay Lohan to Beyonce to Nastia Liukin.

-Click here to see all the photos and videos of what the designers are showing at Fashion Week, from Oscar de la Renta to Michael Kors to Vera Wang to more.

-Hear about all NYC celebrity happenings first by taking 30 seconds to sign up for our email newsletter

-And catch up on all the celebrity photos and events in New York from this week just by clicking here

Spotted: Jay Manuel looking like a gothic Scottish doctor on the way to make a house call. We had to blink a few times to make sure our eyes weren’t deceiving us. Alas, they weren’t and the America’s Next Top Model regular was experiencing some sort of sartorial insanity. What would Tyra say?!?

-- Jessie Pascoe

A front row guest brought a live accessory to the Reem Acra show Thursday afternoon: Her little white dog!

We wonder if she was inspired by Acra's runway bow last season toting her own furry friend.

— Jessie Pascoe

Ross Geller, err, David Schwimmer, left, with John Varvatos at the designer's party Wednesday (Photo: Patrick McMullan)

If you've ever pondered this question, we got your answer Wednesday night at the John Varvatos party.

"I am directing a play Off-Broadway right now called 'Fault Lines at the Cherry Lane Theater. I am in rehearsal right now. I will be wearing [Varvatos] the opening night," Schwimmer said.

Well see Sept. 30 if this fashion vision will come true.

— Jessie Pascoe

"Gossip Girl's" Chace Crawford, left, with designer John Varvatos at a party at Varvatos' store last night (Photo: Patrick McMullan)

With the hoity-toity vibe of Fashion Week starting to grate on us, we were relieved to step out of the Tents and get a dose of rock 'n' roll Wednesday night, courtesy of menswear designer John Varvatos.

We swung a party at his store -- located in the old CBGB space on the Bowery -- which opened in April and retains many relics from its predecessor. Though it's usually filled with rocker-style clothes, the shop was cleared Wednesday to make room for a performance by Perry Farrell (of Jane's Addiction and Varvatos' new campaign) and a massive crowd.

We caught up with Varvatos before the concert.

How do you keep the vibe of the legendary CBGB at your store?
We love doing events here. We are constantly doing concerts here and when we thought about taking the space over we said we want to honor what was here and I wanted it to live on. I don’t want it to be CBGB's. I'm not trying to make it CBGB's. But the walls are still talking.

Your fashion shows always have such strong music choices. How do you figure out what to play?
It’s so personal with me the whole music thing in my shows because I pick the music myself. It’s whatever I’m thinking about when I’m designing a collection. Whatever’s kind of stimulating me at that moment. I think the music that we do in the show is different than any other show in New York. There are other people that do something else great at the other end of the psectrum. I’m a rock and roll guy. And I want it to be interesting, where people go, 'Wow what was that?' Even the musicians that attend always ask me, like, 'What was your second song?' I love when they ask me those questions.

How do you discover new music choices?
I’m a junkie about it all. I'm constantly searching new music out or old music. I think about music as an experience but it’s also about new experiences and reaching back to find things that either you touched on briefly in the past or you never know existed.

Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro at the John Varvatos party Wednesday night (Photo: Patrick McMullan)

It was no surprise that Dave Navarro was at John Varvatos' party Wednesday night. Held at the designers Bowery shop in the former CBGB space, the evening toasted Varvatos with a Perry Farrell performance. We ran into Navarro before his former Jane's Addiction bandmate took the stage, where we inquired about his fall plans.

"Honestly, I can't think that far ahead. I don't even know what I am doing tomorrow," Navarro said.

Well, he might not know what he's doing, but knows he'll be wearing designs by Varvatos.

"[John Varvatos] doesn't design for one feeling or emotion. He designs street wear, he designs evening wear. I can come and [shop] for going to club or go to another rack and dress for going to dinner at the White House," he said.

Now that's a photo op we'd like to see.

Also spotted at the Varvatos party were "Gossip" Boy Chace Crawford, David Schwimmer and (yuck) Lauren "The Hills" Conrad.

— Jessie Pascoe

Ryan Lochte front-row at the Milly show (Getty)

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has been spotted all around the Tents this week -- at Anna Sui, Milly, Max Azria, Vivienne Tam. The Fug Girls want to know why he's been making so many appearances at womenswear shows. Well, we have an answer: He wants to one day show off his own creations at Bryant Park.

