1. Mickey Rourke, sipping on a Diet Coke and being swarmed by the press. The Wrestler was really, really good and I’m so glad he got his career back, but I still don’t get why he keeps popping up at fashion events. Also, I wish he was still super hot—like 9 1/2 Weeks hot.

2. Kelly Rowland and Tinsley were like fast front row friends. What were they talking about? Beyoncé’s embarrassment over that idiotic Kanye incident? European royalty and how to marry a prince? Career advice?

3. Gold medal gymnast Nastia Liukin being awkwardly ignored by most of the media while fidgeting in her front row seat. Does our country really care more about the Tinz than a world class athlete? Not that I really care what Nastia has to say about clothes…but it’s still kind of a sad state of affairs.

4. Lucy Liu, who I hope will get a new project soon so that I can finally cleanse my palette of that hideous Cashmere Mafia. Because I used to really like Lucy Liu.

5. Lots of neutrals and black. Lots of cut-outs. Lots of slashes in dresses. Lots of skin showing in patches. Lots of reasons for me to motivate to get to Bikram.

So once I got over my line of Olsen questioning I finally got down to business.

If there’s a common thread among the people I’ve interviewed, it’s their nostalgia for a time when talent was enough, when you worked hard and made your way up the chain to the ridiculously successful place in which they all sit now instead of these days when everyone wants a piece of the industry and who you know becomes more important than what you know.

In Part II, we talk about how Rolando ended up at Bumble & bumble, Fashion Week work versus editorial work, being on a plane with Charlie’s Angels and his Madonna moment - because really, everyone has one.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

We hear from a TV source that the very silly Cashmere Mafia has been laid to rest.

If the internal gossip bleeding proves true, it means Candace Bushnell has won this battle with Darren Starr - remember, both her Lipstick Jungle show and Darren’s woolly production are based on previous Bushnell books.

The move also marks the first time (maybe) that Patricia Field hasn’t been able to save or at least salvage a production from total boredom - remember her costumes for Hope and Faith? They basically rescued the whole show.

Those wondering what Lucy Liu will do with her spare time might jet over to Germany, where the actress is giving an exhibit of her paintings next month.

Maybe she and Iekeleine can have a joint show at Gagosian?

There were more than a few kinks in Cashmere Mafia’s premiere last night.

We wonder how four women manage to conduct their dazzling lives within a two block radius. We wonder how young, impressionable viewers are supposed to react to the message that it’s better to let one’s husband cheat so that one has a permanent party buddy.

But we’re mostly wondering about Lucy Liu’s wardrobe. We actually laughed out loud almost every time she popped up on screen. From the heavily shoulder-padded floral dress she wore to the office, to the outrageous amount of plaid she rocked on a golfing trip - Pat Field went too far.

We know Liu’s character, Mia, is supposed to be the Carrie Bradshaw of this new bunch, draped in vintage and one-of-a-kind ensembles. But this time around, the crazy outfits are just too much to swallow.

Maybe we were more willing to accept Carrie’s eccentric outfits because SJP wore weird clothes pre-SATC, or maybe because Carrie was supposed to be a freelance writer (as in, someone without an office to dress for everyday), instead of the high profile publisher that Mia is supposed to be.

Whatever the reason, Liu looks thoroughly uncomfortable in the clothes Field picked, making her not at all fun to watch. And isn’t that the point of an over-the-top wardrobe in the first place?

WWD is all excited about the Gucci / UNICEF auction, and with good reason. While they raise funds for Malawi orphans, they’ll also raise their own profile with Madonna, Drew Barrymore, Adrien Brody, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna, and Sting.

But the party takes place on Wednesday, February 6th in New York City - and that’s smack in the middle of Fashion Week.

If all of these stars are in town during Tent season, does that mean they’ll actually show up for some shows?

We doubt Madonna will attend anything, and after sitting dangerously close to the photo pits in Paris this Fall, we can’t really blame her.

But if we were betting girls, and sometimes we are, we’d say a definite seat filler in February will be Lucy Liu (who will need tons of PR for her new TV show, Lipstick Cashmere Jungle Fight (isn’t that the name?).

Demi might return to subtly brag (again) that she just looks better with age. It would be fun to see her again, even though we don’t know which big magazine is left to interview her (maybe W?).

And Drew Barrymore?

Well, we doubt it, but there’s always wishing on stars… or in this case, wishing on Chris Benz’s inspiration board.