The best part about holiday shopping, aside from apple cider, is the overflow of shopping events (especially in the wake of such financial disarray).

Next week, Elle and Armani Exchange are teaming up to make you shop. And by Elle we mean Style Director Kate Lanphear.

The party’s next week, Tuesday, November 10 from 6pm-8pm at Armani Exchange’s Fifth Avenue store at 20th Street. You’ll get to preview Armani’s holiday collection, drink champagne and snack your way through the store. (Email RSVP@armamiexchange.com)

And if you spend over $100, you get to customize your own A/X t-shirt with Kate on hand to dish bedazzling advice.

If a tee designed by Kate isn’t the perfect pre-holiday treat, then we’re not sure what is.

“One day in a vintage shop I found… a pair of skinny acid-wash jeans. It was like, Ahhh! - a halo was shining around them. I wore them every day. When I got my first big break, I thought, ‘Screw it, I’m wearing the jeans to the interview with the editor in chief.’ I wanted to see what would happen if I was real. I remember telling her, ‘I’m not your typical fashion editor. I work hard and I know my stuff, but you should know, I’ll be the one wearing acid-wash jeans.’ I got the job.” — Kate Lanphear in this month’s issue of Elle.

The Phi show was just down the block from Milk studios, but it couldn’t have been more obscure.

We entered through a random door, stood in a cold cement hallway, shuffled into a freight elevator and walked into a narrow L with a mini-pit and just three rows - three power rows though. LSD, Carine, Sarah Lerfel, Kate Lanphear, Erin Wasson, Trainas and Sarah Rutson all sat front row to soak up the power bondage collection.

Designer Andreas Melbostad was inspired by levers and pulleys, wearable technology if you will, that resulted in strapped and buckled corsets over sheer tees and dresses with sharply tailored blazers and pants. As in any bondage-like collection, it’s hard not to stare at the shoes, but Melbostad‘s laced up, cut out dresses certainly helped.

Every single piece was so beautifully built that we walked away lamenting what it’d look like when Zara tried to rip it off.

On Sunday night (a bit delayed, sorry), I headed to MILK to watch Gareth Pugh’s Ruth Hogben produced film. I’d expected a preview of the collection, but instead I watched a giant cube in the middle of MILK’s loading dock. Each side represented an element and the top of the cube, which was essentially the ceiling, represented the fifth element, the ethereal.

It was pretty to watch, but I was too tired and too sober (and maybe not cool enough) to absorb it on any sort of philosophical level, so instead Faran and Blue and I made up Hollywood names for fashion couples - not necessarily make out couples, but we-go-to-everything-together couples. Yes, we know we’re getting increasingly delirious as the week goes on:

1. Cecilia Dean & Steven Gan: STEVELIA
2. Lauren Santo Domingo & Derek Blasberg: DELAUREN
3. Becka Diamond & Byrdie Bell: BYRKA
4. Fabiola Beracasa & Tallulah Harlech: FALLULAH
5. Keegan Singh, Kate Lanphear & Mark Holgate: KEEKARK

Who’d we miss?

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

The Fashion Week invites and info are starting to roll into our office. We’re starting to get just a wee bit excited!

Even more so now that we just heard that Fashionista favorite Kate Lanphear will once again be styling the Julie Haus show on September 10th at Julie’s pop-up on Mercer. We love the mix of Kate’s harder edged aesthetic with Julie’s girlier frocks.

We can’t wait to see what they come up with this season. It’s sure to be something good.

Baby Kate: We love taking a walk down Moss memory lane. Sweet lord is that first Corinne Day cover stunning. We almost forgot how much we loved it. And we can only imagine the trouble these two got into after this picture was taken. {Vogue UK}

Secret Society: Apparently the A-Gays over at Condé have banded together. They have a name: The Majority. And are even considering a philanthropy. I’m officially obsessed with this frat-tastic endeavor even if it’s starting to give me Pi Phi flashbacks. {Daily Intel}

Twi-Hard: Embarrassing or not, it’s hard to pass up an opportunity to reference Twilight. Especially when it crosses over with the modeling world in the form of Noot Seear. She’s in New Moon and also shares our Saved By the Bell obsession. Enough said. {Style File}

Yikes: I’m slightly scared even linking to this story, but what the hell! Richard Tyler made Scientology uniforms. They’re pretty damn creepy and I’m sure typing these words makes me thetin-heavy. Please don’t come try to clear me, Tom Cruise. {Gawker}

So I went on an epic search this weekend for what Britt deemed the “Purple Power Ranger Watch.”

It’s actually called the Time Teller and is made by Nixon, and it’s kind of amazing.

It would look cool on its own, but I have different plans for my new purple friend. I have a chunky gold watch now (which you can see in some of the DIY shots) and now I’m going to layer them. Ms. Lanphear does it expertly with her sick bracelet collection, and I’ve been dying to try it with watches.

If you don’t love purple as much as I do, the watch also comes in multicolored versions, yellow, blue, two pinks, and black.

At $55, this is the perfect trial/error watch. Solo or layered, I am enamored!

—MELISSA ELLIOTT

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?

In a brightly lit section of his lofted office space downtown and set to the tune of a “Love to Love You, Baby” remix, Zac Posen showed his 09/10 Resort Collection to small groups throughout the day. We took in the collection with Kate Lanphear, Hal Rubenstein, and supermodel Pat Cleveland, whose daughter Anna closed the show, as watched beaming with pride.

