The official Fashion Week calendar just dropped and so far we’ve learned that a lot of the big guys - Ralph, Oscar, Calvin - are throwing multiple shows.

But it’s the little ones we’re more interested in; it’s a very good sign when they take the plunge from presentation to runway. As of now, both Elise Overland and Jen Kao will stage proper runway shows for the first time. Last year, Elise featured a small runway within her presentation - the models stood on a platform at one end of the runway for most of the night and walked down every half hour or so. But this year she’ll forgo any standing still for a full on show.

We miss Natalie for a lot of reasons, one of which was her innate knack for tracking down the best food at even the most anorexic fashion party.

Which is why we started waxing nostalgic when we saw this retro video for BabyCakes, the Lower East Side vegan, gluten-free bakery. Owner Erin McKenna make the go-to sweets for the Zac Posens, Phillip Lims and Elise Overlands of the world and she’s finally launching a cookbook, which means we can have our fashion food at home, too.

We have the biggest sweet tooth in the fashion universe and these cupcakes are actually delicious. And since we want to fit into one of these retro suits come summer, a batch of sugarless baked goods is probably the right alternative to the Ben & Jerry’s in our freezer.

Every time I walk away from an Elise Overland presentation I’m left wishing, hoping that one day I’ll be that cool.

The models hung out on a white cube at the end of the runway, laughing, striking silly poses and wearing Elise’s Midsummer NIght’s Dream goes rock n’roll Fall 09 collection.

There were leather leggings, of course, and sparkly dresses topped with thorny crowns and jewels straight from Alexander Calder. Colorful lambskin biker jackets abounded over mostly green mini dresses (the seaweed inspiration was crystal clear) rounded out with 6” stiletto platforms I couldn’t take my eyes off of.

“Who did the shoes?” I asked Elise’s PR.

“We special ordered them through our stripper world connections,” she told me.

I guess I know where I’m going shopping post-Paris - though I have a feeling they’ll look infinitely less cool with my Elise-less wardrobe.

We just had a quick chat with Elise Overland - the Norwegian designer who got her start dressing Steven Tyler, but now dresses cool/tough girls the world over - about her upcoming Fall 09 presentation.

The CliffsNotes version: It’s all about food, there are a couple surprises, and at least one sequined look.

The actual version: Please, enter here.

If you were worried about Sari Gueron and BCBG starting at the same time next week, worry no more. Sari’s cancelled her Fall 09 show and doing showroom appointments instead in the interest of saving money.

It’s unusual for a designer to decide to can their show just a week before your first model should be wowing the crowd, but it kind of makes you wonder if this Fashion Week breaks all the rules (which kind of makes you wonder if anybody else is going to drop out once the weekend’s over, too).

Another update for your calendar: Elise Overland’s presentation, which appeared on the original schedule as 6 - 8pm (then later as 7 - 9pm) on Valentine’s Day, is now just from 7:30 to 9, meaning you can’t just pop in between Alex Wang (5pm) and ThreeAsfour (7pm) as you originally planned, though it does give you some extra wiggle room since ThreeAsfour ends at 9pm, too.

And with that, we are officially at six days and counting.

We don’t have to tell you Fashion Week’s barely three weeks away, but since we love you, we do have to share some fun information about what you can expect at Elise and Erin.

The Elise Overland presentation should be slightly drawn out, as the models will be walking the runway every 5 - 10 minutes (as opposed to the usual seconds) - though the PR team is prepared with champagne and DJ, of course.

And at Erin Fetherston you can expect antique dolls to be the theme in a “parallel wonderland universe” - so expect lots of polka dots, Nutcracker silks, brocade and baubles on heavy necklines (which sounds a little like her Spring 09 in tone, but maybe more like her Fall 08 in practicality.)

And if this hasn’t satisfied your appetite just yet, stay tuned for a glimpse into Abaete…

It’s that time, kids. The Fashion Week schedule is making its way into our lives, and we can already spot some time slot duels:

On Friday, February 13th, Cushnie et Ochs is showing at the same time (4pm) as Shipley & Halmos (which is a presentation, but you only have until 5pm to get there, so if Cushnie starts late - hah! - you’re out of luck.) Then later that day at 8pm, Form and Lorick will have to compete for pretty young things’ attendance.

Then on Tuesday the 17th, advertiser-driven Badgley Mischka will have to contend with buzz-driven Sophie Theallet at 10am, and Phillip Lim may lose some seats to Carmen Marc Valvo the next day at 3pm.

Also of note: Even though plenty of small designers are nowhere to be seen for the Fall 09 shows, Hayden-Harnett is officially on the schedule with a 6pm presentation on Thursday the 19th, and ThreeAsfour, who usually hosts a pretty heart stopping show, has switched to presentation format (Valentine’s Day at 7pm, same as Elise Overland.)

Three weeks…

Showroom Seven did what every smart showroom should do - open a retail space, Beyond 7, underneath their offices at 27th and 11th to sell the designers they represent.