"I want to get into fashion designing," the gold-medalist told us Tuesday at the Vivienne Tam show. "My rep knew someone, so I got in here today."

Cool. But would he use typical super-skinny models or girls with a more muscular, swimmer-esque build on his runway?

"If someone has both, they've got me," he said.

Ryan's got us with his baby blues and adorable smile -- but if he wants to be a designer, he's got to fix up his wardrobe choices. News flash: "Saturday Night Fever"-style collars and shiny T-shirts are not in style.

Click to see photos of Ryan Lochte and fellow Olympians Amanda Beard, Nastia Liukin and other celebrities at Fashion Week

See photos of Ryan Lochte's Olympic swimming teammate Michael Phelps hanging out in New York

— Julie Gordon

Blind item: Which female department store big-wig was conducting a mini-lesson on how to sneak coffee into a fashion show Thursday morning? When a fellow guest asked her if coffee was allowed in the shows, she said, "No, but if you hide it you can bring it in." Thanks for the tip.

— Julie Gordon

Vivienne Tam has taken accessorizing to an entirely new level. Instead of handbags, her models trounced down the runways toting mini-Hewlett Packard laptops. Give it a quick glance and it looks like a slim, red clutch purse - but guess again - it's totally digital!

"It's a little laptop, like a fashionable clutch," Tam told Reuters backstage before her Tuesday night show. "It's so light, you could carry it anywhere."

But sigh, sorry you techhy fashionistas out there, the "bags" won't be available until early next year.

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Wednesday’s Phillip Lim’s show garnered loud applause from Juliette Lewis to the swarm of standing attendees. Leighton Meester and Emmy Rossum were enthusiastic, but perhaps most surprising was Anna Wintour’s reaction. Known for her crossed arms of steal, Wintour clapped not once, but three times at the end of Lim’s spring collection. Contrast that with her bored reaction to Isaac Mizrahi’s show, and Lim’s got himself A+ from the "Vogue" editrix.

—By Jessie Pascoe

AP Photo/ Richard Drew

The latest display of Fashion Week arrogance came courtesy of Oscar de La Renta - who turned down the tents and opted instead for a space on 63rd and Park for his 1 p.m. show.

We arrived early, video equipment in tow, and waited on the press line for nearly an hour before it became clear - nobody was getting in.

Needless to say, a mob scene erupted.

Some comments from the pissed-off press corps:

"Whatever, he's done orange for spring and gold for fall for the last 30 years!"

"What about the balcony. We'll take the balcony!"

"It's a bunch of kids running this! Go back to 'Domino!'"

"I've been shooting his shows since 1980!"

"I would have been better off staying home and watching it on NY1!"

And then, like Moses in blue jeans and Ray Bans, a gray-haired cameraman at the head of line turned to us and said in the thickest Italian accent this side of Roma:

"If they don't give us in, we all go home, yes?! We care nothing!"

"YEAH!!!!" roared the crowd, most of which were standing on their trunks by then, screaming in other languages.

And so we did go home - but only because in quick succession:

1. J-Lo arrived
2. The music started
3. The doors were slammed. Literally.

- Perrie Samotin

Vice President of IMG Fashion Fern Mallis at
Michael Angel

As is her custom, IMG VP Fern Mallis was seated on the end seat at the Michael Kors show this morning. The theme was sort of retro-Body Glove style wetsuit tops for men and polkadots for the ladies and keeping in theme, the runway music was the Beach Boys and the Go-Gos.

She's usually the no-nonsense type making it clear that she's the one keeping the wheels turning in that tent, but today we spotted the uber-businesswoman in an unusal moment of free-wheelin' fun as she let go to tap her feet and bob her head for a few bars of Belinda Carlisle belting out "Our Lips Are Sealed"! Loved it.

Sure, the catwalk is full of young models, but we spotted what we are confident is the youngest person at Fashion Week. Meet Shawn Jacob McLean, age two months. We shared a table with this budding fashion fan after he left the Nanette Lepore show with his mom Eboni McLean.

—Jessie Pascoe

Sure, eating at Fashion Week sounds like an oxymoron, but inside the tents, healthy subsidence is available. And thankfully so: with all the free booze and chocolate, it’s no wonder attendees don’t develop scurvy (if they did, the CFDA Health Initiative booth is ready to give advice).

‘Wichcraft, the main caterer, keeps all high-heeled guests satiated. We wondered over to the shop, where their eggplant sandwich caught our eye.

