Overall, New York Fashion Week kept to a very neutral palette, but when color was needed designers went straight for neon yellows and lime greens to brighten their quiet visions of spring.

We spotted it at Jonathan Saunders, Brian Reyes and Marc by Marc, of course. But Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi of Preen, Yigal Azrouel and Clare Waight Keller at Pringle all paired their bright yellows with dove grey for a pretty fresh look that even I (I never wear color) would consider working into spring.

Each day of NYFW presented more and more examples of belly baring for S/S 2010. From Alex Wang and Brian Reyes to Yigal and Charlotte Ronson, and about a dozen other in between, skinny model tummies were everywhere. And this got me quaking in my booties, no doubt.

First, my midsection is not my favorite area of my body on the best of days. But more importantly, I’m not sure that someone like myself, nearing (gasp!) 34 years of age needs to be baring anything even close to my belly, unless I’m in a beach/pool type setting.

Unless, that is, I suddenly become Gwen Stefani overnight.

Sure, they look cool on the models. What doesn’t? But I don’t think I’ve worn a half shirt since the 80s and I’m thinking I never need to again. I’ll leave it to the rock stars and the supermodels.

What about you?

Yigal Azrouel’s an inevitable hit.

This season’s front row star was Pamela Love, the jewelry designer (and best friend to Julia Roitfeld) who’s collaborating with a handful of designers, as well as presenting her own collection at MILK later next week.

Further down the front row sat Miss J, Elettra Wiedemann, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Cory Kennedy, but Pamela and Co, including Becka Diamond and Kate Lanphear, better fit Yigal’s slouchy sexy aesthetic.

The thing about his clothes is that even the cocktail dresses look like something you’d be comfortable sleeping in. From the jersey pants to the slouchy tees to the soft leather jackets (and I’m talking men’s and women’s), who doesn’t want to wear this? Especially when it’s hurricaning outside.

Conspicuously absent from the front row was Katie Lee Joel, who’s been at every Yigal thing I’ve attended for two years. Oh the power of Page Six.

(Also, my pictures were so awful, worse than usual, so head to Style.com in the morning!)

Sneak A Peek: Here’s a sneak preview of the Natasha Poly-centric Muse, hitting New York’s news stands on September 10th. It features Craig McDean, Riccardo Tisci, Jeff Koons and Terry Richardson. If ever there was a time to try to replicate those lips, it’s tonight’s Paper party. {Models}

Jeepers Creepers: Yes, all fashion girls swoon for Yigal Azrouel. He’s gorgeous, makes brilliant clothes and is the only straight man for miles. But this woman, who told the Post she likes to try on clothes in his store just to be naked in the same room as him, is far too enthusiastic about the whole thing. {NYPost}

PughHoo!: Gareth’s coming to New York. The Brit will show his full collection in Paris - no word yet on whether he’s reverting back to runways or sticking to last season’s video format - but before that he’ll swing by Milk Studios and offer a peek of his SS10 collection this Saturday night. {Style}

What Did You Think?: Hadley Freeman wonders whether or not it’s really true that models subsist on coffee, cigarettes, vodka and champagne. Just for the record, we’ve seen them eat sandwiches, with champagne of course.{TheGuardian}

Risky Business: Karla Martinez just left her job as Market Editor at T, The New York Times’ style magazine, for Karl Templer at Interview. {FWD}

Surf’s Up: Yigal Azrouel took a trip to Costa Rica & took lots of pretty pictures. What we’d have given to be on that boat… {TheMalcolm}

Too Good: Mickey Boardman, Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos will be manning the dunk tank at Bird & Vena Cava’s Fashion Week Block Party. It’s over 90 degrees outside & we love all those people and it pretty much sounds like heaven. {Refinery29}

If we could wear all Yigal, all summer, we would, but budgets are tight and we’re not holding our breath for a Yigal collaboration any time soon.

So thankfully, he’s teamed up with eBay, like the great Gwyneth before him, to raise money for the National Resources Defense Council. They’ll auction off a selection of summer clothes - visions of billowy dresses and retro swimsuits dance in our heads - with prices starting below wholesale.

And if that’s still outside your budget range, he’s designed a bunch of eco-friendly tees exclusively for the fundraiser and they’re only $35.

Helping a charity, helping the earth, helping Yigal and helping yourself? Sounds good, no?