Hana Soukupova opened the 30 look collection in a structured day dress and was followed down the short runway by girls like Sessilee, Alana, Tiiu, and Jeisa. Mannequins around the room, and even one seated in the front row, showed off additional pieces of the resort collection.

The designer referenced the Studio 54 days of Nan Kempner and Kay Thompson, where they’d be hosting a fancy garden party by day and grooving at the famous club by night. We were particularly taken with the bright bows and one ridiculously larger than life cape over a bubblegum pink gown. And this perfect polka dot suit!

Like all things Zac, it was refined and structured with a few over-the-top elements thrown in for a bit of fun and whimsy. From the splashes of orange under skirts, to the hot pink patent shoes and some super dramatic headwear, it made us smiley and happy in that special way that only Zac can make us feel.

Meet Keegan.

He’s a super stylist - you’ve seen his work whether you’re a Teen Vogue kind of girl or a Purple kind of boy because he’s all over the place.

He’s also one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met in this crazy mixed up industry and since I’ve wanted to know just what a stylist does all day since the moment I learned styling was a career, I asked if I could follow him around.

We started out listening to Hole at his office/apartment in Chelsea before heading uptown to pull jewelry from Eddie Borgo for a shoot. Then we skipped downtown to KCD’s press preview and were about to go to Dossier’s party at the Tribeca Grand when we realized, wait, that’s tomorrow - because when you’ve got this much going on and your assistant’s on spring break, it’s kind of hard to keep up.

I got to Elie Saab this morning, drinking a triple espresso and eating a croissant out of a brown paper bag while laughing at my wrinkled, plaid self in the presence of Rodarte-wearing Kate Lanphear and French movie stars in sequin mini-dresses.

They were, I’ll admit, more appropriately dressed to watch a vampy collection of red carpet ready dresses parade down the white runway. Jessica Stam, looking particularly perfect and glowing, opened the show with a polished French twist, red lips and a beige Roland Mouret-y dress. The palette went black, with feathers, capes and sequined leggings pulled down over patent heels, before turning to baby blues and dusty greens.

In a Zac Posen repeat, someone murmured, “Work it girl!” when Coco came strutting down the runway - she really does ooze personality. Meanwhile Sasha looked dizzyingly thin.

There were rhinestone encrusted bodices over flowing skirts, and more than one look featured a single dainty driving glove. The only question is, who will wear the black beaded gown first, Halle Berry or Debra Messing?

1. Everyone here wears fur. Seriously, it’s incorporated into almost every outfit.

2. The only champagne I’ve seen was an empty bottle on the Boulevard Saint-Germain last night. 1-0 London.

3. I’ve been captivated by the politics of seating this season. In Paris, the Carines and Anna Della Russos sit in front, naturally, but I’ve seen Derek Blasberg and Glenn O’Brien sit second row while Kate Lanphear’s in the third.

4. Not fashion related, but they have pancakes at Starbucks. (I had to, it’s the only place I’m not embarrassed to order a coffee to take away).

5. A friend saw Charlotte Gainsbourg in the Shell (yes, gas station) mini-mart. She was browsing crackers.

6. The photo pits are huge.

7. There was a Fashion Week Daily reporter at Nina Ricci - but if they’re here where is the Parisian Daily???

“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.

I landed in Paris this morning, grabbed my tickets and pranced through Paris’ gloomy rain to the Boulevard Faubourg de Saint-Martin for Gareth Pugh’s Fall 09 show. There, a surprisingly small group of people stood behind a curtain in a tiny black room before being ushered into a make-shift movie theatre.

I knew something was up when they handed me a credit sheet declaring, Model: Natasa Vojnovic. Natalie emailed, “Is she listed for every look?” Before I could respond, I realized I’d be watching the same video that everyone around the world (or every fashion obsessed person around the world) would be watching live on ShowStudio.

Granted, I was watching it in a mini-warehouse, full of three white benches, Suzy Menkes, Sally Singer, Lauren Santo Domingo, Jefferson Hack, Pugh-wearing London kids, Rick Owens and loads of dry ice-induced smoke. People actually smiled during the video, so impressive were Natasa’s warrior dance moves, not to mention Gareth’s collection, before hopping to the back room to congratulate the soft-spoken designer on a kind of historical fashion moment.

We finally left to grab a bite to eat in between the show and the party, our only regret that we wouldn’t get to see the nailed bodices and pleated trousers in person - until Natasa Vojnovic turned the corner, charging across the cobblestones, arms linked with Kate Lanphear and trailing a Gareth cape - which means Paris Fashion Week is off to a grand start.

We settled into our seats at Sophie Theallet early this morning not knowing what to expect. The French transplant made a stir last season by casting all black models (she swears it wasn’t political) and while sipping our morning coffees we could already spot Hamish, Kate Lanphear and Grace Coddington getting ready to take notes.

The show began with folky, Native American-inspired garb that would have made Pocahontas swoon. But the footwear gave us pause - We’re not exactly sure what Sophie was going for, but each model walked the runway in UGG-looking winter boots, made by Sorel, as in, the company that makes those puffy snowboots I stopped wearing when I turned 13.

But after getting used to the giant furballs below, we really enjoyed the clothes. The dresses were extremely pretty - small floral prints, sheer chiffon overlays, gorgeous sunburnt orange and autumn leave colors with intricate detail such as a band of fringe along the arm, or piping detailing along the neck and chest.

The whole collection managed to channel the Native American look without going overboard. Actually, if Pocahontas were alive today (and living in Brooklyn) she probably would have bought everything in the collection. Well, except for the footwear that is.

—HAYLEY PHELAN

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST