Despite its less than stellar performance since Valentino’s exit, the industry’s VIPs continue to flock to Valentino.

Today’s show played host to a stellar trifecta: Linda Fargo, Michael Roberts, and Anna Dello Russo sat front row for Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli’s second effort.

Their collection was pretty - very, very pretty.

The clothes weren’t overly complicated, nor dramatic or groundbreaking, but their sense of lightness looked comfortable and desirable. If they were going for dreamlike, they succeeded with a palette of dusky nudes and lilacs. Sparks of Valentino’s signature heavy handiwork appeared on mini-dresses and a gown or two, and of course, there were bows.

As for the showmanship of the show itself, no expense was spared. Black and white images of mutating orchids and flames were projected onto the walls of the tent and the tones of grey translated to the seats, which, by the way, were the most plush seats I’ve ever seen at a fashion show - soft banquettes, only three rows deep, perfect for resting my Fashion Week ridden body.

Of course the lingering question is, and will be for some time, what did Mr. Valentino think?

—REBECCA SUHRAWARDI AUSTIN

In which we catch those of you, and those of us, who spent the weekend outside, away from a computer or on a phone-cation, up on the fashion Twitterverse.

1. “I don’t get it,” from @jess_stam. She’s new to the world of tweets, give her a warm welcome!

2. “A Lanvin ‘snow sprite’ cashmere elf hat. It kind of makes me feel like skipping,” from @bunnybisous who appears to have been stranded uptown in the rain.

3. “Got sandwiched between Vogue’s Sally Singer and Anna Wintour to my left and Michael Roberts and Suzy Menkes to the right,” from @bryanboy at Dolce & Gabbana. A better view of their reactions, here. Sally looks amused; Hamish looks dangerous.

4. “Is it possible to have fashion sensory overload? Tell me no. I have 10 more days and another city to go,” from @mrjoezee. Yes, yes there is sir.

5. “Spotted on the front row at Versace…..Janet Jackson,” from @dazedmagazine. She sure pops up in the strangest places.

You know a show’s bad when you can’t wait for it to be over, especially when it’s only seven minutes long.

Unfortunately, that’s the way Matthew Williamson went yesterday. It wasn’t all his fault though. The ridiculous heat - sweat poured off front row faces including Olivia Palermo, Cecilia Dean, Twiggy, Yasmin LeBon, Leigh Lezark, Aliona Doletskaya, Michael Roberts and Jodie Harsh - was hard to stomach. Kind of like Williamson’s attempts at tailoring.

So far, he’s built a pretty solid business over the past few years with his haute gypsy, running off to Ibiza look. It includes lots of long flowy dresses, mirrors, colour and hippie dippy frocks often without shape and still eye-poppingly expensive.

His marketing’s genius, Sienna Miller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Plum Sykes, Jade Jagger et al, are his best friends, campaign stars and constant photo companions so he was, essentially selling a dream lifestyle, rather than clothes, which is quite easy to buy into.

But this year, Mr. Williamson decided to tailor which was, we agree, long overdue. And yet it didn’t work. You can’t just add a structured waist and a cupola sleeve without changing everything else that needed changing, i.e. Ibiza happy prints and weird houndstooth which is what came down the runway.

In fact, the final piece, a silk maxi dress, had beauty pageant written all over it, which is probably the worse thing you could say about a collection.

—A LONDON FASHIONISTA

I woke up bright and early today - except it wasn’t bright, it’s thundering and raining - to trek across the city to Sophie Theallet’s runway show. I abandoned all hope of appropriate Fashion Show outfits in lieu of ripped jean shorts and rain boots.

The only thing I knew about Sophie was that she was Alaia’s right hand woman for a very long time, but that was really all I needed to know. I’ve been an Alaia devotee since Cher went to that party in the valley in her red dress.

Anyway, Sophie’s clothes are nothing like Alaia’s, but they’re beautiful, just like the cast of stunning black models who wore her very simple, but perfectly constructed clothes down the sparse runway.

The collection started with a thin, white ruffled dress and slowly moved into prints and sheer black silk layered over brighter colors.

The stellar front row included Cathy Horyn, (who was also wearing jean shorts!!!), Michael Roberts, Grace Coddington, Nigel Barker and Sally Singer, who had a smile on her face most of the time.

That tells you more than I ever could.

Michael Roberts, style director of Vanity Fair and style contributor to everywhere else, is having his first proper exhibition at Mark Seliger’s 401 Gallery.

Though he’s best known for his work within the fashion industry, this will be a display of twenty years worth of photographs taken from his time in Sicily. Though there are sure to editorial like shots, the exhibition, titled “Shot in Sicily” focuses on the landscapes, people and traditions of the island.

And the best part is, it’s open to the public starting September 10th. So if you’re anticipating fashion week but can’t score a ticket to your favorite show or the Calvin Klein party, go meet Michael Roberts late in the evening of the 10th - the event is from 10am to 6pm.

That should be a pretty sufficient fashion fix.

—PICTURE BY MICHAEL ROBERTS