The shows had barely begun when some of our better-heeled fixtures were already looking forward to some much-needed rest. Following the dearth of shows and parties last February, fashion and PR houses have certainly been making up for lost time. And, as I discovered at the Diane Von Furstenberg/Vanity Fair exhibition to benefit Brandaid Projects, even some of our most seasoned party goers have begun to feel overwhelmed. Enthusiastic, but overwhelmed. And the unprecedented gridlock in virtually every area of the city (even uptown!) does not exactly encourage party-hopping.

Alina Cho, whose fashion show roster thus far includes DVF, Tuleh, Rachel Roy, J. Mendel, Marchesa, and Tory ("all pending breaking news," natch), nonetheless has her eye on September 18th, "when it will be nice to be able to get a cab again." Molly Sims's schedule is decidedly less ambitious; her agenda includes Calvin Klein and possibly “The Burning Plain” premiere. Like ...

Beverly Johnson and Guest

The Plaza hotel’s Terrace room was transformed Monday For Douglas Hannant’s Spring 2010 collection, as well as the opening of his new boutique one floor above. The Terrace Room’s already Roman/Art Deco décor was complimented by the Venus-inspired Spring collection.



Douglas Hannant Presentation

Transparent white drapes hung from the ceiling, sectioning the showroom into thirds. Hannant’s dresses were elevated above the crowd, displayed on mannequins atop Roman-style pillars.



Douglas Hannant Presentation

Upstairs, the Geoffrey Bradfield-designed boutique is located. The Plaza Hotel’s retail location places Hannant’s store conveniently close for his devoted Park Avenue crowd. The store features the ready-to-wear collection, along with such accessories as jewelry, shoes, hats and evening bags.



Douglas Hannant and Jennifer Creel

Among the guests in attendance were Angela Chen, Beverly Johnson, Annie Churchill, Barbie Bancroft, Douglas Friedman, Douglas Marshall, Montgomery Frazier and Cece Cord with dog Tiger. For more information on Douglas Hannant and ...

September is here and the tents are up in Bryant Park. In anticipation of Fashion Week, I caught up with the ever-popular New York-based designer and celebrity staple Rebecca Taylor. Taylor’s playful looks and feminine silhouettes have long attracted loyal fans, such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz, Rachel Bilson, Eva Amurri, and Liv Tyler. The New Zealand native discusses the inspirations for her Spring '10 collection (showing this Sunday, September 13th, in the Tents) and tells us what trends we can expect to continue into Fall and beyond (hint: it's all about the shoulders this year).

Melissa Berkelhammer: I can't believe it is already Fall! What trends can we expect to see this season?

Rebecca Taylor: Spring 2010 encompasses playful use of colors, prints and textures. The palette is intense with shades of big apple reds, shocking pinks, electric blues, and retro jades contrasted with desert tans and soft peachy ...