—CARSON GRIFFITH

Beauty inspiration backstage can run the gamut from “English Rose” to “Post-Apocalyptic Bladerunner Chic.” But this season, it looks like the name of the game is mostly just rock ‘n roll.

Rock as an inspiration is nothing new - it pops up every season. But this time around things feel a bit different. Those that don’t take the “clean, fresh and simple” route are edging farther and farther into grungy, hard rock territory. Usually, Fall brings lots of retro-glam or Victorian-era looks to the runways, but the general feel from backstage is that this season is a lot harder and rawer than those past.

Hence the rock stars. There was boyish and British Quadrophenia hair at Preen, “Mick Jagger’s poet rock girlfriend” at 3.1 Phillip Lim, a gorgeous purple smoky eye at Miss Sixty, and the very fitting “street rock n’ roll” greasy hair and smoky cat eyes at Yigal Azrouël.

There was even a “walk of shame” theme at Carlos Campos, with models sporting pallid skin and a creamy, dark eye smudged off on the outer corners, as if someone had hurriedly tried to make the vampy eye look respectable for the light of day and the long walk home (been there, done that).

My favorites were the badass black and white eyes created by MAC’s James Kaliardos at Preen, and the ribbon-bedecked, “Seventeenth Century Rock Star” braids whipped together by Redken’s David Cruz at Abaete.

I for one am glad to see the Retro and Romantic Goth trends (with a few notable exceptions) phasing out. You can only see so many pin curls and “brooding” dark lips before you just want to hit the makeup artist over the head with your notepad.

Raw and deconstructed is so much more interesting than perfectly polished. Just don’t take it to Little J levels of raccoon grunge.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

“Didn’t you hear? The devil wears Prada.” —Kelly Cutrone, when someone asked about her shoes pre-show at Yigal, clearly practicing for that reality show.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

Yigal Azrouel showed his very abbreviated collection at the tents this morning.

He’s sponsored by Mercedes-Benz this year and apparently they gave him a place to show but didn’t want to shell out for more looks than necessary.

He showed a punk rock meets western collection. There was plaid and there was slouch, but lots of it was studded with teeny tiny gold studs: The shoes, the bags, the leather jackets.

There was a high-waisted, black, skinny-pant jumpsuit with a silky white, draped top that we’d wear every day if we could wear black skinny pant jumpsuits in real life. The collection served as a seasonal reminder that only Yigal Azrouel can make so much fabric look so sexy.

Andre smiled from underneath his purple bedazzled Obama beanie. Everyone else smiled at the cute Yigal t-shirts they walked away with.

It’s really hard to concentrate on a show when Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are in the DJ booth and Mark Ronson and his new girlfriend are sitting across the aisle and you feel like you’re living in Perez Hilton.

But we finally peeled our eyes away and focused them on the runway for Charlotte’s Fall show.

Dark lipstick, again! Tight ponytails and some very serious Pretty Woman leather lace-up boots. There were lots of little dresses - it’s Charlotte Ronson, after all - jumpsuits, bolero jackets, tight tight pants and some of the western flair we saw this morning at Yigal (more on him soon).

There were cut out shoulders - which we saw later at Shipley & Halmos - and shearling vests and jackets belted over ruffled dresses.

It was a lot, it was fun, it was a little scarier than expected.

And please, excuse Lindsay in the corner of nearly all our photos.

Last season, Yigal Azrouel’s gift bags included the normal stash of beauty products and a few condoms from Proper Attire. The Israeli-born designer fashioned some tote-appropriate condom packaging for the company that benefits Planned Parenthood, which we thought was unique if not kind of cute.

But now, Alexander Wang’s doing the same for his Fall 09 show this Saturday (Valentine’s Day), and throwing in some Proper Attire condoms of his own - featuring a “spare” design that feels “sexy, modern and empowering” - into his front row gift bags.

Somehow, we don’t think condoms could be the new unpopular eyeshadow for Fashion Week gift bags, but it’s nice to know someone might be designing their own limited-edition love gloves each season. Kind of makes us hope Henry Holland gets a shot at giving Do Me in the Park, Marc new meaning for Spring 2010.

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY KOST

In keeping with November 08’s most popular trend, Yigal Azrouel’s having what sounds like a blow-out sale this week. Would you like the details? Of course:

Where: 225 West 39th Street, 7th Floor, 212.302.1194.

