We realized when looking through our newest issue of Russh that in all the talk over these many months about the widespread trend of pantslessness, and even the emerging “jock” fashions of S/S10, that one inspiration had been overlooked. Until now. Thank you Russh editors for remembering.

And who might this trendsetter be? Jamie Lee Curtis in the awesome 1985 “drama”, Perfect. The film is a hip-thrusting romp following the relationship of aerobics instructor Jessie and John Travolta’s reporter Adam. If you haven’t had the pleasure, we highly recommend it for its ridiculous workout scenes and brilliant use of leotards and headbands. (Be forewarned that Travolta wears loose-fitting short shorts that are more revealing than one might like.)

We feel terrible for overlooking Jamie Lee when watching collections like Charlotte Ronson’s come down the runway. We were consumed by visions of Olivia Newton-John and “Let’s Get Physical”, but we’re trying to make amends by giving props now. Because really, no one’s ever looked hotter sans pants.

Please forgive us, Mrs. Christopher Guest. We won’t forget you again.

There was a time years back when many thought leggings were going to be a one season wonder. Well, that moment has come and gone and even most naysayers long ago embraced them. We’re actually really liking these dancer-like incarnations of mostly sheer, sometimes short, and always scrunched for Spring/Summer 2010—especially the sheer pinks and neutrals for a bit of light layering.

What about you? Are you game for another season or totally over them by now?

Stella McCartney sent pants-less looks down her runway as early as her Spring 2008 collection (September of 2007, when Gaga was still just a noise babies made). She carried the look through to last spring’s line-up of pants-less suits and rompers, but this season almost every designer jumped on the bandwagon.

Charles Anastase showed a killer nude and black playsuit; Marc layered pants-less options under military jackets; Miuccia showed hotpants in Milan last night; Brian Reyes’ opening look was nothing but a white bodysuit. As if a lack of pants wasn’t enough, Alex Wang sewed sheer panels into his and Jenni Kayne added a matching leather bandeau, conservatively draped with a grandpa cardigan, of course.

But, well, you know which question remains.

Each day of NYFW presented more and more examples of belly baring for S/S 2010. From Alex Wang and Brian Reyes to Yigal and Charlotte Ronson, and about a dozen other in between, skinny model tummies were everywhere. And this got me quaking in my booties, no doubt.

First, my midsection is not my favorite area of my body on the best of days. But more importantly, I’m not sure that someone like myself, nearing (gasp!) 34 years of age needs to be baring anything even close to my belly, unless I’m in a beach/pool type setting.

Unless, that is, I suddenly become Gwen Stefani overnight.

Sure, they look cool on the models. What doesn’t? But I don’t think I’ve worn a half shirt since the 80s and I’m thinking I never need to again. I’ll leave it to the rock stars and the supermodels.

What about you?

These days we all know the last name Ronson draws a crowd, though sometimes an unwanted paparazzi-type one. But not today, at least for the most part. Though there was some serious seating drama for a hot second, everything got figured out and Charlotte sent her clothes down the runway to tunes compiled by her twin sister.

Brother Mark, Byrdie Bell, Becka Diamond, Russell Simmons and his nieces Angela and Vanessa, Joe Zee, Brooklyn Decker, Tinsley Mortimer (in I Heart Ronson from JCPenney), and Olivier Zahm took it all in from the front row. The consensus in our section, and from many others we overheard while squeezing ourselves out the door, was that this was by far Charlotte’s best collection.

There were “Let’s Get Physical” braided headbands, thigh-length leggings/tights with well-placed runs, tons of the shorts (in leather and jersey) that the designer herself so often wears, and an army jacket/anorak that I must have if it kills me. Plus, lots of one-shouldered action. It’s all happening on that front, people. Embrace it.

We’ve interviewed stylists and editors and publicists and designers, but we’ve never entered the world of blogging, or even the internet for a Life With.

So welcome to the world of Who What Wear.

We know you love their site. We love their site. And I made it a priority to sit down with Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power while in LA at the end of July to learn how they left the world of print and moved onto the internet. And more importantly, how they ended up putting together one of the most successful fashion sites among the millions.

Inside, how they blew up, where they’re going and what the launch of their book means
to them.

