The third day of LA Fashion Week featured collections by Gregory Parkinson, Jenny Han, Christian Audigier, Dina Bar-El, Grey Ant and Whitley Kros.

My favorite show of the day was Dina Bar-El. Last year, Bar-El came under heavy criticism for using child models in her show, so as you might expect, the show was juvey-free this time around. I do have one gripe for Ms. Bar-El: what's up with all the white girls? Come on, Dina, get with the program.

However, if you can overlook her homogeneous choice in models, Bar-El's clothes were wonderful. Her evening wear was particularly stunning this time around. I loved the silk gowns in rich jewel tones and her plucky cocktail dresses with striking necklines. The simple makeup and sleek hair was also right on target.

My least favorite show was without question Christian Audigier's presentation. The catwalk/stage was set for high drama -- there was even moody lighting and music to match. To tell you the truth, I kind of think that the combination of the busy clothes and overwhelming set left me agitated. Consequently, I've got no love for the clothes either.

I wasn't sure what the designer was hoping to create. Some of the clothes had a 1920s Jazz Age feel -- flapper dresses, feather boas, cropped hair -- and I liked that part. However, some outfits looked like they were Jodie Foster's castoffs from the set of the movie Taxi Driver. Trust me, underage prostitute is not a good look. I also hated Audigier's makeup: red lips and dark eyes. Most models can't handle dramatic eyes and lips, and they end up looking like tweaked-out trannies.

Adding all of this up, if you can image an underage, tweaked-out trannie prostitute in a feather boa, you basically get Christian Audigier's Spring/Summer 08 collection. You can also check out the woman pictured at right.

We've picked out some of our favorites and our, well, least favorites for the Styledash LA Fashion Week Gallery. Let us know what you think.

Here are a few shots to check out:

Monday was the second day of shows at Smashbox Studios in LA, which included collections by Ecoganik, Coco Johnsen, Kevan Hall, Elsie Katz Couture, Joseph Domingo and, of course, Heatherette.

Adult film star Jenna Jameson once again opened up the Heatherette show with a duck-lipped bang. I can't say that I loved Heatherette's trailer-trash, kitschy Americana clothes. Actually, I can't even say that I liked them, but I feel a certain affinity for a label that survives by selling pricey clothes destined for the no-go-zone of your town's sketchiest Goodwill. I kid you not -- Vegas showgirls would have a hard time donning some of these get-ups. Jenna Jameson sure loves them though. Draw your own conclusions.

My favorite show yesterday was Elsie Katz Couture. Like the Chick by Nicky Hilton show on Sunday, the Elsie Katz Couture was made up of really great ready-to-wear fashions. I loved her use of color as well as her surprising hemlines (i.e.: Do my eyes deceive me or is that a tea-length gown?). Kudos are also due to Katz stylists -- the hair was amazing. I also like seeing non-blond models on the catwalk (model at right notwithstanding). Believe it or not, I think her interesting casting choices made the show stand out most of all.

We've picked out some of our favorites and our, well, least favorites for the Styledash LA Fashion Week Gallery. Let us know what you think.

Here are a few shots to check out:

The first official day of LA Fashion Week started off strong with collections by Sue Wong, Chick by Nicky Hilton, Yves Castaldi and Randolph Duke.

Sue Wong by far had the wildest makeup and styling. Some of the models sported crazy-colored hair and blue lipstick. My guess is that Wong was going for an alien/otherworldly feel, which would have worked had all of the models been similarly painted. But alas, they weren't.

I liked Nicky Hilton's collection most of all, which surprised me because I had pretty much written off that DNA line as a waste of space and air. But hey, sometimes you underestimate people. Chick by Nicky Hilton had a charming little French Madeline look with Peter Pan collars and swings coat finished with bold buttons. C'est bon!

Yves Castaldi chose to put actress/model/sad provocateur Bai Ling in his show. Why he did that, I'll never know, but I guess if Heatherette used Jenna Jameson, the precedent had been set. The clothes were kind of crappy to begin with so the unexpected injection of a confusing celebrity was probably meant to be a distraction.

We've picked out some of our favorites and our least favorites for the Styledash LA Fashion Week Gallery. Let us know what you think.

Shows about models are a dime a dozen these days. Most programs either follow models/agencies scripted reality style, or they pit the models against each other in a competition format. Of the latter, America's Next Top Model is probably the best; VH1's new show America's Most Smartest Model is probably the worst.

AMSM's premise is simple: you take a dozen models from around the world then send them through mildly rigorous tests of modeling skill and intelligence to see who can last until the end. The show is sort of like Beauty and the Geek -- except there aren't any geeks, which is unfortunate because geeks make for great TV. (Are you listening to me TV-executives???)

The saving grace of AMSM is, of course, the wonderfully talented Ben Stein. He's witty, dry, smart and completely unimpressed by anyone, including the blond sitting next to him, who's technically the star of the show. Funny, I don't even remember her name...