Exactly When: Tomorrow and Thursday, 9am - 7pm. Friday, 9am - 4pm.

But Why: Past-season and current, in-store men’s and women’s merchandise at 60 - 80% off. (Specifics after the jump.)

No, you don’t need your eyes checked, but maybe a credit check - go!

Everybody’s trying to break into accessories these days.

First, the news was that See by Chloe, Proenza, Hussein Chayalan and Ohne Titel would all be breaking into shoes (and since then, Proenza’s quietly started giving out bags to their friends, which everyone hopes will actually make it to stores.)

Then, Marc announced he’d be expanding into a full line of swimwear for Marc by Marc, while Brian Reyes announced he’d be launching a line of lingerie (ok - swimwear and lingerie are not exactly accessories, but they do fall into that small things/cheaper things category).

Not too long after, Prada announced plans to design costume jewelry, and Yigal said he’d make the shoes from his Spring 09 runway for the stores.

And now? 7 For All Mankind is launching their own shoe range for Spring, retailing between $150 to $350, which may seem too close to their denim price range, but is probably a bit less than most 7 customers usually spend on their shoes.

Clearly, companies are hoping their shoppers will still be out there looking for cute things to acquire, but they know it’ll be with a much smaller budget, so they’re trying to make more things at lower price points so everybody can still get their buzz. Because as Elle MacPherson put it today, her lingerie line is doing better than ever because “when a woman can’t afford a dress in the luxury echelons, she may opt instead to part with £20 on underwear that makes her feel good.”

But the question for all these other high-end brands persists -

Tough times mean shoppers favor miniature splurges, if any at all, which means loads of designers are quickly shifting their focus to accessories, (even more than usual).

Today, Yigal Azrouel announced that the shoes from his Spring 09 runway will be available for purchase in just his two stores while Miuccia Prada is introducing a line of costume jewelry.

Yigal’s shoes include, or are actually limited to, a caramel colored ankle bootie and a black and white thick-strapped sandal, both with wooden stiletto heels. Though a shoe is by nature more structured than anything Yigal’s ever made, they somehow manage to work perfectly with his flowing neutrals. He’s also upping his scarf quantity, “With my clothes I’m all about draping, and scarves are an extension of that.”

Or, more explicitly, it’s a lot easier to justify a $300 scarf you can wear everyday than a $1000 dress you can wear twice a year.

Prada’s prices range from $390 for earrings to $750 for a necklace, which is about $500 less than a bag and infinitely less than a lace dress which, again, means the brand can grow while the economy shrinks.

Or at least, that’s what they hope it means.

Yigal Azrouel showed his Spring 09 collection at the Eyebeam in Chelsea - it’s the same place he showed last year, and the same place Alexander Wang loves to show - and we decided it’s our new favorite venue.

However, the airy, concrete-floored, brick-walled space contradicted the pastiche collection.

Yigal showed a few signature pieces including baby soft leather jackets and the thinnest jersey we’ve ever seen layered under sheer chiffon dresses - but otherwise, we kept whispering, “Stella!” or “Lanvin!” or “Matthew Williamson!” It wasn’t that we didn’t like it, it was just that we felt we’d seen most of it before.

Those bathing suits though, we might not know who can actually wear them, but they’re amazing.

Pre-show highlights included Kelly Cutrone, in sunglasses, getting snapped by the photographers a la celebrity, Nina Garcia shuffling to her front row seat and Cory Kennedy rocking flannel like it was 1994.

Post-show highlights included Yigal’s wave, because, well, he’s super cute. But you knew that already.

ps. For those of you who might have wondered, the gift bags did, in fact, include a few boxes each of those Yigal Azrouel condoms. And now you kow.

Here’s something to brighten up the darkest Monday morning ever:

Yigal Azrouel’s bi-annual sample sale starts this Wednesday.

You can get -

1. Up to 80% off on current merchandise

2. Gowns for $400 or under (usually around $2,000 or under)

Also,

3. In honor of the brand’s tenth anniversary, they’re offering one-of-a-kind samples from the Yigal archives

Pertinent information:

Wednesday and Thursday, 9am to 7pm. Friday, 9am to 3pm; at the Yigal Azrouel showroom, 225 West 39th St, 7th floor, 212.302.1194, cash and credit.

We suggest browsing in advance, because it’s just going to be that kind of day.