If there is a heaven on earth, it is undoubtedly Saks Fifth Avenue. I have a long history with the department store, and could write (and have drafted) essays on the place. Nostalgia is powerful thing.

I knew today was a big deal at the 5th Avenue Saks, they were hosting “parties” on every floor with designer appearances. I wanted to attend, but I would be having guests and wanted their itinerary to be top priority.

Around 4 p.m. my guests and myself had ran all over Manhattan–uptown, downtown, Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy for lunch, and midtown. We ended up near Rockefeller Center, and my guests wanted to use the bathroom. Saks was nearby so I ushered them in, being a tour guide and pointing to places where memories stood. I remembered that the party was going on, and I was apprehensive. In jeans and boots I looked hardly fashionable.

But we ended up at the biggest party on the eighth floor regardless. I avoided every camera moving past me, and slid past the very charming and attractive shoe designer Brian Atwood (love his flats) to look at his shoes. They gave out champagne and I desperately fought the crowds to find those gorgeous brown and gold Tory Burch boots. They were on the 6th floor.

So one of my guests and I raced down there, only to be disappointed. The boots were shipped out to make way for spring fashions. This would be the second time that’s happened in my Saks-going history, and I recounted the tale to my guests (it involves a YSL belt).

After my guests enjoyed more wine and I pined away at Oscar de la Renta gowns. Saks is a feast for the eyes. As always.

On the way back down Mark Badgley and James Mischka were still present on the first floor, surrounded by a cloud of well-heeled women dropping compliments at the duo. I waved an elegant good-bye, being glad to have introduced my friends to my little haven.

The rest of the day was pure fun in midtown. I didn’t arrive home till after eight; truly wiped out from all the subway cars and adventures.

I viewed 9 shows during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and filed 7 reviews of them for NY Style Times. Two of my reviews finally made it to the site: my review of the Joanna Mastorianni  show and the Vivienne Tam  show.

I was kind of disenchanted by the latter, and I made the mistake of forgetting to write which celebrities were sitting front row, so my editor made sure to add some notes in about Genevieve Jones! I didn’t even know she was there that night!

The R. Scott French show I attended at Fashion Week was on an episode of “Make me a Supermodel.” I got to watch all the contestants from the show walk, in addition to the hosts seated a few rows in front of me, and the female contestants were seated to my right. The show is viewable at 6:40.

In addition, a guy hired to shoot the show for the designer himself, has been e-mailing me ever since I posted about Fashion Week! How cool.

The Full Frontal Fashion crews had a permanent space in the lobby at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The hostess of the show would deliver her lines with her back to the lobby, so that the fashionable crowds passing her by would serve as the backdrop. Of course, this means that everyone was on TV whenever the passed the cameras–including yours truly.

I’ve been watching the episodes of “Full Frontal Fashion” all week to catch up on the large shows I missed. I caught an episode on Thursday taped the same day I was photographed for the Japanese magazine. In one of the clips I spotted myself wading through the crowd lugging a ton of gift bags and talking into my cellular phone. Sometimes I wish I could erase any traces of myself from photographs or TV–I always look so strange.

A photographer for pmbuzz.com was circling the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week after party last Friday night. She took a photograph of Shruti and I sitting at one of the little booths during the party at Lotus! You can view it here. Can my smile be any more cheesier?

So I was scouting online searching for photos from the Terexov show (I can’t get enough of his designs!) and stumbled upon a photograph of my favorite socialite, Olivia Palermo. Olivia is like my style icon, a lot of the things I wear are inspired by things I’ve seen her donning in pictures.

She was at the Terexov show too, seated just a few rows in front of me. I clicked one of the pictures (viewable here) and said aloud:

“Oh my god.”

I’m in the picture! Just in the background in high heels jeans, and that horrible white purse (I just bought a new one by the way). Thank goodness you can’t see my face, I looked horrid that night!

Front row at Joanna Mastroianni. Photo by yours truly.