The store, which opened a little over a month ago, houses lucite racks hanging with Tony Cohen, Issa, Benjamin Cho, Andy & Debb, Jillian Lewis, Elise Overland (they might not rep her, but they still love her) and of course walls and walls of Erickson Beamon jewelry (Showroom Seven was founded by Karen Erickson, Erickson Beamon’s designer).

The best part, aside from the rare guitars, are the one-of-a-kind pieces their designers make just for this space. As in, you can buy a dress by someone who sells everywhere but still be the only one wearing it. And if you’re lucky, one of the major stylists and personal shoppers who spend their days pulling from Showroom Seven will be around for an honest opinion.

Given the abundance of galleries in the neighborhood, they’re doing their best to embrace the arty side of fashion with rotating exhibits, book readings and dance performances.

Also, Seventh House is going forward with nine whole runway shows which gives us confidence that somewhere out there some people are ok.

Busy tonight?

If not, and maybe even if you are, swing by Elise Overland’s trunk show at Arcade on Melrose.

Why?

— She’ll be selling her Spring 09 collection as well as actual samples - as in pieces that weren’t produced, aren’t for sale, will be yours and only yours.

— Elise Overland is awesome.

— You know you want the leather leggings Anne Hathaway’s wearing at left.

— There will be cocktails.

— Rachel Zoe will be there. So when you obsess over a dress you can ask her opinion, just please refrain from direct quotations.

If you plan on stopping by, RSVP to melissa@lgbpr.com. Tell her we sent you.

We were hoping to spot Taylor Momsen at Elise Overland again this season, but alas, the room was filled with only dripping people, pushy photographers (no actual pit for them made the experience a little jumpy) - and very good Spring clothes.

Think badass pants, snoods, and the most impressive mint-green leather jacket you’ve ever seen punctuated by little dresses made for some little TV star (enter Momsen), and you’ve got the presentation.

It was a little funny to have the girls constantly moving to the front then back in an orderly line - kind of like Nuj Novakhett’s approach except with an air of grade school lunch line.

We’re really just waiting for Elise to move on to presentations where you can actually try on the clothes. Next logical step, no?

Elise Øverland’s presentation is always a favorite of Fashion Week -

You show up, you crash into Hope Atherton / Arden Wohl / Taylor Momsen, you walk around the solid block of impossibly cool and stylish women dressed like Nordic Warriors, you take a few photos, you drink, you kiss-kiss, you run to the Marc Jacobs show.

But last night, Elise revealed she might be changing things up a little bit:

“We need some guys!” she said. “Guys change the energy of everything! It would make things better!”

We’re not going to disagree there, especially since Elise got her start by designing for guys - Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and his crew, when he needed tour costumes.

It would be cool to see some of that action in the collection - and definitely in the party!

From our notebook:

- Ahem, purple is still so in, (and this might cause an inter-office debate, but Britt loves the bits of hot pink popping up in the fall collections).

- Embroidery, brocade, glass embellishments, sequins; did Elise work for Matthew Williamson?

- We like the idea of ombre on leather, but the effect might be best left to tights and chiffon.

- We’ve been seeing a lot of sheer black stockings, and we still don’t like them, but so far they look best with Elise’s purple ruffled mini.

- We’ve also been seeing a lot of fitted, and structured, but still girly clothes, and we do like that!

We have a lot to say about the mesmerizing madness of Gareth Pugh’s collection today - scrawled in our Smythson are “Gareth Pugh and the lost tribes of fashion?” and “OMG Elise Overland / Eowyn parallels” - but we’re getting ready for BoomBox and don’t have time.

Check back tomorrow morning for a full report, and in the meantime, we can tell you this:

It was the first London Fashion Week show that Anna Wintour watched this year.

Also on the bleachers:

Anna Piaggi, Henry Holland, The MisShapes, Cathy Horyn.

We were so excited, we cheered.

In case you missed the Elise Overland presentation (or live uptown, or in Boston, or in France), here’s a video of the night, held at Milk Studios in the Meatpacking District.

We suspect the most popular piece will be the Face Dress, especially with stylists and art star flocks.

Still, our favorite thing was the black leather vest, and the way all the dresses can be layered with different shapes and textures.

We’re still not sure what to think of the music, but we’re poor iPod judges right now - running on so little sleep, we have a Creem album playing on repeat just to keep us from passing out on our laptop.

Enjoy!

Last season we swooned for Elise Overland, the Norwegian designer whose Warrior Princess aesthetic was forged in years of crafting leather.

Today the former costume designer for Aerosmith showed a new round of dresses, and we’re pleased to report that her Warrior Princess style is here to stay.

But when you think of certain battle babes, like Xena on TV or Eowyn in books, there’s a certain clunk to them - the metal, the heavy leather, the plaited hair - that didn’t happen here.

These dresses moved lightly, with silk and cotton sheath shapes hugged by tiny leather vests, steel hardware, and heels.

Looking at their circular hems and painted patterns, we remembered one of our favorite fighting tips ever:

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

With an edge so sharp it’s hard to see coming, the clothes seem to attack in the same way…