New York, October 12, 2006 – Michelle Williams was on the guest list for Donna Karan’s Gold fragrance collection launch party, and those of us on the scene early wondered whether it would be the Destiny’s Child singer or Heath Ledger’s fiancée. Very shortly, the shy Brokeback Mountain star arrived, all glammed up.

Williams sat on a sofa overlooking the garden, sipping champagne and chatting with friends. (Yes, the Donna Karan boutique on Madison Avenue has sofas and a garden.) Unlike Laura Linney and Angie Harmon, who both amiably dashed to the front door for photo ops when Karan arrived, Michelle waited regally on her couch. Once Donna and daughter Gabby were safely mid-store, the future Mrs. Ledger made her way through the crowd to greet her hosts. Williams stayed a while at the party, but her glamorous look was just a façade; she left early like a proper Brooklyn baby-mama.

Native New Yorker Uma Thurman made like a big city girl, last to arrive, and last to leave. Most of the guests wore Donna Karan’s signature black; it goes well with gold.