According to the menu:

This menu item was developed by our Fresh Fund interns. Proceeds from every sandwich will be donated to the Fresh Fund.

Hmm. A sandwich made by interns with chickpea puree, roasted peppers and watercress. Sign us up.

The result? A gooey, messy meal—that while tasty—was tricky to eat. Our sloppy attempts gave us high school cafeteria flashbacks. Who knows, maybe these Fresh Fund interns are actually still in high school themselves.

—Jessie Pascoe

Jessica Alba, Claire Danes and Julianna Margulies, left to right, attend the
Narciso Rodriguez spring 2009 collection during Fashion Week in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)

The constant parade of celebrities at Fashion Week can leave you a bit jaded after a while--there's just so many, as evidenced in our photo gallery of celebs that's about to hit its 180-photo limit.

But then AP moves a photo of Jessica Alba, Claire Danes and Julianna Margulies sitting together in the front row at the Narciso Rodriguez collection, and all you can say is wow!

That's a lot of (easy on the eyes) starpower.

--Click here for all the photos of celebrities at Fashion Week, including the happy threesome and also Blake Lively, Heidi Klum, one of the Olsens, etc.

-And this is where we're putting all the photos and videos of what the designers are showing at Fashion Week.

Actress Michaela McManus backstage at the Max Azria show Tuesday night (Getty)

"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" fans will meet actress Michaela McManus Sept. 23 with the show's 10th season premiere. We met Michaela, who plays the new assistant district attorney, Kim Grayleck, last night at the Max Azria show.

Michaela comes to police/law drama from a teen drama -- "One Tree Hill," where she played Lindsey Strauss, ex-fiance of Chad Michael Murray's character, Lucas Scott.

"Kim's a completely different character than Lindsey. Kim's a ball-buster, and Lindsey's more of a wilted flower," Michaela said.

Though Lindsey and Lucas broke up at the end of the last season, Michaela said she shot a few episodes for the current season (she made an appearance in the premiere last week).

"It's somewhat open-ended," she said.

— Julie Gordon

The younger Barbara Bush, flanked by socialites Derek Blasberg and Maggie Betts, at the Max Azria show Tuesday night (Getty)

It's funny how the paparazzi cares more about a row of young "starlets" than the president's daughter.

Barbara Bush was at the Max Azria show last night, and though the photographers snapped a few pics of the 26-year-old, their focus was on a different section of the front row. One that included singer Natasha Bedingfield, Michelle Tractenberg ("Gossip Girl"), Joy Bryant, Malin Akerman (Katherine Heigel's sister in "27 Dresses"), Eva Amurri (Susan Sarandon's daughter) and Michaela McManus ("One Tree Hill" and now "Law and Order: SVU").

Well, we headed right over to Barbara, but alas, she she wasn't doing press. All she'd say was that she wasn't wearing a dress by Max Azria.

— Julie Gordon

Photo: P. Morigi/Wireimage.com

Last night at the Vivienne Tam show, we ran into Miss Teen USA Stevie Perry. Our attention quickly turned to her black and white print dress.

“They’re pandas. It’s a limited edition, so anyone who buys these dresses, the money goes to the World Wildlife Fund.”

Who says fashion’s cruel?

—Jessie Pascoe

Every now and again, you need a break from the tents and have to venture off-site for interesting litte tidbits in the world of style.

On Tuesday, we snuck all the way across 40th Street -- yes, all 40 feet or so (including both sidewalks) -- to the Bryant Park Hotel so "Sex and the City" costume designer Patricia Field could show us her new line being sold on Home Shopping Network. She calls it Destination Style New York and -- guess what! -- it's modeled after "Sex and the City." Peep the vid.

- La Monica

Kelly Osbourne at Betsey Johnson (Getty Images Photo)

Kelly Osbourne writes an advice column, "Kelly Confidential" for UK's
Sun newspaper. So we thought it was appropriate to find out her tips on
getting through the looooong days during Fashion Week.

"Fashion Week is way f----- stressful. There's a lot of ego, and if you come in with
that attitude you'll experience the drama. But if you see the clothes you want to see and leave, it won't spit you out," Osbourne told us before the Betsey Johnson show, which is one of her favorites because of its happy, fun vibe.

