New York, September 5 - 11, 2007 – Predictions that New York’s September fashion week would be celebrity-free were vastly exaggerated, with some A-listers – Demi Moore, Mary J. Blige - hitting multiple front rows, and one-offs from Mick Jagger (at L’Wren Scott), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Miss Sixty), and Janet Jackson (Catherine Malandrino).  And fears of a midweek talent drain thanks to MTV’s Video Music awards in Las Vegas proved unfounded – the very next day we met Courtney Love, Sheryl Crow, Heath Ledger and Victoria Beckham at Marc Jacobs’ show in New York.  Ugly Betty fans had only one chance to revel in Becki (Amanda) Newton’s delicious sense of humor at Reem Acra; she flew in specially for the fashion show, and rushed back to L.A. for work. 

A smattering of celebrity designers also showed their own lines during fashion week, including Gwen Stefani, Nicky Hilton and Jennifer Lopez, whose Just Sweet line closed the week with a presentation at Eyebeam in Chelsea.  J. Lo got involved, breaking from speaking to reporters to oversee the run-through.  She even personally checked that the fan for blowing the clothing and hair on the models was operating correctly.  Who wouldn’t be confident with stylist Ken Paves tending her hair and hubby Marc Anthony on the scene?  She said that nothing in the line retails for more than $99.

Y-3’a Saturday afternoon production was in the same neighborhood, but outdoors under the High Line, the elevated railway track.  This label, a collaboration between adidas and Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, always puts on a creative show, and this season’s was no exception.   The weather was muggy, but rain-free, so Y-3 created their own, with water streaming down walls, staffers hosing down the blacktop “runway” and a booming thunderstorm soundtrack.  How cool are these folks?  They had Samuel L. Jackson in the front row. 

Although Demi Moore was a fixture at several shows, she only managed to drag Ashton Kutcher to one: Diesel.  We'd hoped to see more of Kutcher since he is shooting a film in New York. 

Photos: Caroline Torem-Craig, Kristin Callahan