If you’re lost without loads of Fashion Week fêtes on your calendar, you need a ticket to Wednesday’s MAD Paperball.

It’s the first, hopefully annual, benefit for the Museum of Art and Design and one of the few of its kind targeted toward a much younger audience - hence the seriously fun fashion names on the host committee including Rogan Gregory, Chris Benz, the Ruffian boys, Coco Rocha, The Misshapes and Rose McGowan (Mad Men’s Bryan Batt is hosting, too). It starts with a dinner and ends with a dance party DJd by Harley & Cassie, Leo Fitzpatrick and Paul Sevigny - so you really actually can pretend it’s still Fashion Week.

All of the money raised goes toward MAD’s education program for kids. They’re hoping to raise that money with a youthful crowd of fashion and art enthusiasts which is why tickets start at just $150 (which may sound like a lot, but isn’t for a benefit, a party and a good cause).

You can buy your tickets here or here if that doesn’t work. And my dream dress here.

So our friends over at our sibling site, Above The Law, came to us this afternoon with a little situation. You see they’d posted a story yesterday about how corporate lawyer types were being allowed, and even told, by their big law bosses to dress “down” during the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh so as not to draw unwanted attention from the protesters that follow this meeting wherever in the world it is held.

But, what to wear some readers asked? So we decided to step in with a few suggestion (even jeans are allowed!)

My first thought for the ladies was to definitely keep it simple: a dark fitted jean (I’m currently obsessed with my “Curvy” style from the 1969 collection at the Gap), maybe a cool not suit-y black blazer, with a striped tee underneath and a simple black boot. Subtle, professional, but not too corporate lackey.

Or throw in a little retro vibe plus color, like this look from fall Chris Benz. Maybe I’m wrong, but brights don’t scream Big Law to me. The other option I came up with was to go luxe boho, like you’re part of the professional counterculture, if you will. Maybe something along the lines of this Anna Sui print with some black tights and a slouchy bag.

There’ve been a record amount of presentations this week - a trend we love so long as it never signals the death of the proper runway.

However, depending on how and where the models are arranged the system can either be perfect or disastrous. In the past three days Chris Benz, Devi Kroell and Betsey Johnson have all employed the same idea - stick all the models on a stage at one end of the room and let the crowd angle for the best possible view. Presentation rule #1: make sure your models move in and around your audience if they’re not elevated above the crowd otherwise it’s impossible for those of us below 5’8” to see anything.

Anyway, even though I had to hold my camera high above everyone else (pushing to the front is even worse) Devi Kroell’s presentation looked pretty. They propped up white cut out waves in Cedar Lake and had models moving in and out of them in front of the crowd. The clothes were cute, very ruffly, shiny and said something like, “I’m a demure party girl.”

As the garage door opened yesterday afternoon at Drive-In Studios, the crowd gathered outside having just attended Thakoon’s show around the corner (more on that later!), was treated to a serious blast of color thanks to Chris Benz.

There was purple, pink, yellow, fuschia, periwinkle. And you couldn’t help but smile. The collection is simply just fun, fun, fun. Any one of those multi-colored sequined pieces just screams party! And rainbow feathers, c’mon, there’s nothing more playful than that.

Chris worked the room, seemingly having much fun himself talking with editors about the collection, always with a big smile. His parents and BFF Eva Amurri mingled about too.

The baby-faced models were all wearing Lancôme’s new peachy Chris & Tell shade which looked gorgeous, but totally different on each girl depending on her skin tone. I snagged a sample and it totally works on my extremely pale skin too.

Good times. Good times, indeed.

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.

Whitney Port, of The Hills and The City, has apparently “designed” a lipstick for Cargo. Of course, I recognize that there is PR value and it’s very lovely that a portion of the profits go to St. Jude’s. But really, I’ve always found these collaborations, if you can even call them that, rather dumb.

I love what Lancôme does in their Pout-à-Porter series with designers like Peter Som and Thakoon. And I can’t wait to see the new Chris Benz shade and find out who won the naming contest! These are literally tied to the runway looks of these designers. In fact, they’re actually used on the models in the show. There’s a context and a point behind the shades.

But I personally could care less when someone like Whitney or Tinsley (that Dior Beauty Ambassador thing still boggles my mind) point at a shade of pink and throws her name on it.

Do you?

Girl On Film: Home schooled kids so did not look like this where we grew up. And they certainly didn’t get to appear in ads with Bambi. {W}

Hot Damn! The big three are looking killer. Can we age this way, pretty please? {Fashion Gone Rogue}

Just Like US: Janice Min is leaving US Weekly after spending years making it one of the few bright spots in gloomier by the day magazine land. But if we had to look at that many pictures of the Gosselins, we’d probably want to bolt too. {Gawker}

Welcome to the Club: The CFDA named 31 new members including Alexander Wang, Chris Benz, and MK & A. Big ups to you all. {WWD}

“I’m A Little Frumpy”: So says the president in defense of wearing the same jeans that my dad wears every weekend. We actually find it rather comforting. {HuffPo}

I love Chris Benz. (Congrats on the just announced CFDA membership!) And I love Beckley. What I don’t love is that I won’t be in Los Angeles for the trunk show the designer is hosting at the store with owner Melissa Richardson Akkaway on Wednesday night.

Britt, however, is out in LALA working on some very cool “Life With” features, so I am happy that at least one of us is going to be able to stop by and check out the wares.

The store is famous for its personal touches and customer service, so we have no doubt the event will be quite perfect.

There will be champers, hors d’oeuvres, and 20% off all Chris Benz merch (along with any other full-price items in the boutique)

Details after the jump!

I took a fashion road trip this weekend—after three years in New York, I finally made my way to the much lauded Woodbury Commons.

