—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

Rag & Bone think it’ll be quite cold this spring.

They layered thermals underneath practically all their looks, sticking out from men’s pants, under jersey harem pants on their girls and even below tailored blazers.

Stam was missing from their runway, guess they wore her out behind the cash register the night before, but they boasted Sasha and Freja and Lily and Magdalena and Kim Noorda and Kinga and a bevy of chiseled men.

Charlize Theron sat front row, like two seasons ago, across from Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton and down from Elettra Weidemann (looking especially hot) and LSD rocking major leather pants. We sat next to Tavi, who was loving her first official New York Fashion Week and down from Susie Bubble who rocked the best headpiece we’ve seen so far.

Agreed, Garance: I feel the pretty much the same way about tattoos. I still want one but just can’t decide what to get. Though I’m also forever grateful I never did anything ridiculously embarrassing as a teen during the 90s. Plus, this girl’s tat is way cool. {Garance}

Rain, Rain: Style.com found some fancy people who refuse to cave in to the wettest summer in the history of mankind (okay, but it feels like it) and still wear Givenchy wedges and Jane Mayle platforms. They’re fun to look at, but we’ve given up. {Style}

Double Your Pleasure: Raquel doing the masculine and the feminine thing for JPG. Well played Inez and Vinoodh. {Modelinia}

We Love the 80s: So do KT Auleta, Brian Molloy, and Missy Rayder. See how it all came together. {Dazed Digital}

Like Grown Up Lula: Ellen Von Unwerth shot Milla Jovovich and Sasha Pivovarova for July’s Italian Vogue. As if that’s not enough Fall clothes give us butterflies. {IMG}

On the Otherside: Catherine McNeil’s in the new Vogue Germany doing black and white for Patrick Demarchelier. She’s also kind of nakey. {Models}

We Are Not Alone: Haters of Adventures in Copyright beware, this may not be the link for you. {Daily News}

Long Time Passing: We love Lara, but we’re saying goodbye to our thick brows anytime soon. {NY Times}

The Ultimate How To: We know this was yesterday, but it’s brilliant. So in case you missed it, go on. {Refinery29}

The Creep Factor: Donna Karan’s still looking to save a few dollars with virtually constructed ad campaigns in lieu of Kate Moss’ daily fees, but putting Toni Garrn’s head on Sasha P’s body is a bit much. {Fashionologie}

Ouchie: Modelinia’s built a slideshow of models falling including legendary moments like Naomi at Vivienne and Prada SS09. Not so well known, but infinitely worse? A model at Gharani Strok 06. {Modelinia}

After seeing the Richard Avedon fashion photography exhibit at the International Center for Photography, our love of fifties glamour is revived. We especially love the circle skirts that give volume to the models’ slim frames.

The fifties have certainly never disappeared from the fashion spotlight but what’s being accentuated of late, however, is the hips - going back to the Balenciaga S/S 08 runway or Galliano’s Lisa Fonssagrives-inpsired couture with its armor-like hip plates.

But it seems that the shoulders had to take their turn first.

Now that we’re all more than a little sick of that Balmain jacket, the hips taking center stage, quite literally in some cases.

Sasha and Carine brought the look to the beach and the past two nights, Beyoncé sang and danced in a gold Thierry Mugler leotard with padded hips at Madison Square Garden.

Seeing as this is an area of the body that often causes loads of female insecurity, do tell us, would you ever try out this look?

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

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?

“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.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

[PS This set of photos is particularly beautiful.]

We’ll sum up the Miss Sixty show quickly - Stam opened, Coco sat front row next to Mischa Barton, Karlie death-walked, Sasha’s hair looked dirty, there were denim jumpsuits, Pretty Woman hats, slogan tees and this one red coat we really loved - because we need to talk about what American Express is doing to Fashion Week.

Let me preface this by saying that if I wasn’t lucky enough to be invited to fashion shows and had the money to buy my way in, I probably would. But the divide between those in the industry and those looking for a party in the tents is widening and making it increasingly frustrating for those needing to do their jobs.

Chelsea’s the indie version of the tents. Its small venues have housed Vena Cava, Band of Outsiders, Ohne Titel, Preen - all shows mostly attended by those who work in fashion (plus Kanye). Despite lines and small entrances, there is no pushing (ok, Rag & Bone doesn’t count), no grabbing, and no yelling because everyone will get inside, everyone will see the clothes and everyone will politely and graciously do their jobs.

In comparision, the tents are a battlefield. Just getting in line is a nightmare full of groping, shoving, attitude and foot stomping. At Erin Fetherston, we witnessed a girl try to scare an editor out of his seat by screaming, “I paid good money for this seat!” We’ve overheard AmEx customers speak to the frazzled PR girls like they’re twelve when unhappy with their $200 seats. The girls behind me at Herve (their bought tickets were a gift) laughed obnoxiously at the falling models. And if you dare block the elite skybox in the big tent, which cuts down the standing section considerably, you risk being escorted out by security.

It’s easy to forget that Fashion Week is, essentially, just a semi-glamorous convention. Everyone within a very small industry convenes in one place to discuss its changing nature and see what’s new. It is both exhausting and rewarding work made that much harder by those looking for a Devil Wears Prada moment.

Should AmEx stop their support of fashion week? No, but they should probably include an etiquette book with their ticket package.

The one nice thing we consistently say about Coach is, “Well, they use really nice leather.”

But we don’t care if they use the nicest leather in the entire world, (which they don’t, because Rick Owens does), if they’re going to cut it up and paste it into this nauseating Prada rip-off.

They’ve scalloped, or at least waved, the edges of the strips of leather just like Miuccia, left out a single strip of magenta, added some extra gold hardware and their ridiculous little wagon plaque to make sure everyone knows you’re not carrying just any Canal Street knock-off, but a genuine seven-hundred-dollar Coach issued fake.

If you prefer your copies more subtle, go for the pea-soup colored one, because only the girls who looked beyond Sasha’s ads will probably recognize its Prada roots.

Then again you‘ll know, because we just told you.

Harvey Nichols just got a little cuter. The departments stores eschewed Darias, Sashas and Aggys, in favor of some very cute and quirky celebs - made of plasticine, naturally.

The new campaign features Wallace, Gromit and even Lady Campanula Tottingham decked out in designer duds - they look pretty awesome. Sure, Lady Tottingham could stand to get her teeth fixed and Wallace might want to reconsider the glasses-perched-on-bald-head look, but over all the clay trio looks quite chic.

Who knew that Alexander McQueen could look so good on a plasticine body? (Well, Britt knew of course).

Maybe this could lead to a whole new career for the clay made cartoons - we could totally see Juergen Teller shooting Lady Campanula Tottington in some Viv Westwood ads. And wouldn’t Wallace look adorable posing in a pair of Calvins? Watch out Beckham.

— HAYLEY PHELAN