Alison Lewis was the last of New York Fashion Week’s hip alternative presentations.

She showed at 5 Ninth, the pretty, brick walled bar conveniently located near Milk Studios.

Prop stylist Kenyan (who pops up on The Selby more often than not) decorated the space with amazing carnival props including a carved wooden carousel, old costumes, signs and even an old clown trunk while a self-produced film projected onto the back wall.

It was a soft and fun setting for the natural looking, girl next door models showing off Lewis’ brightly colored prints - including an original floral. Her vintage inspired collection was both realistic and wearable. It didn’t veer too far to the retro, incorporating cutouts (an SS10 pre-requisite?) and paired with cute navy or white Keds.

Sarah Sophie Flicker popped in to say hello and we’re pretty sure we’ll see her wandering the village in this come May.

At the Lewis and Ashley Jeanne presentation at Bobo tonight, we ran into Paper’s Quinn Asteak. At some point, we looked up and noticed there was a stuffed cat wearing a pink tutu and a mess of knotted pearls like it was Audrey Hepburn, hanging from the ceiling. The conversation went like this:

Natalie: Why is there a cat hanging from the ceiling? (Snaps a picture)

Quinn: I don’t know, weird.

Natalie: You know, it almost looks… real. I mean, they even gave it little paw pads.

Quinn: Eh, I doubt it.

Natalie: Touch it! [Quinn touches it]

Quinn: Hmm… [Natalie pets the cat]

Natalie: Oh my god, that almost does feel real -

[Natalie moves the cat slightly so that the cat’s face is in view for the first time]

Natalie: OH MY GOD. [The cat has glass eyes, and whiskers and teeth that are far too detailed for a toy]

Quinn: What? This can’t be real!

Britt: You probably shouldn’t have touched it. [More pics]

After some investigating, we finally found someone with answers. The bartender, who works at Bobo besides just tonight, informs us that not only is the cat real (his tutu and pearls had nothing to do with Fashion Week - they’re the animal’s every day attire at the restaurant), but that it’s a bobcat. A real, live (ok, dead) bobcat.

Scene.

Since Ashley Granata used to plan all the parties for Style.com, we knew her joint presentation with Alison Lewis would be a good one.

It was the kind of event people would describe as “intimate” - think steep stairs, a small back room, and smooth champagne - held in a small West Village restaurant filled with lovers of Alison and Ashley only.

The clothes, all designed by Alison for her line, Lewis, were adorable - tops that looked like a cross between pajamas and kimonos, a little romper the models literally fought over to decide who would wear it (true story), and scarves screen-printed by Ms. Granata herself, so precious you wish you found them in your grandmother’s bureau.

Ashley said the event was basically a dream come true - she’s been working in fashion since she was 16, back when she used to skip school and drive into the city from Pennsylvania just so she could help her aunt at the Tents, all the while dreaming of going to FIT to study textiles and to eventually become a designer.

It was at this point that the event took another turn, but we’ll save that for our next post so you can enjoy the pretty pictures…

Mark your calendars, please.

Ashley Granata, formerly of Style.com, and Alison Lewis (do we still have to introduce her as half of the former Mooka Kinney?) have teamed up to show off their collections in a joint show at New York Fashion Week!

Alison will be showing her Fall 09 Lewis collection alongside Ashley’s accessories line, Ashley Jeanne, on February 12th. Picture a collection inspired by vintage circus images and tents and the “silent film and slapstick comedy of the 1920’s” from Lewis, alongside Ashley’s line which was inspired by royal porcelain and antique book bindings (most people know Ashley as the girl that put together all those parties for Style.com, but here’s a fun fact: She’s also a textile designer formally trained at Chelsea College of Art in London - think Marchesa).

The event marks the second full collection for Alison, and the debut of Ashley’s.

And since Ashley definitely knows how to throw a good party, we suggest making sure you get an invite - they don’t go out until Monday!

Alison Lewis (you know, half of the former Mooka Kinney), is looking for an intern to help her out two days a week, with the possibility of weekend work here and there -

It would be great if you don’t mind doing stuff like making copies, getting buttons and helping with shoots in exchange for hands-on experience in the daily operation of a small line.

Also: Photoshop and sewing experience is a plus but not required, and the Lewis studio is in the West Village, but expect to make many trips to the Garment District, too.

So if you basically want to put together a cheat sheet on how to start your own line, e-mail Alison directly at alison@lewisnyc.com with your plea.

Good Luck!

If you were bummed, like we were, when you heard that Mooka Kinney was no more - we have some good news for you. One half of Mooka Kinney’s former design duo, Alison Lewis, has gone off to create her own label, aptly called Lewis, and the Spring 09 line just got picked up by Barneys.

After checking out her duds on the Lewis site, we’re convinced that her line will be just as successful as Mooka - featuring the same mix of girly and vintage-inspired pieces plus some really awesomely flattering stuff (I’m really into the high waisted shorts, Natalie loves the red butterfly print top - and what could say Spring better?).

And not only will Alison’s designer be easily locatable for every post-Saturday brunch shopper starting next season, Alison’s even designing an exclusive top for the store.

Can’t wait.

—HAYLEY PHELAN