FASHION WEEK ROUND-UP

Its a tie between Kylie Bax/Women: (Her walk is horrid but the spirit! So effervescent, so incandescent!) and Alek Wek/Ford: (In her first season, she opens the Ralph Lauren, rocks the Sui,Versus and Matsuda. Talk about debut !)

Best Make Up:

Francois Nars flawlessly discrete beat for Bill Blass.

Best Show:

Bernadette Corp. @ The Roxy. The most exhilarating New York fashion happening since the 1983 Stephen Sprouse @ The Ritz. If you were there you partook in history.

Best Party:

Because EVERYBODY was there. ....Backstage at the Marc Jacobs wins hands down. The presumption was, if you're here then you're, well, clear. Sample moment: Linda and Naomi huddled together when NYW's roving correspondent sends word to a solitary Kate to come on over. Kate ambles by. Boom! Its The Ugly Sisters Pt. 2.

Best Hair:

Orlando Pita for D&G, serving Disco Geisha!

Best Styling:

Bernadette strikes again. Rush out this minute and plant flags in the back of your jacket, seam a built-in bra in your blouse and sew fetching little bows on your socks. Stop laughing!

Best Party Pt. 2.

The warm-up celebrations at Kate's pad before launching off to the Women party at that Madison Townhouse. Sorry Ghost, you've been beat!

Best Eye Tuck On a Legendary Super Model:

Linda Evangelista. I want the name of her surgeon!

Best Interpretation of the Transparent Look:

Kenneth Richard's layering of neon gauze over neon gauze. Rush to the showroom to see those samples. Its genius!

Best PR Coup:

Claudia Schiffer absconding to Elite. John Casablancas rules!

Best Giveaway:

D&G, hands down. A T-shirt, a CD, a fab dinner party and a live Internet transmission! Come back again real soon ya hear!

INGRID CASARES: PUBLIC ENEMY NO.1?

The Fashionista is abuzz with the allegations that Image Consultant par excellence, Ingrid Casares was banned from the Versus and D&G shows on direct command from--well let's just call her "Big Mama". Seems Big Mama' s "babyfather" thoroughly disapproves of the machinations of our beloved image consultant and felt she was riding too high on the coat tails of Our Diva In Matrimony. Rather than face the ignominy, Ingrid was conveniently out of town during FW's opening weekend. But don't cry for Ingrid, her position in the in-crowd remains secure, (she certainly seemed to be having a great time with Victor Alfaro and Marc Jacobs) and there's still speculation afoot that she's rigorously rifling thru Soho, searching for a suitable space to house her boite/nightclub. It will be welcome.

MISSING THE ACTION

Traditionally Fashion Week (henceforth known as FW) leads to a much needed re-invigoration of club culture but this year the Big Girls decided to stay put in each other's apartments and hotel rooms, denying the locals of their glowering presence. Except for the VH-1 after-party at Wax, the clubs were shockingly dry. Bowery (excuse us BB) consistently disappointed, as did Spy, Jet Lounge and Wax. A source close to several of the more prominent models said a stark lesson was learnt at last season's Manhattan Center debacle. It seems fashion's leading ladies have gone private to protect their mystique. In other news...What the hell happened to the launch for issue#3 of Creme &Sugar?... And what of Jacques and Pascale's other launch "Kiss N Tell, this time to full size porportions. Anyone seen the new issue of R.O.M.E? Here's hoping anticipation makes the heart grow fonder.