In Her Shoes: Holy crap. Constance Jablonski walked in a whopping 72 shows this season with Liu Wen right on her tail with 70. Well done, ladies. {Models.com via The Fashion Spot}

Congrats to the Klum/Samuels: Doesn’t it seem like Heidi Klum was pregnant forever this time around? Well she finally had that baby girl, and named her Lou. Awww. {Modelinia}

All About Arlenis: Who knew she liked Christian and merengue music? Not us. Also in the likes column: boxing, Rachel Roy jumpsuits, massages and that Oscar de la Renta dark blue dress. {W}

Agent No More: Vivienne Westwood’s son Joe Corré is leaving Agent Provacateur. Word is he’ll keep his shares, but will no longer be involved in the creative—instead focusing on his menswear line, A Child of the Jago. {Vogue UK}

I trekked to the Upper East Side for Oscar De La Renta’s show yesterday, because really where else could he have it?

Pre-show, Oscar mingled through the front row which held Vanity Fair’s Graydon Carter, Anna (and almost the whole Vogue masthead), Aerin Lauder and Zac Posen while I finally met Rachel Zoe’s Brad, who scolded me for forgetting my pants.

When the lights dimmed I landed in my seat and watched the collection, which can best be described as decadent fashion dessert, parade by on the elevated runway. Caroline, Iris, Karlie, Sasha, Arlenis and co. wore classically beautiful dresses made of lace, sequins, feathers, brocade and any other lush fabric you can think of. The man’s got you covered for a handful of occasions: an African safari, an English tea party, a Spanish funeral - whatever event calls for a floor length gown and maybe even a lace veil.

Most of us probably won’t end up at that occasion, but if you do, you’ll be the prettiest one there.

The Custo Barcelona show took place in the twilight zone. It was like I had been transported from Bryant Park to another fashion universe where the men wear too much cologne and the ladies are perma-tanned. I had to keep reminding myself this was Manhattan not South Beach.

Before the show started the paparazzi were abuzz over Princess hopeful Tinsley Mortimer, Ugly Betty’s Mark Indelicato, Estelle, and Kenan Thompson. Yes, that Kenan. Unfortunately, Kel was no where to be found.

The runway show was more of a party than a serious presentation, and for that I’m grateful. There was techno music blaring, audience members cheering on the models (Arlenis Sosa got the most fan support, though I was rooting for Iekieline), and many heads bopping and feet tapping.

We think Ruffian’s show is always such a hit because, a) everyone loves Claude and Brian, b) the boys know how to cast their models and c) they make cute clothes.

This season, the first two held true while the last one fell a bit short.

Their “Les Demoiselles de Ruffian” collection for Spring 2010 was a little bit Louis Vuitton AW09 - watered down - with a dash of military mixed in. There was layered lace, sheer swiss dot blouses and ruched ruffles at the neck, collar, anywhere. Coats featured tails and gold buttons and the last few looks featured that brightly colored Picasso inspired print.

Meanwhile, the hair and make-up were amazing. The girls—Iekeliene, Irina L., Eniko, Liu, Arlenis—positively glowed. And their colorful, slighty rock n’ roll eyes were balanced by soft pulled up hair.

Otherwise, it could’ve been the weather, but the mood on the way out of Exit Art was pretty gloomy.

Along with launching their new body balm today, Kiehl’s also let us in on their Fashion’s Night Out plans. Emmanuelle Chriqui (aka Sloan from Entourage) will be hosting a party at their flagship store on Third Avenue. You’ll be able to sing for your supper from 7-11 pm. Or rather karaoke for your free lip balm—and enter a raffle for loads of other goodies.

Not to be outdone, the folks at Lancôme are blanketing the city with their beautiful people. Daria will be starting out her night behind the counter at Saks from 6-7. There will also be a limited number (only 30 bottles) of the new Hypnôse Senses fragrance for sale—it doesn’t officially launch in the US until next month. You’ll find Arlenis at Macy’s Herald Square from 6-7 as well.

Oscar De La Renta showed his resort collection this morning.

On Park Avenue, naturally, in a pretty small, light room with an organ at the end of the runway and a balcony wrapping around. Vogue took up three rows - Andre Leon Talley wore a dusty pink alligator trench, at least two girls rocked Ann Demeulemeester’s brown lace-up sandals, one lounged in Alex Wang’s grey sweatpants and when Anna tried to sit down Bee squealed, “Mom, that’s my seat!” to which Anna laughed and promptly switched to her proper seat beside Grace Coddington.

The first half of the collection - white and navy boucle tweed suits, shifts, newsboy - screamed Chanel, especially when set to French tunes. The fantastical cocktail dresses built from lace, jewels and what looked like a fabric interpretation of chocolate shavings are exactly what we’d wear if we decided to be a lady who lunched for Halloween (if the costume came with a check).

Karlie opened and closed the show while Aminata, Daiane, Kasia, Hanne, Arlenis, Liu and Ubah also walked. I couldn’t help but think of all the nasty comments Oscar’s made regarding the First Lady’s fashion choices and wonder if this was him desperately trying to land in her closet.

