And so it begins…

Tonight we’ll be chatting with Jack and Lazaro before a preview screening of The Day Before, the Sundance Channel series about the 48 hours leading up to some of our favorite shows. And we’ll sip on a little champagne to toast the series at the after party.

Then it’s on to the Crystal Renn’s party at the Soho Grand for me, while Britt hits up Paper Magazine’s 25th Anniversary Party at the New York Public Library where she’ll be mingling with Liza Minelli, The Virgins, and Queen Latifah, and of course Mr. Mickey. If that doesn’t kinda perfectly sum up Paper, I’m not sure what does. (Plus the Mayor even named it Paper Magazine Day here in the city. Nice.)

If you’re not already, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@fashionista_com) as we’ll be tweeting our way through all things Fashion Week. That way you won’t miss us during our erratic posting schedule as we’re taking in shows and presentations.

In high school I depended on my car radio for new music, in college, boyfriends and now Fashion Week.

Its introduced me to bands like Beirut, the Virgins, She & Him and MGMT over the years and now that my iPhone’s armed with Shazaam and I don’t have to shamelessly harass the DJs everywhere I go, I was ready to walk away with a list of downloadable tunes.

Unfortunately, it’s just not happening. Instead, models are walking to instrumentals and old standbys like “Welcome to the Jungle” or “Electric Feel” (yes, again). At Erin Fetherston there was wind up doll music, at Preen electro beats, at Charlotte Ronson Sam played Etta James and Peggy Lee.

I’m sure it all relates back to the economy in some way - the season’s go-to scapegoat. Are older, well known songs and soothing instrumentals supposed to be comforting and reassuring?

I need tonight’s Chris Benz presentation to kill the trend.

What will be the Electric Feel of Fall 09?

Not sure yet, but just in case you thought the band of Spring 08 had fallen off the fashion radar, they’d like to remind you that they’re still going strong.

The Virgins will kick off New York Fashion Week with a performance at the Mercedes Benz party at Shang this Friday, making it (we think) their fourth Fashion Week appearance in a row.

Which means we know we’ll be running into Stam and Behati all over the place and dancing to Rich Girls like it’s summer of 07.

Victoria’s Secret is apparently grooming Namibian Behati Prinsloo to be “the next Gisele”.

The nineteen year old’s already posed for Nina Ricci, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Gap and H&M.

She signed on to model for the lingerie company at the end of February, but we think she’s really too cool looking to just be a Pink girl anyway.

We’re more excited to see her debut in the new, and actually first, Virgins video this summer rather than on mall billboards and catalog covers.

Not to mention we can’t think of anything weirder than rocking out with New York’s favorite underground/non-underground band while simultaneously hawking low-rise sweatpants with ‘pink’ plastered across the butt.

Guess our summers are usually more low key.