We love Sharpies here at Fashionista. They come in very handy with our graphic tendencies and the rainbow of colors they now come in is quite lovely. That said, we never expected to hear them attached to Fashion Week. But apparently, they are.

It was thought that perhaps MAC wanted to get out of their IMG relationship in part because of the overcrowded sponsorship mania that now goes on at the Tents. You know, with people like McDonald’s and whatnot. Um, maybe this is what they were talking about?

Here’s something we never do - the answer to last week’s tent-to-salon blind item was Zac Posen.

But it’s not anymore because KCD’s request form (where you list the shows you’d like to attend next to their time and place) says that Zac’s show will be held at the Altman building - a popular albeit small Fashion Week venue that’s played host to Costello Tagliapietra, Charlotte Ronson and Sophie Theallet in the past.

This is strange because

a) It’s small.
b) Zac was one of the major designers IMG’d managed to hold on to.
c) Zac’s shows ooze glamour, which the Altman building does not.

Good thing his dresses are spectacular enough to make up for it.

Annabel Dexter-Jones, Model (we know, but it’s almost Fashion Week!)

Got Her: At the Chelsea Piers Lighthouse for the I Heart Ronson and JC Penney party last week.

Stalked Her: Because everyone was wearing Charlotte Ronson; she did it best and we’re a sucker for blue and orange. Plus, we’re (or I’m) seriously considering going blond and her hair is surfer perfect.

Shot Her: Because despite our strict no-models-if-not-at-Fashion-Week-rule, we couldn’t help ourselves. With the florals and the sheer and the suede and the weaving, there was a lot going on and yet it looks so easy.

She Said: “It’s all Charlotte, of course!”

We Say: You do your sister proud.

Next Tuesday, Allure’s fashion director Michael Carl is hosting a party at Housing Works.

It’s part of their editor’s choice series in which the charity, the largest community-based AIDS service organization in the country, asks an editor to cull the best pieces within the store and present them to the public.

Carl’s party, “Last Days of Summer,” also has two co-hosts, Charlotte Ronson and Shoshanna Gruss whose swim collaboration debuted earlier this year. The friends are donating shoes and swimsuits for the event, too.

The party’s free and open to the public from 6 to 9 on August 24th at their Tribeca store on Chambers St. Go early so you’re home in time for the Rachel Zoe Project’s season two premiere and Anna’s Letterman debut.

Mark and Samantha Ronson have obviously caught the design bug from their sister Charlotte (and maybe Sam’s getting ideas from Lindsay?), as both have entered the fashion game in the footwear division. First we heard about Sam’s high-tops for Supra. They’re tough and cool in black leather with a gold stripe, and are now available at Factory 413.

Now, WWD has reported that Mark is designing for Gucci’s planned traveling sneaker pop-up store. It’ll be coming our way this October, with the first location in SoHo, then jetting away to Miami Beach, London, Paris and Tokyo, among others. For each location, he’ll be designing a different unisex shoe.

I learned a lot of things yesterday: what an ice blended tastes like, what it’s like for a seven minute drive to take forty-seven minutes, what it’s like to have so much space in your house/office that you have whole extra rooms and that Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power of WhoWhatWear wrote a book.

The project’s been in the works for almost two years, since a handful of literary agents approached them to turn their super popular site into something bound and solid.

We’ve made it abundantly clear that we love Montauk and Mr. Mickey.

And this Sunday the 5th, the two shall come together for the Paper mag editor’s second annual Celebrity Sidewalk Sale at Screaming Mimi’s.

The shindig is co-hosted by Peter Davis, Charlotte Ronson, and Emma Snowdon-Jones and will feature loads of merch from people like Catherine Malandrino, Julia Frakes, and Lynn Yaeger.

Plus, the money goes to charity:water which builds freshwater wells in developing countries. We actually had no idea that it only takes about $5000 to give water to a whole village for 20 years!

So shop away, friends. We just wish we were going to be out east too. But ‘tis wedding season and we’re off to another one in Ann Arbor come Friday.

We discussed the fate of Hogan earlier in the week when Tod’s S.P.A. announced they were closing their downtown store and moving uptown.

Their downtown image, one cultivated through ads starring Leigh Lezark and Elettra Weidemann, wasn’t quite working - so above 14th Street they went.

