(Ed note: This post was written on Friday, February 8th, but was posted on February 9th.)

I knew I’d be depressed today, and I was. This evening I ascended the stairs at Bryant Park and entered the tents for the last time.

It’s the end of Fashion Week folks.

Of course, I’m exhausted from all the last minute show reports, late nights in heels and waiting for shows to start. But I’m also sad that it’s ending. I’m sad that all the glitz and glamour will fade away, and that these new people will exit from my realm as quickly as they entered. Why can’t I live like this all the time?

Tonight my final show, and the last show at the tents, was Zang Toi in the Promenade. The front lobby was relaxed, and people were less dressed up than ever before. The security guards were even more kind, perhaps because they knew that in an hour it’d be over.

I walked inside and spotted Malan Breton (a designer and my favorite former Project Runway contestant), in a floor length fur coat chatting outside the tents. My new friend Claire was on the couches and we went outside to take a few photos. She was equally as sad.

On my way back inside, I heard a security guard say “The fur protesters are on their way,” and much commotion was made to secure the building. I wouldn’t see them till I exited that night, they were shouting and holding up dead animals (ferrets and a poodle) .

I found out why the protestors were there when I watched Zang Toi’s show. He uses lots of fur in all of his designs, and many of his patrons were covered in large fur coats. Despite this, the show was amazing. So amazing that the coarse girl seated beside me, who spent the whole time complaining that she wasn’t in the front row (”I get front row for every show” she quipped) suddenly softened as his first piece went down the runway.

“Oh my god,” she said in awe as a woman in goggles and a fur lined hood sauntered down the snow covered runway to Lenny Kravitz’s “American Woman.”

Some of the ball gowns were out of this world, and I saw a few things that point to fall trends. On almost every runway I saw some sort of jaunty plaid, and almost every designer (especially Terexov) had a one shoulder gathered Grecian inspired gown. Expect gathered dresses for fall. Metallic’s, by the way, are here to stay.

After the show, I went into the lobby and spotted Malan again. I was desperate for a photograph with him, but he was chatting up six people at once, and I definitely didn’t want to approach him then. I did, however, hear him do his iconic laugh, which they devoted a montage to during the “Project Runway” reunion show.

I hung around for a moment gazing and sighing. I don’t know if the chance for me to ever attend Fashion Week will happen again, but just in case it didn’t, I never wanted to forget it.

Out on the streets, people were crowded around just to peek inside. The fur protesters were out and I passed them on my way to Pax for a meatless dinner. I rode the bus home in the dark and secretly wished the week would replay itself.

There’s an after party tonight for everyone: celebrities, models, people who worked at Fashion week, the press and all the guests. I’m attending with a few of my new friends, and will post about it when I get back!