On the first day of New York fashion week, two European houses took the spotlight. Fresh off a plane from France, Nicolas Ghesquière celebrated the release of Balenciaga Paris at Barneys New York. The new book catalogs the exhibition of the same name at the Musée des Arts Dècoratifs. "Barneys has been there from very early on," said the designer. "It's not a partnership, it's a friendship." Other friends on hand included Courteney Cox Arquette and her husband David, as well as Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, the latter in Marni's oversized fur coat despite the heat.

Sixty blocks downtown, Prada's Soho Epicenter was awash in neon for a private performance by the Raconteurs. Wrist tags were handed out at the door to ensure access to the Rem Koolhaas-designed wave that served as the concert venue, prompting Orlando Bloom to ask: "I need a band or am I with the band?" The crush was worth braving to hear Jack White and Co. play the Nancy Sinatra hit "Bang Bang," as well as their own, "Steady as She Goes." In the pit, we spotted Bloom's Lord of the Rings co-star Liv Tyler, as well as Winona Ryder, Lisa Marie Presley, and Karen Elson with fellow redhead Lily Cole on her lap.

After the 45-minute set, waiters passed around Corner Bistro cheeseburgers and DJ Courtney got those who hadn't left for fashion week's official hotspot, the Gramercy Park Hotel, on their feet, spinning tunes by Rihanna and Madonna. For Tyler and her crew it was time to do it all over again at the Continental, where her hubby's band, Arckid, was scheduled to go on at 1 a.m.

— Sarah Cristobal