Save for the Ph.D candidate Daniel, none of the models jump off the screen as particularly intelligent. Oddly enough, only a few pop seem especially good-looking (the Ruski Andre B. and Angela). I have to conclude that instead of being about brainy beauties, America's Most Smartest Model is actually about functionally-illiterate uglies.

But did I mention the show stars Ben Stein?

Now I have seen it all! The alcohol monitoring bracelet, which is usually pegged as an embarrassing thing to wear, is now a fashion accessory. The "accessory" was just spotted in Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel runway show.

With celebrities like Eve, Michelle Rodriguez and Lindsay Lohan sporting the court-required anklet, we've grown somewhat accustomed plastic black trackers, but to morph it into an accessory -- that's just plain weird.

I know you all will have an opinion on this one. So what do you think: did Karl take this little "joke" too far? Or do you think this DUI device is just a funny pop culture parody?

Metrosexuality is so five minutes ago; today it's all about "menergy." Right now the days of men taking more time in the bathroom and dressing better than women are over. These days the testosterone meter is set on high and the 'man's-man' is here to stay.

Last month, The New York Times' Horacio Silva used the term "menergy" to describe the "anti-metrosexual, hyper-masculine" energy that was circulating throughout Milan Fashion Week during the menswear segments.

It appears that the "menergy" that was flowing through Fashion Week has worked its way over to Hollywood. George Clooney has ditched his clean shaved face for a scruffier salt-and-pepper whisker look. Super-hottie Benicio Del Toro has put his razor away too. The actor showed off a bearded mug on the cover of Esquire's October issue.

Fashion pro Robert Verdi says, "[it's] a return to real men." Amen to that Robert! I am sick of seeing men sitting next me to at the nail salon. What do you all think, do you like your men 'manly' or properly groomed in a metrosexual way?

Check out our gallery of stars with "menergy" here:

Models have always been on the top of the controversy list. There is Naomi Campbell knocking people out with cell phones and Kate Moss' love drama with rocker Pete Doherty – but the real drama lies in the pencil thin no-name models that grace the world's runways.

Last year there was a lot of talk about models being too thin. Some countries considered banning underweight models from runway shows. The question is did it work? Are models putting on weight?

The answer, unfortunately, is no. A New York Times article called "Still Too Thin, and Getting Younger" reveals that not much has changed in the fashion industry saying that ".One might be startled to find, scattered on the makeup table alongside the iPod and the Motorola SLVR (a device that electronics blogs approvingly call the anorexic phone), other currently common tools of the trade like Vicodin, clenbuterol and Marlboro Lights."

In case you didn't know, Vicodin is a prescription painkiller that is used in the fashion industry as an appetite-suppressant. Even more horrifying, clenbuterol, which is a steroid that showed significant weight loss in horses (yes, horses people), is being used by models to keep their weight down. Then there is the ever popular nicotine (cigarettes), which also acts an appetite suppressant.

Sounds like the perfect recipe for death to me -- all of this for a career that, if you are lucky, will span for eight years. It's so very sad.

Coveting the Burberry Prorsum Studded Platform Sandals, but not a fan of the $940 price tag?

Studs and tough girl leather are fashion must-haves for fall/ winter 2007, but because they are trends and not staples it's probably best to get your kicks on the cheap.

The ultra hot Burberry Prorsum Studded Platform Sandals that were a hit on the runway aren't available yet (you can pre-order them at Norstrom.com), but the knock-off version by Jeffrey Campbell sure is for $100 at ShopIntuition.com.

These shoes are great for adding a touch of high fashion to any outfit. The Jeffery Campbell shoes may not be studded in silver like the Burberry version, but both shoes have a 4 inch heels, are strappy, studded, and very tough.

The key to wearing these shoes is not to look like you just walked out of an S&M club. Pair them with something unexpected like a floral print or go simple with a pair of skinny jeans and a tee shirt.

Vogue is a global enterprise. There is British Vogue, French Vogue, Italian Vogue, Russian Vogue, Australian Vogue, and the list goes on and on.

The latest nation to join in the Vogue empire is India. Indian Vogue hit news stands earlier this week. The 50,000 copy run will be available at over 5,000 outlets in 40 towns through out India. Editor-in-chief Priya Tanna remarked that the launch of Indian Vogue symbolizes the nation's official entry into the world of fashion.

The cover of the magazine features several well-known Indian models such as Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, and Preity Zinta. Also on the cover is Australian model Gemma Ward. (Huh?)

Is it just me or does it seem odd to put a blond girl from Australian on the very first cover of a magazine that is supposed to symbolize India's entry into the world of fashion? Not to be flippant about this, but could someone please get that girl off the cover.

The British label Luella (née Luella Bartley) offered a heroic ready-to-wear collection during the Spring 2008 shows in London. I don't mean to suggest that the line was especially brave; rather, by heroic, I mean, superheroic. And by superheroic, I mean, the clothes had Batman on them. Luella dubbed it "comic book chic" -- whatever that is supposed to mean...