For me Fashion Week didn’t officially end till 3 a.m. this morning. My new friend Shruti, her boyfriend, her best friend and I went out to Lotus, where the fashion week sponsors were hosting an after party for the press, models, photographers, and designers.

It would be my first visit to a nightclub, and my first time ever stepping foot in the Meatpacking District. I took a cab there and my driver sped down FDR as trance music thumped through the car. My friends were a little late arriving, so I waited at the Apple Store (it stays open till midnight–who knew?)

When my friends arrived we went inside and were sent downstairs to a private room where a DJ was spinning. It was a little empty, especially for a party that had been underway for an hour. We sat on a couch, did a little dancing, and watched the semi-celebrities (a few “Project Runway”people who will remain unnamed) dance and drink and talk. Shruti and I had our photograph taken for a nightlife blog and website. As soon as its posted, I’ll be sure to link to it.

We left around 1 a.m., after deciding that the party was a little dead. On our way out the line for the coat check was growing, and I supposed the party picked up a little after we departed.

Following light dinner at an all-night French diner a few blocks away, we trekked around looking for the Zang Toi after party at Le Royale. We were a bit lost then, and had spotted a few mice among the garbage on the street. Defeated and tired, we gave up and all hailed cabs home. It was my first time hanging out with Shruti and her friends, they were all so nice and I had a fun time.

(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!

After, I went back to the lobby to wait for the Rebecca Taylor show, and in while in line spotted one of my new friends Claire. We both approached the check in line, and because I was checking in under my bosses name (which I have done for every show) they politely kicked me out. My name was on the list, but supposedly their PR company has something against someone else checking in. My boss was furious and called their company up to complain.

A little peeved, I parked myself on a sofa to wait for Reem Acra. Tons of notable people were in the lobby by then, including Stacy London from “What Not to Wear.” A girl sitting next to me was invited by Tyra Banksto go to all the shows, receive a make over, and then do a segment on the show talking about her experiences. Very cool.

Reem Acra was scheduled for 3 p.m. I was given a seat in the back row, but because the Promenade was so big I got to sit in the fourth row. Sophia Bush (the actress) was there and after the show, we pushed past each other in the crowd, she was dressed in a gold sequin dress.

The Reem Acra show was also full of decadent dressings. I noticed that my favorite model, Jessica Stam, was in both shows I’d seen that day.

It was 4 p.m. when Reem Acra finished, and I’d penciled in “lunch” on my schedule then. I walked to the corner to Pax, and a few models still in their make-up from the Reem Acra show came in and ate. I eavesdropped on a pair of girls beside me as they talked about the ballet.

“I didn’t like the first girl,” one of them said. “But Daniel was amazing.” I smiled to myself and wondered if they meant Daniel Ulbricht.

After lunch I was prepared for a long wait at the tents before the Custo Barcelona show. I made phone calls, jotted down notes, and scanned the crowd for Mike Rosenthal (who I spotted yesterday). I realized suddenly, as I looked at tomorrows show schedule, that Friday is the last day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. I became melancholy, but a text message from a friend cheered me up: possible NYCB tickets on Valentines Day next week.

After waiting 2 hours I pushed through the huge crowd waiting to check in at Custo Barcelona. I was given a standing seat, and waited for thirty minutes, only to not be admitted because the show was over capacity. I was upset that I’d wasted so much time only to be turned away.

I had too choices then: go home, or hang around and try to sneak into the Zac Posen show. I made a few phone calls and looked around for familiar faces. I happily spotted photographer Mike Rosenberg again, looking dashing in the crowd.

I only waited around for fifteen minutes before taking the bus home. My feet hurt so much I took my shoes off in my building elevator and hobbled to my front door.

Tonight on Bravo TV’s “Make me a Supermodel” they showed scenes from the R. Scott French show I attended early in the week. I flipped between that and NYC’s “Full Frontal Fashion” where they were showing the Terexov show. Tomorrow I should be pretty pensive and fragile. Expect a sad post about the end of the week.