Fashion week trends brought to you by the onlookers.

Every season I hit the tents to watch what seems like an endless stream of fashion shows. But unlike most fashion writers I don't see the need to critique the shows or pick out trends based on what I am seeing. Instead, I end up reviewing what everyone else (other than the runway models) is wearing. These are the trends I saw from the editorial assistants to celebrities: #1: The Chanel Black Leather Coco's Cabas Tote

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Rumor has it Chanel gave these bags our as gifts to beauty directors last Christmas. I am still confirming that rumor with my gals at Chanel so stay tuned. Literally, EVERYONE had this totally roomy bag slung over their shoulder.

#2: Lavin Ballet Flat

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OK, if you had to stand for three hours and then were faced with the challenge of walking ten blocks to the next show in five inch heels, you would want these in your oversize bag as well. Mine have glitter on them. NO I DID NOT BUY THEM. They were given to me as a present!!

#3: Christian Louboutin Lapono Shoe Boots

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How fab are these shoe boots?? Paired with tights and a Rodarte shift dress (my shift was from H&M btw) the look was not original BUT it was H-O-T.

One of the numerous things I did this fashion week.

huffington_post_logo.jpg The totally awesome Jacqueline Colette Prosper wanted to get my take on fashion week. To see the entire interview click here. This is my bit: 

 You're So Pretty When You are Faithful to Me: Fashion Week

Hitha Prabhakar, fashion and retail expert via e-mail.

1) What was your favorite show so far?

My favorite show was J. Mendel. I loved it because he [Giles] stayed true to form. Everything was tasteful, luxurious and looked like it was made for some totally wealthy woman who hits galas and red carpets every night. It was almost like he was saying, "Recession? What recession?" through his collection. It was fantasy, fantastic and having the show in the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza made his point resonate that much more. Just brilliant.

2) At Tracy Reese, I saw one model trip twice, what was the worst foot fumble you saw this week?

Hmm. I guess the worst foot fumble I saw this week was at the BCBG runway show on Friday but it wasn't by a model. This woman tripped over my friends umbrella while trying to get to her seat and fell flat on her perfectly made up face. Then she proceeded to yell at my friend. I get that she was embarrassed but was it necessary to yell? I mean, c'mon!

3) What was the worst item received in a gift bag this week?

Oh man. The worst item I recieved in a gift bag were those damn "Sweetriot" dark chocolate nibs! I hate those things!! They taste bad and the are just annoying!!

It's true! No one really sleeps in New York City!

Including me during fashion week. I was just looking at my calendar in the last eight days I covered 33 shows, did 15 designer interviews, 10 celebrity interviews, had 9 outfit changes, 5 blow outs,  was quoted 4 times as a "fashion and retail expert" (only one interview made it to print), went to 3 after parties, was on TV twice and had one panic attack. Total hours slept for the past 8 days? About 24... 

Television celebrities are a main fixture at fashion week.

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As predicted, the writer's strike has brought a slew of celebrities to the tents that may not have been there otherwise. We all know Ellen Pomeo was at the Rag and Bone show, but the Bravo network has totally represented with Nikki Taylor and Tyson Beckford (Make Me a Super Model), Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef) and Nigel Barker (Next Top Model) in the front rows of Tracey Reese, Sass & Bide and Ashleigh Verrier. Marisa Hargitay ( Law and Order SVU) was in the front row of Lela Rose and Heidi Klum (Project Runway), Molly Simms (Las Vegas) and Sara Ramirez (Grey' Anatomy) walked in the Heart Truth Red Dress show wearing a cute short hairdo and a HOT dress. I think fashion week should host a "writers only" party for all of those picketing writers!!

Class act- Ellen Pompeo

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Yesterday I was at Rag & Bone and  met Ellen Pompeo. Can I just say how so totally nice she was? She was wearing a grey shift dress with tights and was sitting next to her husband in the front row. What I liked about her is that she seemed very down to earth, didn't take fashion too seriously and seemed SO happy to be there. Really refreshing.

Bananas.

This is term my old friend used to use when we worked at MTV. She also used to say stuff like, "just bang it out." Hence my life right now. I am "bananas" and just trying to "bang everything out." Tomorrow is the beginning of fashion week. I will be appearing on Fox Business. I will be covering for various publications. I will also be doing an interview with Patricia Field. Thinking about it all is making my head spin.

Just when you think it couldn't get worse...

ledger-building.jpg I was on my way to collect my fashion week invites from the office,  when I found out Heath Ledger died in the most tragic way ever at 421 Broome st. in New York (pictured above). 

