Things kicked off at the tents this morning with the 9 am Michael Angel show. I was tired, obvs, and frustrated that I didn’t have my Daily to read while I waited for the show to start (they were all kinds of late getting to Bryant Park!) But I soon got over it.

Lauren Santo Domingo, Derek Blasberg, Julia Stegner, Julie Gilhart, and Linda Fargo were all settled in the front row as a parade of prints and sequins trotted down the runway, giving me a much needed jolt. (Seriously, can’t Diet Coke become a sponsor? I don’t drink coffee so that McCafe situation does nothing for me.)

But I digress. The detail work on the clothes was especially impressive on the Swarovski bedecked flesh-colored long sleeved top that Iekeliene rocked. And the peep toe Manolo booties were to die for.

Equally obsession-inducing, in my book, were the bright colored Alexis Bittar baubles. Those earrings have me seriously considering piercing my ears…yet again.

“The thing about Rick is, it’s so classic. You can buy anything from the collection and wear it forever,” declared Heidi Mount pre-show at Ecole des Beaux-Artes.

One might question that judgment when the clothes are styled a la Rick and presented in a deep dark room with feathered headdresses and leather bubble boots, but overall, she’s right. Individually, his clothes are almost subtle, definitely delicate, and so brilliantly constructed.

Which is why the cream of the fashion crop swamps his shows. Today’s front row included Carine (of course, with Julia behind her), Ikram Goldman (Michelle Obama in Rick?!), Gareth Pugh, Julie Gilhart, Franca Sozzani, Kate Lanphear, Gloria Baume, Glenn O’Brien, Bill Cunningham and Morley Safer (whom I assume means Anna, though I didn’t see her). The first rate front row matched the first rate - though noticeably white - cast: Raquel, Iris, Stam, Olga, Vlada R, Ali S, Karlie, Daiane, Sasha, Heidi, Hanne - most of whom showed up wearing at least one thing Rick.

The futuristic, sometimes sparkly collection elicited actual hooting and hollering from the audience - the most excitement I’ve heard this season (aside from Chris Kane) until the Nina Ricci crowd actually broke into applause mid-show. More on that, coming up.

Some bad news for any designers showing at London Fashion Week hoping for their designs in the Barneys windows:

According to Rebecca at Elle.com, Julie Gilhart will be skipping the London shows, something the Barneys princess did last season, too (also money related), for the first time in twenty years.

So far, Julie’s the first big name to definitely drop out of LFW, though we bet there are more to come.

This is sad for Barneys, which is beloved by serious shoppers for their all-over-the-place stock, but especially sad for small designers coming out of the UK - Few well known stores carry as many young designers as Barneys, and now it might get a lot harder for designers to make an impression on Julie since she won’t be seeing the London shows in person.

So if you’re a young designer coming out of London hoping for some stateside exposure, we suggest putting together the best in-place-of-show package ever. But you’re probably already working on that.

Bet you didn’t think anything could beat last year’s Barneys Christmas video - but leave it to Julie and Simon to get you into the goofiest holiday spirit.

They’re celebrating all counter-cultures this season, a Barneys Hippie Holiday, and have a plethora of gifts they think your loved ones need - like Jonathan Adler candles (ahem), peace sign-embossed Goyard bags, “re-birthed” Loomstate t-shirts and a Henry Cuir bag that’s “even made by a hippie.”

And in case you, like Simon, think the phrase “dans tes bras” means “in your bra,” Julie clears it up.

Oh, also, they pretend to smoke pot - so obviously, you should watch it.

The Post devotes some serious space to Barneys’ possible Beijing expansion today.

Basically, according to sources, the store might be looking to grow in China, as well as Dubai and Macau, even though their previous stateside expansions (Boston, Dallas, Vegas) have been less than well-received - not to mention they can’t hang on to that Meatpacking District location.

And despite the fact that China’s rife with competition, including the almost perfect Lane Crawford, and that Barneys is totally unfamiliar with the Chinese luxury market and still lacks a CEO, they’re going ahead and talking to architects and looking at sites on the ground in Beijing.

Nothing like spitting in the face of a recession. If they’re determined to press on with the opening of new stores, they’re going to have to reduce their Goyard, Valentino, Lanvin stock to one piece per location.

Can you see it now?

Julie Gilhart fights for the Rodarte dress while IM Pei demands, “No, we need to put a window here,” and Simon Doonan sqeals, “We must have both!” and all the while there’s no CEO to mediate.

It doesn’t take an MBA to realize now’s not the best time to say, “Ni hao.”

Lady Grey Jewelry’s teaming up with Rogan.

The Brooklyn-based brand, designed by Sabine LeGuyader and Jill Martinelli, is collaborating with the denim designer on an exclusive jewelry line.

Rogan’s never done jewelry, and the girls have never done denim, so we’re curious to see how they Rogan-ize their rings, bangles and necklaces. Or will there be Lady Grey hardware on Rogan’s clothes? And will we be seeing it at his Spring collection preview tonight?

Meanwhile, when we interviewed the girls back in July, they mentioned that they’re dying to be sold in Barneys. We know Julie Gilhart loves Rogan, and now Rogan loves Lady Grey, so, basically, good move girls.

Barneys is really pushing the green thing this year.

First, Creative Director Simon Doonan decked out their window with a recycling Rudolph.

Now you can watch him in the hilarious video at left, interviewing Fashion Director Julie Gilhart about all the green products shoppers can buy from Barneys for the holidays.

But is it just us, or does Simon kind of sound like the street vendor hawking broken lamps in the beginning of Aladdin?