Meanwhile, we just heard Vogue has swine flu. Great. My morning just got significantly less glamorous.

Model Genius: Coco Rocha learns how to do her own hair & make-up. No longer needs Pat & Guido. {OhSoCoco}

Muji My Way: Muji’s finally available on-line. It’s come so far since I lived in London and had to explain its awesomeness to stateside friends. {Racked}

Go Arlenis: Arlenis Sosa rocks the cover of Vogue Germany. {Models}

Blogging Babes: The Beckerman sisters started a blog! And we kind of love their clothes, so check it out. {BeckermanBitePlate}

Industry Insider: Looks like someone has a new editor. That someone is thrilled! {FWD}

Michael Kors is thinking neon this season.

The man’s added an edge to his trenches and sheaths. He stuck Natasha Poly in leather and more leather, threw Raquel into a sleeveless camel trench with a perfect fur collar, Frankie Rayder (!) wore sequins, Coco did tweeds, Arlenis wore a Sherlock Holmes trench, Bruna got to wear a hot pink fur coat and hat, Anja slipped by in an asymettrical chartreuse shift, Carmen Kass wore more fur than I’ve ever seen and it was almost all accessorized with perfectly chunky chain necklaces.

The clothes were particularly quiet after spring’s stripes and spots - even the neon pieces were tailored and conservative.

Front row seating was a bit mixed up - the Vogue-ttes usually get to sit by the door for a quick exit but this time Anna & Co. made their way further down the runway, across from Mario Testino, while Heidi Klum, Molly Sims and Jane Krakowski held court by the pit.

And that was about the freshest thing happening at the tents this morning. Off to Marchesa!

Warning: I didn’t have time to get coffee pre-Michael Kors, so please excuse the blurry pictures, they’re a result of my blurry head.

Mention Ruffian to anyone in the fashion industry and they’ll squeal, “Oh my god, I just love those boys.”

So maybe it’s because of that or maybe it’s because they always use stellar models that their show is such a good time. Once I stopped eavesdropping on front row conversation - “But I don’t understand Tom Ford! For the price of one blazer you can get two suits made on Saville Row!” - the intimate show started.

Brian and Claude were inspired by Paris this season, or “the aesthetic archetype of New Yorkers in Paris and the French romanticism of Americana” which came through in their point d’esprit hosiery, nipped jackets and silky dresses. There was silence when Arlenis popped out from behind the curtain and a quiet clap for Vlada’s jacket. Ikeliene got to wear sequined leopard print and Liu Wen rocked ruffled cuffs.

I loved the clothes - but I spent most of the show coveting the red lips and towering Louboutins and jumped for joy when my gift bag held a tube of MAC’s Ruffian Red lipstick which I promptly applied.

Let’s just say it was a very happy Valentine’s day - thanks boys.

It’s that time again - In this edition, we ask, who would you have wanted to be (in fashion!) for just one day in 2008?

Britt:

Posh: Because in twenty-four hours, I could know what it’s like to wear Roland Mouret and 6” Louboutins on a play date, get a rave review from Style.com, call Marc Jacobs and sleep with David Beckham.

Arlenis: Preferably the day she signed her Lancome contract so that I could grasp the hugeness of going from relative, or total, obscurity to almost super status in like three months.

Carine Roitfeld: Because I would stand in her closet for twelve hours, wander Paris wearing Alaia for the three, style a Demarchelier shoot for five, and hang out with Nicolas Ghesquiere for the last four.

Natalie:

Katie Grand: Because then I could know everything happening with LOVE, which would make me infinitely satisfied.

Cathy Horyn: The power…

Kate: Because why the hell not?

Brett (for fun!):

Olivier Theyskens: On the day of Lauren Santo Domingo’s wedding, to touch the most amazing wedding dress ever and think his thoughts for a little while.

Don Draper: To look that cool, be married to January Jones, cheat, run an ad agency, and drink and smoke all day.

Simon Doonan: Hello, he designs windows and has opinions for a living. That’s my ideal situation.

And you?

In our second installment of year-end thinking, we ask you, which models do you think will be famous in 2009?

Britt’s picks:

Lara Stone: So maybe she’s been around for a bit, but she’s just now sort of everywhere. Is it weird that I hope Carine’s Loving-Lara issue puts her on Hollywood’s radar?

Gemma Ward: You probably think she’s famous already, but one more movie role and even my mom can add her to the list of current girls she knows - currently composed of just Stam and Agyness.

Natalie’s:

Arlenis: For the obvious reason of her becoming one of the new faces for Lancome and one of the VS girls, which means you won’t be able to click or turn a page without seeing her face very soon.

Lily Cole: Again, you might think she’s famous, but I think even my non-fashion friends will know Lily’s face once The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Phantasmagoria hit the big screen in the next year.

So, who’d we miss?