As you all know, this isn't a typical story I follow. I watch the markets all day, think about going to sample sales or think of ways to make Macy's a better store. But this evening, I saw the crowds outside of the building where his body was being carried out on a stretcher. I read what other reporters saw outside of his Brooklyn home, I called all of my friends that knew him and listen to their stories. I went down to an old hang out of his (The Spotted Pig) to see what little bit of information I could find out about this man I knew nothing about.

It's now 2:12 am. I am exhausted. But with every story I asked to report out, I  learned something really important today. As much as we kill ourselves for achievement, recognition or a certain level of success, all of those things don't really matter in the end. If they stop making us happy, then they just. don't. matter. My thoughts are sincerely with his friends and family this evening/early morning. For real.

Today on Fox Business: retail sales and the holiday weekend.

Happy MLK day!! I'm going on Fox Business today at around 2ish to talk about if door buster sales and major mark downs on weekends like this one as well as President's Day will effect over all retail sales. The short answer is: No. When you are about to be in a recession, the last thing on your mind is buying a flat screen that's on a 75 percent mark down!! Instead, you are going to stock up on things like canned food, gas and band aids ( I get major blisters from my Prada sandals in the summer)!! Also, the retailers like Target, Macys J.C. Penny and The Gap Inc. are in a pickle right now. They have huge inventories they need to move and no one to purchase them. So- even if they offer some serious discounts to their merch, it's not going to really have a huge effect on their profit margins. I realize no one can predict the future, but I wonder if retailers looked at sub-prime debacle more carefully and took that into consideration when stocking their shelves full of luxury goods, the retail industry would be in better shape. My prediction: everyone is going to start looking abroad because (as much as it breaks my heart to say this) America is just not where it is at right now. Sad.

Not even hot pictures of John Mayer can save them.

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In effort to get those numbers up and not lose COMPLETE investor confidence, Gap Inc. just signed a deal with the Marinopoulous Group to bring the Gap and Banana Republic to Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia. If they can't make the sales numbers happen state side, might ast well go overseas, right?  And what about Old Navy? I guess they figured it was a lost cause so they decided to keep that one out of the mix!  

A million bucks by 30.

a-mil-by-30.jpg I met the author of this book "A Million Bucks by 30: How to Overcome a Crap Job, Stingy Parents, and a Useless Degree to Become a Millionaire Before (or After) Turning Thirty" the other day in the greenroom at Fox Business and I can't stop thinking about him. No, it's not like that. Yes Alan Corey is very cute, but he said something simple that really resonated with me. First of all, this guy is not a dorky hedge fund guy or investment banker- he was making $40,000 a year for seven years. He didn't take any hand outs from his parents. He worked a 9-5 job that he hated. He lived in a totally banal place. Does this sound familar??  AND he was still able to somehow acquire seven figures in his bank account. Wtf?? We (there were others in the green room with me) asked him how he was able to swing it, and he said "by living below my means." OK, this is EXACTLY what my ex-boyfriend has always tried to get me to do for the past six years and while I have definitely improved my cost cutting measures, I still have a LONG WAY TO GO (If you are reading this ex- boyfriend, please refrain from laughing). My friends who work in the industry say it's near impossible to live in New York, look fabulous and save, but I don't think that's an excuse anymore. We can do this peeps- and we should start by reading Corey's book.

These are the kind of e-mails I get every single day.

soho-mews.jpg I mean, do they really have to rub it in my face that I live in a totally crap-tastic apartment in a neighborhood where two dudes roll a dead guy down the street just to cash his check?? If anyone out there reading this is planning on moving into this building, e-mail me. I will be more than happy to pack up here and be your roomate!!

Finally, Liz Claiborne Inc. does something right!

Fashion Week Daily reports Liz Claiborne Inc., has tapped John Bartlett as the designer of Claiborne men's sportswear line, and Isaac Mizrahi as the creative director of its flagship brand. All I have to say is: YAY. John Bartlett and I met while I was on a panel about trends and stayed in touch ever since. This man is INCREDIBLY talented and brilliant. I've only met Isaac once, but I love his line at Target. In fact, when my sister needed clothes for her internship last summer, 80% of her wardrobe was Isaac Mizrahi for Target. He must be doing something right- I would never put my baby sister in something I thought was fugly!!  The point is- new talent is VERY important for these old classic brands. IF we really want to see a turn around in retail, let's get some of that talent (new and old) out there!!