Believe it or not, this is hardly the first time that a cartoon character has struck a pose in high-end fashion. As Jonathon pointed out earlier this year, designers have been on a 'toon kick for a while now, channeling everyone from Charlie Brown to Tweety Bird.

Love him or hate him, you have to admit that Spike Lee is an amazing director. (Inside Man and 25th Hour are my faves)

That's why we're all going to have to trust Spike's instincts with his latest film project, which happens to star Naomi Campbell.

According to British Vogue, the film tells the story of a regiment of black soldiers stationed in Tuscany during World War II. Campbell says her role is small (phew), but she's still looking forward to working with Lee on the film.

The plot sounds interesting, and it's certainly encouraging to hear that Campbell's appearances on screen will be limited. Naomi can pull off many things (assault and battery, 4-inch heels, a bob), but I'm not sure carrying a dramatic period piece is probably not one of them. (See King, Jaime in Pearl Harbor)

Fashion shows are always late. But what happens when fashionably late becomes disrespectfully late?

For one thing, it gets ugly. Just ask Marc Jacobs, who has had the unfortunate luck of being the guy who pushed the fashion timetable just a little too far.

When I first heard about this story, I kind of felt sorry for Jacobs. I'm usually running late, so I can sympathize with slight delays. But Readers, Jacobs was not just a few minutes late; it was TWO HOURS LATE!

The worst part of the story is Marc Jacob's excuse for the late start. He complained to WWD that the delay was due to the fact that Fashion Week was way too early. (Instead of falling in late September, the fall shows took place in early September to avoid the Jewish High Holidays.)

My guess is that Marc's cocktail hour ran a little late, and he just assumed (wrongly) that everyone loved him enough to wait around for his collection. But it turns out that the Marc Jacobs-pandering media can only take so much. As Suzy Menkes put it: "I would like to murder him with my bare hands and never see another Marc Jacobs show as long as I live."

Heatherette runway shows are known for being over the top. Or as Heatherette designer Richie Rich calls them "Fun, fun, fun ..."

It was all fun and games at the beginning of the show -- a live concert by 18- year-old hip-hop star Lil Mama, and a star-studded crowd that included Diddy (P. Diddy, Puff Daddy ... whatever), Lance Bass and Bijou Philips.

The fashion show wasn't only filled with celebrity "stars" but with star-spangled fashions as well. Flag prints, gingham, plaids -- all very Americana, which was a quite a coincidence as the show fell on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks. When designer Richie Rich was asked about the correlation, he said "It just worked out that way. We talked about colors and came up with red, white and blue, then we realized that we'd never done an Americana collection."

The collection itself was a huge hit. It was very fashion forward and fun, that is until porn-star Jenna Jameson took the stage for the show's finale. Jenna looked like an anorexic duck! She made the runway models look big and that isn't easy to do. Unless you consider not eating and getting freaky lip implants easy.

Even though the porn-star/model scared the heck out of me, it did score Heatherette some serious of press. So congrats to Heatherette. And to Jenna? Go grab a burger honey.

Rag & Bone began their company in 2001 out of the mutual frustration of not being able to find great clothes. They also felt that the way in which our clothes are made can be done better. Their goal was to create beautiful fashions that kept good manufacturing practices in mind. Practices that didn't harm the environment and that didn't compromise labor laws. All of their fashions are created with those conscientious practices in mind. Clothing designed and created with such high morals has to be good.

The show was excellent; beautiful designs, clean color palette, and gorgeous models (including male models in suits). The main colors in the show were black, white, and shades of gray (surprise, surprise). Rag & Bone did manage to add a splash of color with a bit of powder blue which was nice touch. There is definitely a black, white and gray color story trend in the making for Spring 2008. Many designers have opted for that particular color story so it is interesting to see how each designer executes that palette.

Rag & Bone translated the colors (or lack there of) in an updated-classic manner with suits and clean lines. If I had to give a name to the collection, it would be "Conservatives Gone Wild." There were naughty boys in suits, sexy models in reading glasses, and neckties were begging to be ripped off. Of course all of this sexuality was cleverly executed, nothing was overly sexy but it just kind of worked out that way.

Overall rating: Is it hot in here or is it just me? A clothing line to feel good about, inside and out.

In case you haven't noticed, it's fashion week, so all the designers and celebrities have come out to show what they've cooked up for fall (and to see what everyone else is wearing). Obviously, being a high-profile person gives you a kind of notoriety and power not normally afforded to models -- so it's not surprising that someone like Nicole Kidman, Mischa Barton or Katie Holmes would get big bucks to walk down the runway.

But why would they, when these celebrities can get paid tens of thousands of dollars just to show up.

In a recent article on Forbes.com, it was revealed that big designers hire "wranglers" who pay famous people to sit in the front rows of their fashion shows. That, in itself, isn't exactly insider information -- but what is surprising, is just how money these celebrities can get.

For instance, Katie Holmes would probably get $50,000 -- just to sit there -- while lesser stars like Kidman or Barton would get $25,000 to $40,000.

I have obviously chosen the wrong profession.