I’m not a shopping in a group kind of girl and I’m not an outlet kind of girl because it’s generally too much effort, but this was like walking through a living archive of legendary runway looks that had me squealing up and down the aisles. Plus at this point in the summer I’ll get out of the city any which way I can.

It started at Prada which currently houses an entire rack of AW09 lace priced around $2000—black dresses, gold skirt, blue tops. Anna’s favorite floral prints are on the clearance rack for about $400, along with the red and blue checked skirt, a single Harlequin Miu Miu mini and a lone black turban.

Balenciaga’s packed with SS08’s structured florals—skirts, dresses, jackets—priced under $1000, but it was the riding hats from AW06 that really made me gasp. Alas, they were low on shoes, though I found these at the Neiman Marcus outlet for $200 (along with the pink fur stole from Chris Benz’s AW08).

Well, not exactly.

But Lancôme is partnering with the darling designer for the next shade in their Pout-à-Porter series. Past collaborations include ones with Behnaz Sarafpour, Thakoon, Proenza Schouler, and Peter Som.

This time around the cosmetics company is giving all you guys a chance to help name the shade (which will be worn by models at Chris’ show in September.)

If you win, you’ll also snag a $500 gift certificate and a bunch of the lipsticks which is a very good thing as all the others have sold out almost immediately. One of the Proenza Pinks even sold for over $120 on eBay!

Just head over to Chris’s Facebook fan page to post your suggestion by 5 pm EST on July 12th.

We all know Father’s Day is this weekend. Or if this is your reminder, get to rush ordering online stat!

And this dad’s day-inspired story that Refinery29 did on their blog just made our Friday morning. They’ve got a slew of photos that staffers and fashion friends sent in of their cooler than cool dads.

Not surprisingly, Chris Benz’ dad is kinda smokin’ hot, way hip, and looks to have been shot in Cameron’s garage from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. And a little Kate Lanphear and her pop are in coordinating tanks. Aw!

Of course, it got me thinking about my own dad’s style. (That is indeed him and yours truly in the photo. He rocks that sweet ‘stache to this day…and now it’s totally in again!) You see he’s the one I got my shoe addiction from. The man loves a great pair of shoes. And he’s so much more of a clothes horse than my mom.

My favorite fashion phase was when he got super into madras in the form of shorts, pants, and blazers. Actually, I think I’m going to tell him to bring those back into rotation.

What’s your favorite dad fashion moment…good or bad?

The New York Fall 09 runways saw a curious mishmash of trends - More “downtown” ideas like neon, cut-outs, and what could only be referred to as hooker boots, alongside more “uptown” looks like fur, cascading ribbons, and peplums.

Behnaz Sarafpour, Chris Benz and J Mendel all worked in that last one, which makes us wonder, was Pretty Woman on everybody’s inspiration board this summer?

Looks like the r-word hit the runways harder than we thought. I heard the term “DIY” batted around backstage so much it had me wondering if next season we might see models backstage with lash curlers and cans of Elnett in hand.

The smoky makeup at Chris Benz and Anna Sui along with the hair at Jason Wu, Rag & Bone, Wren and Miss Sixty were all fashioned to look as if the models had done it themselves. At the Twinkle by Wenlan show, MAC’s Gregory Arlt took the inspiration quite literally, letting some models curl their own lashes to get his “50’s girl on a first date” look.

Good news for those of us trying to recreate these straight-from-the-runway looks at home, not so great news for beauty pros if some designers actually decide to take their words at face value and let the models do their own thing. While I doubt the reality of that particular scenario, you never really can be sure. Stranger things have happened at the tents.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

Chris Benz’s presentation was held in a dark warehouse in Chelsea.

There was champagne, a newly brunette designer and Lancôme’s new nail shades for Fall, a perfect match for Chris’ furs.

The clothes were beautiful, very retro. A Veronica Lake-like long white dress might finally land Chris on the red carpet. The bright shiny blue, green and red mini dresses will be everywhere. The bold floral print will be copied and the white fur jacket with blue, red and yellow horizontal stripes might have been a touch over the top. But the open backed pea-green tweed dress belongs in my closet.

We always walk away from Chris’ clothes thinking we should wear more color and in the brightest shades. This season’s no exception.

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.

During a high school field trip some years ago, I noticed that one of my classmates had two different sneakers on. As in, her left sneaker was from one pair, and her right from another. When I asked her about it she looked down, laughed, and said she’d overslept and literally gotten dressed in the dark and didn’t notice, and maybe wouldn’t have, until I asked her about it.

I hadn’t seen anyone else pull the two sneaker move until I saw this picture of Chris Benz from the He’s Just Not That Into You premiere.

A part of me really likes this idea - on the right person, it’s kind of funny, like a nod to junior high fashion antics. But on the wrong person (read: almost everyone, and definitely me), it would look a little like a move made to fit in with the art kids (read: juvenile).

It works on Chris, but Chris is also a tall, thin, cute boy, and it did work on Carrie in that LA episode where she wears different colored Louboutins, but the shades were complementary and designed to be so - plus, it’s TV.

So would you ever try wearing two different shoes at the same time? Or is this a sartorial switch that should only happen by accident?

Ever since the non-stop negative news surrounding Men’s Vogue, some people have been wondering what Bonnie Morrison - Men’s Vogue’s special projects editor, formerly of KCD fame - has been up to, seeing as how her job must have been downsized in ratio to the magazine’s own shrinkage.

So here’s what: We hear Bonnie’s in charge of the PR for Chris Benz’s show this season, which is back to being a presentation after having a runway show on an actual stage for Spring 09.

So will Chris’ presentation draw even more hype this season (remember Taylor Momsen swung by last time) given Bonnie’s extensive PR credentials?

We’ll let you know on the night of the 16th.