And of course we wondered who’d star in their new uptown ads. Someone said they’d tell us but they’d have to kill us, but then someone else told us. Hogan’s Fall 09 ads will allegedly star: Paz de la Huerta, Annabelle Dexter Jones, Rachel Chandler, Sam Hayes and Nate Lowman. Also, someone named Theo, we’re thinking Richards, and a Josephine.

Now we’re lost because it doesn’t really get more downtown than Mary-Kate Olsen’s artist boyfriend and the Ronsons’ baby-sister - unless this person’s constructed a super elaborate list to throw us off.

But, no, it is real and Hogan is confused.

Mickey Boardman, aka Mr. Mickey, is the Editorial Director, and basically the face of Paper Magazine.

The man’s one of the busiest people I’ve ever met - and yet he positively bubbles over with enthusiasm for his job and the people he works with. The first time I met him, in an elevator at Milk Studios at one of the first fashion events I ever went to, he told me I was funny. In Paris last month, he gave me his ticket to John Galliano and introduced me to Kate and Laura Mulleavy. Needless to say, I love him.

So our Life With session turned into more than just a what-do-you-do-all-day interview. We dove into topics like his love for India, his devotion to various charities and the highlights of his sixteen-year career at Paper - the Olsens are involved, so is DVF.

His goal? To host Mr. Gay Bombay, but for now there are photo shoots to plan, web meetings to conduct and a snack run to the local deli wherein lives a fat cat lovingly christened Candy Cats Price.

Full disclosure: I didn’t know much about Pam Hogg before her show this afternoon except that she used to play music, that LOVE has a David Sims-shot editorial of her clothes and that hers was a really coveted ticket since it’s the first time she’s shown a proper collection in years.

But it was clear, walking into the Science Museum, that this was the show for the cool kids. And, yes, everyone even remotely related to fashion in this city looks pretty cool, so I’m referring to a whole new level of cool. Even the six-year-old boy in front of me had a guitar purse and majorly mohawked hair. The crowd, including Gareth Pugh, oohed, ahhed and cheered with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for Charlotte Ronson’s familial shows.

Dazed’s Fashion Editor Katie Shillingford styled the show which opened with jumpsuits: Neon jumpsuits, pastel jumpsuits, metallic jumpsuits made of latex, velvet, lace and leather before moving into more wearable dresses in the same aesthetic.

Her final pieces - a barely there dress of layers and layers of tulle, a completey sheer beribboned gown and the black lace, rhinestone encrusted goth bride dress on Alice Dellal at the end of the show - were really spectacular, especially considering she handmade all of her samples with just one other person.

Afterwards, we wondered just how much Lady Gaga’s clothing line will be inspired by Pam’s.

The next logical step after the last year’s stripper platforms?

In high school I depended on my car radio for new music, in college, boyfriends and now Fashion Week.

Its introduced me to bands like Beirut, the Virgins, She & Him and MGMT over the years and now that my iPhone’s armed with Shazaam and I don’t have to shamelessly harass the DJs everywhere I go, I was ready to walk away with a list of downloadable tunes.

Unfortunately, it’s just not happening. Instead, models are walking to instrumentals and old standbys like “Welcome to the Jungle” or “Electric Feel” (yes, again). At Erin Fetherston there was wind up doll music, at Preen electro beats, at Charlotte Ronson Sam played Etta James and Peggy Lee.

I’m sure it all relates back to the economy in some way - the season’s go-to scapegoat. Are older, well known songs and soothing instrumentals supposed to be comforting and reassuring?

I need tonight’s Chris Benz presentation to kill the trend.

— PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

It’s really hard to concentrate on a show when Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are in the DJ booth and Mark Ronson and his new girlfriend are sitting across the aisle and you feel like you’re living in Perez Hilton.

But we finally peeled our eyes away and focused them on the runway for Charlotte’s Fall show.

Dark lipstick, again! Tight ponytails and some very serious Pretty Woman leather lace-up boots. There were lots of little dresses - it’s Charlotte Ronson, after all - jumpsuits, bolero jackets, tight tight pants and some of the western flair we saw this morning at Yigal (more on him soon).

There were cut out shoulders - which we saw later at Shipley & Halmos - and shearling vests and jackets belted over ruffled dresses.

It was a lot, it was fun, it was a little scarier than expected.

And please, excuse Lindsay in the corner of nearly all our photos.