The CFDA’s been figuring out the Fashion Week schedule for seasons to come, and they’ve finally come to a conclusion:

Since nobody wants to attend shows so close to their Labor Day vacation plans, they’ve made it so that New York Fashion Week will always start the second Thursday of every September, and it’ll be the same for the Fall shows in February, too.

The change begins with the Spring 2010 shows (Thursday, September 10 - September 17), with Fall 09’s New York Fashion Week still starting on February 13th and ending on the 20th.

But the best part about this change? Since the shows will always start on a Thursday (and, more importantly, end on a Thursday,) as opposed to a Friday as before, Fashion Week will only swallow up one of your weekends, as opposed to one and one half. Amazing.

On a side note, the CFDA is also encouraging designers with “similar markets” to not just change their shows to presentations, but to do dual (or even triple?) presentations to cut down on travel time and costs. So basically, Fashion Week just got a whole lot easier (though less fun, depending on who you ask.)

We think Arlenis deserves some kind of award. Maybe something like a Most Successful Model in the Least Amount of Time award?

Not even seven months have gone by since we first spotted her at the Banana Republic Fall 08 show approximately one week into her career, and she’s already been in Vogue and WWD, starred in the legendary Black Issue of Vogue Italia, landed a major beauty campaign, and now? Well, now, she’s an angel, having walked in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show extravaganza this past weekend.

Too bad there aren’t modeling Oscars, but at least she’s got the money.

Looks like Alexander Wang isn’t done with breaking into new markets after his shoe collection for Spring:

We just heard that he’s branching into makeup for none other than Shu Uemura! No word on exactly when the line comes out, but the deal is definitely done - he even has his shade names picked out.

We can’t wait to see what his take on the best lipstick to go with black leather is, and we have a feeling nobody else can either.

Because wouldn’t you want to wear an eyeshadow called something like “Tough Chic”? Yes.

Update: Alex’s reps say the collaboration isn’t true, but, you know…

To: Tips@Fashionista.com

From: model@izer.com

There was a photo shoot last night in Central Park for the Chanel Mobile Exhibit with Arlenis!

Not sure which magazine it was for, but it was mostly about the exhibit, and it had an industrial feel during exhibit set up.

The clothes were all Chanel, and it was shot by Magnus Unnar.

You’re welcome!

We were more than a bit disappointed with Milan’s all white runways.

Hello, Italian Vogue?!

So we’re glad designers are mixing it up in Paris. Sessilee Lopez opened up the Marithé et François Girbaud show yesterday morning, after walking Vivienne Westwood the night before. (We’ve also spotted Hollis, Arlenis and Georgie. Not that we don’t love Jourdan, but one gorgeous girl of color per runway just doesn’t cut it).

Anyway, the audience summed up the clothes on MFG’s runway. Front row goers channeled their best street style vibes mixed with a little bit of girly and lots of denim.

There was one dress we’re pretty sure you could make out of a pillowcase.

But sideways suspenders? Don’t try those at home.

So we made it to Jason Wu this afternoon, sometime after BCBG and Yigal, but sometime before Jenni Kayne, Rag & Bone, Shipley & Halmos and Erin Fetherston (more on them later).

Spotted:

- Anna, front row and at the end, so she could jet out as soon as the lights began to come back on.

- More Arlenis!

The clothes were a sort of strange range - it began with a lot of little dresses and pieces that looked like they could go at Anthropologie, but paired with some seriously cute shiny shoes that looked like they could go at Barneys.

But the show ended with a series of jewel toned, floaty frocks, that made us think Alber’s Spring 08 collection is still weighing very heavily on everyone’s mind.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

When we took our seat at the BCBG show this morning, the first thing we heard was a PR girl mumbling into her headset, “Anna wants to start. Now.”

Anna took her sunglasses off, and the lights dimmed exactly one minute later.

The clothes? Pretty, floaty, mostly muted colors - exactly what you might expect at a BCBG show.

Of note: It was the first time we saw new Lancome face Arlenis walk a runway - and she was a natural.

Also of note: Irina K seems to have adopted Karlie Kloss’ death drag, which brought the show to a screeching halt since it took her a few dozen seconds to round the corner at the end of the runway. She did, however, look kind of amazing doing it.

We see most of these looks on any starlette looking to perfect that “I’m naturally lithe and glowing” look on a red carpet somewhere in LA - or just on Shopbop…

Wow, this just in from WWD:

The news we broke way back in July - that Arlenis is the new face of Lancome - is absolutely true!

Lancome can’t say exactly for how long the Dominican cutie will front their array of mascaras and lip glosses, but they can say that her ads, shot by Dusan Reljin, will break some time after the new year.

We’re ecstatic that our pick for best new model got such a huge (and coveted) beauty contract so soon out of the gate - remember that just at the beginning of this year, Arlenis was still a student without any idea she’d be posing for several editions of Vogue and walking for big shows like Oscar by the end of what would have been “next semester.”

And do we even have to mention how much we love that Lancome seems to be diversifying their stable of models more and more?