All indications to the contrary, El Museo del Barrio’s Friday night Día de los Muertos gala—the first at the museum’s newly renovated galleries—wasn’t a costume party. Looks like Christian Cota missed that memo. The designer turned up in full Day of the Dead makeup and skull necklaces that could have passed runway muster for Alexander [...]

Brazil tops the list of 2009’s emerging markets (no surprise there), but the number two slot goes to dark horse Romania. Who knew? [WWD]
If you’re looking for a seat at Monkey Bar, avoid “excessive socializing” while at the restaurant. According to Graydon Carter, this could lead to a 10 p.m. time slot (embarrassing!) or, [...]

Although the trendy neighborhood just below Houston Street isn’t exactly lacking fashion-conscious people, last night’s trio of parties helped draw a bigger crowd than usual. Early in the evening, former New York It girl and current Hollywood power wife Minnie Mortimer Gaghan was hocking her cute, completely wearable wares at a trunk show at Georgia [...]

“I’ve always liked gender-bender stuff,” said Minnie Mortimer Gaghan last night at her soirée in the glassy penthouse at the Cooper Square Hotel to preview her first full collection. True to the organic origins of the line (read: making stuff I want to wear), the designer was her own best advert, wearing a gray schoolboy [...]

It’s a dilemma I’ve heard more than one girl complain about: You spend a couple hours on your makeup and your hairdo, throw on a fancy dress to hit one of Manhattan’s galas on the benefit schedule, and then what? Drag your borrowed gown to a club and sacrifice the hem? Throw fake lashes to [...]

After taking a brief hiatus from the fashion and social scenes lately, Tinsley Mortimer—in a Schiaparelli pink McQueen dress with her hair pulled back in a loose bun—was showing off what she’s been doing with all her free time: bangs. That’s right, we can officially report that the trademark curl has taken a backseat to [...]

Don’t write off ostentation just yet. Dior and Bergdorf Goodman pulled out all the stops at a posh lunch today for their devoted clientele. “Things are different,” admitted Delphine Arnault Gancia, who flew in from Paris to host the lunch at BG. “But Americans are resourceful, they look for solutions.” After an informal modeling of [...]

Madge and Guy have reportedly reached a divorce settlement. Make way for MaRodnna.
Paris Hilton is single. Guard your sweaty, unattractive, and very rich men.
Marc Jacobs has been fined a cool million for cajoling, sweet-talking, handbag plying, and otherwise bribing the (now former) Armory superintendent in return for a good booking during fashion week. The New [...]

“I mean, Hello Kitty and diamonds!” gushed Tinsley Mortimer last night at the opening of revamped store for the cuter-than-thou brand in Times Square. In addition to Tins, an entire generation of girls—and some dazzling boys—grew up loving Hello Kitty and her friends. Sanrio, the Japanese company behind the line of clothing and accessories [...]

Fashion Week notes from the socialite and designer. Look out for more animated opinions in the days ahead.