This season was certainly no exception. A model dressed as a pirate chased other models down the runway, at one point, he married a "bride" in a blue wig; balloon animals were everywhere; little tables replaced a front row, decorated with blocks and "BJ" cupcakes (which weren't touched, obviously); and, best of all, a Peter-Pan-costumed Betsey cartwheeled down the runway to close the show.

— Julie Gordon

More fun at Betsey Johnson (Getty Images Photo)

Even more fun at Betsey Johnson (Getty Images Photo)

Victoria Silverstedt at Iodice (Getty)

We asked Swedish model Victoria Silverstedt how she keeps her figure.

"It's good to have stress -- it keeps you thin. And wearing high heels and carrying heavy handbags" she said.

By that logic, we should drop about 10 pounds during Fashion Week.

— Julie Gordon

"Is Julia Stiles coming? Is the bringing a guest? When is she getting
here?" That's what we heard among the publicists backstage before the
Iodice show. Sadly, Julia never showed.

Guess she was too tired from the 10 a.m. Matthew Williamson show.

--Click here for photos of Julia Stiles at Matthew Williamson, and all the photos of celebrities at Fashion Week.

— Julie Gordon

Amanda Setton -- the manipulative, social-climbing Penelope on "Gossip
Girl" - says she's all about avoiding conflict.

"Penelope is vicious. She enjoys drama whereas I kind of like to keep away from it," she said at the Iodice show.

Regarding "GG" this season, she says, "There's tons of drama, lots of
interesting relationships. It's really heated this season."

So far, so true. Nate's sleeping with a married woman. Blair is dating said
woman's stepson. Said stepson's real identity was concealed when he met
Blair. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Just like real life.

--Click here for photos from the Gossip Girl premiere party here in NYC

--Click here for photos from Gossip Girl season two

Click here for photos of Gossip Girl-inspired fashions.

— Julie Gordon

Three girls learned their lesson this morning: Don't try to sneak into
Fashion Week! The impossibly loud gigglers were ousted the second they
tried to worm their way into the Monique Lhuillier show. "We're not playing here, this
isn't kindergarten," warned a security guard.

— Julie Gordon

This is what three wannabe FW crashers missed at Monique Lhuillier. (Getty)

Miss USA poses with Luca Luca designer Raul Melgoza
Photo: Jemal Countess/WireImage.com

It’ll be a meeting of the tiaras today at Vivienne Tam’s evening show. According to sources, Miss USA Crystle Stewart, Miss USA Stevi Lauren and Miss Universe Kuara Thibana will be in the Tents for the Tam show. We chatted with Miss USA yesterday at the Luca Luca show. When asked what shows she was looking forward to seeing, she exclaimed, “Oh my god Luca Luca.” We sure Tam is up there, too.

—Jessie Pascoe

Photo: Paul Warner/WireImage.com

It might be humid and thundering today, but Julia Styles, Kelly Osbourne, Joy Bryant and Leigh Lezark appeared stylish and dry at Matthew Williamson. We’re going to add rain repellent to the long list of celebrity powers.

—Jessie Pascoe

We had some serious geographical confusion when we spotted the Boots booth inside the Bryant Park Fashion Week tent. Across the pond, this British chain is the ubiquitous equivalent of NYC's Duane Reade. But we'd never seen a store state-side.

That's because there are no free-standing Boots stores in the U.S., but their products are available at Target -- which we do have.

In the meantime, grab a giftbag at the tents to sample the Boots skincare line, inside are a Day & Night Eye Care product and the Protect & Perfect night cream.

Grease and frizz: A woman's two worst hair nightmares. Well, both came true at the Tony Cohen show last night.

If Tony's crew had just waited until today, the rainy weather may have provided the desired effect without the help of stylists.

— Julie Gordon

Renee Zellweger at the Carolina Herrera show (Getty)

Actress Renee Zellweger got some sweet satisfaction yesterday while checking out the goodies at the W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge. She was overheard saying "Pop Rocks. I love that," before jetting off to the 10 a.m. Carolina Herrera show.

--Click here for all the photos of celebrities at Fashion Week.

Check out a video of the Carolina Herrera show here.

Check out photos of the Carolina Herrera show here.

— Julie Gordon

Julie keeps hearing the Ting Tings ... I keep hearing Santogold's "L.E.S. Artistes" ... three runways so far. Definitely Peter Som .. um .. and the rest are blurring together. If you haven't heard these jams, here they are: