Fashion week reflections

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City wraps up today. Time to check in with Charlottean Ruth Caldwell, buyer for Capitol boutique. She is mid-way through her fashion stay: She’ll spend the next week in the city, placing orders with designers.

How many shows will you attend? Around 30.

Favorite show? Marc Jacobs. No contest. I loved his glamorous gypsy looks, mixing plaid, sequins, leopard print, obi belts, bustled skirts -- everything but the kitchen sink. And it all worked together! Jacobs is one of the few U.S. designers who offers consistently a fresh and independent perspective.

Which shows were you most looking forward to? Rodarte, Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs typically show very different collections, but are three of the most powerful influences on the overall mood of the season. I always look forward to seeing their interpretations of what’s to come.

Describe the overall scene. Even Hanna’s torrential rains in New York have not been able to put a damper on the optimism of the spring collections. Thank goodness for my patent leather shoes, the secret to dashing through giant puddles to get to shows.

Best celebrity sighting? Roger Federer is staying in my hotel (The Carlyle) during the US Open. I saw him in the elevator.

Biggest surprise? My biggest shock has been how horribly, painfully, heartbreakingly thin several of the models walking the shows have been. Wasn’t the industry going to work on this? I joined others in gasping in horror at one girl in particular. Most of these girls are only in their early teens. It’s hard to watch.

Any non-fashion plans? I sneaked into my favorite bookshop today between shows and browsed for a while, leaving with the Spanish version of “Goodnight Moon” for my twin 8-month-old nieces. I would go crazy if I couldn’t have a few non-fashion moments up here. Two weeks of New York fashion can get a little intense.

Project Runway: Then there were 6

I have to agree with Tim Gunn on Jerell's look. It's very school marm redux. But apparently, that's what the former contestants are considering chic these days.

If fashion had a superhero, it'd be Michael Kors. The man is creative and entertaining on and off the runway. His catty commentary has been the star of the show for weeks now, and tonight he was en fuego.

Designers still in the game were paired with those who had been eliminated earlier. Together, they were to create an avant-garde look based on a zodiac sign. Love it! (I'm a Gemini -- June 20 -- and couldn't be more twin-ish if I tried, but I digress).

Designers from past seasons (including former Charlottean Carmen Webber) were brought in to pick the winner. And Francisco Costa, creative director at Calvin Klein, joined MK, Nina Garcia and Heidi on the runway to pick two designers to auf.

MK's mouth couldn't be contained and I agreed with all of it. Blayne's horrific cotton candy bondage dress was "pooping fabric." Terri's dress looked like a "voodoo princess from hell." And he mocked Suede's annoying habit of speaking in third person.

There wasn't one look tonight that I thought was worthy of a win. It was all uninspired, especially Kenley's second hyper-exaggerated take on the Balenciaga silhouette that garnered her a win early on.

And enough of the sassing the judges! I wasn't sad or surprised to see Blayne and Teri get the boot. About time.

Thoughts?

Posh goes pixie

Victoria Beckham showed off a new 'do at the Marc Jacobs show Monday night in New York.

I love it. So cute, so chic! What do you think?

Kristin Davis in Charlotte

Kristin Davis is coming to the Charlotte to fete her new clothing line on Sept. 18.

Davis, the "Sex and the City" star and former resident of Columbia, S.C., launched her hotly anticipated line exclusively at Belk. The fashion show at the Blake hotel will benefit The Junior League of Charlotte. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. The fashion show begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and are available at Belk SouthPark or on the Junior League's website.

Sept. 18 is shaping up to be a style supernova in the Queen City. Also on the docket for that night:

• Andie MacDowell as the keynote speaker of Look at Her Power, the Dress for Success benefit preview of the Southern Women's Show at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart. (Read my interview with Andie, another Carolina native, in Thursday's Style section.)


• The start of the first Charlotte Fashion Week (also at the Blake hotel), featuring former "Project Runway" contestant Carmen Webber and a bevy of local designers.
  
  Which event will you attend? It'll take some quick leg work, but I'll be at all three. See you there!

Clinton Kelly in Charlotte

Clinton Kelly, one half of the fashion-fix it team on TLC's "What Not to Wear" is coming to Charlotte.

He will be hosting a fashion show at 1 p.m. Sept. 27 at Macy's SouthPark, dealing with how to shop based on your body type and building a fall wardrobe.

Those who and make a $100 ready to wear purchase will receive a copy of his new book (while supplies last) "Freakin' Fabulous: How to Dress, Behave, Speak, Drink, Eat, Entertain, Decorate and Generally be Better Than Everyone Else," which is scheduled for release Oct. 7.

The event is free, but you must be at least 16 to attend. Seating is limited. To RSVP, call 704-364-5110.

Project Runway: The gloves are off!

Bookish Leann won her second challenge in a row -- the winner of this competition will have their look sold to a select audience through American Express and Diane Von Furstenburg.

Gah. I'm starting to sound like a broken record! If only the clothing were as entertaining as the sassy, nosy, diva designers.

Wednesday's challenge for a fashion "legend" was relatively uneventful. The special guest (and judge) was designer Diane Von Furstenburg. Were you surprised that poor little tanorexic Blayne heard "legend" and immediate thought "Mary -Kate Olsen?" Sigh.

I can't be the only one who was waiting for Kenley's head to explode or spin around. Her hysterical laughing and crying was a freaky train wreck: I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.

The catty claws have been bared by just about everyone, including "I'm straight" Joe and "I'm meek" Leann. Stella wouldn't share the details of her outfit (maybe if she would have, she could have saved her self). The leatha lova got the boot, but not before calling out celebrity judge Rachel Zoe about last week. My girl Korto squashed the petty, catty talk with a confident flick of her wrist, telling the biters to bring it on the runway.

And what is up with sassing the judges? The designers better watch it -- Michael Kors looks like he's thisclose to charging the runway the next time someone like Suede can't take constructive criticism.

Who should be auf'd next?

Carolina girl on ANTM

Clark Gilmer, 19, a University of South Carolina student from Pawley's Island, SC, is among the contestants on "America's Next Top Model" which debuts at 8 tonight on WJZY Channel 46.

I've never watched "America's Next Top Model." Too much other reality TV to distract me. Like "Rock of Love" and "The Hills."

But, after listening to some of my friends who are ANTM fanatics, I watched the screener of tonight's two-hour debut (8 p.m. on The CW, WJZY Channel 46 in Charlotte).

What did I see? Cheesy special effects, humans impersonating robots and plenty of drama. Hello hot mess!

In the model mix for cycle 11: a pre-op transgender female, a Kimora Lee Simmons-wannabe and Clark Gilmer, 19, a University of South Carolina student from Pawley's Island, SC.

I'm still on the fence about whether I'll stick with it. Should I?

LISTEN UP! I'll be on the Matt & Ramona show at 3:45 pm Wednesday to talk about fall fashion. Tune in at 107.9FM or http://www.mattandramona.com/.

FALL FASHION FORECAST: Check out Thursday's Style section for our take on fall fashion. Designers are drawing from many silhouettes from past decades: nipped waists of the ’50s, flowy boho skirts from the ’60s and ’70s, and the exaggerations of the '80s. Scattered? Sure. But also fun and wearable with a modern spin.