There seemed to be a mishap with the pictures (in the hard copy newspaper edition) that ran with my column today (click here for the column). So here are the correct captions with the correct pictures. My sincere apologies to Colleen Quen and Lily Samii.

Honestly, the whole event was a sartorial blur - I was too excited to see everything and a bit overwhelmed. Too many people in one crowded room with free alcohol makes me nervous - in both good and bad ways…

The 35-minute (give or take a couple of minutes) show was split up into categories: Day, Color, San Francisco (local designers Lily Samii and Colleen Quen showed), Men, Peter Som, Cocktail, Evening…and I think that’s about it.

To make things easier for everyone, each garment that hit the runway was accompanied by the designer’s name on the big screen in the background.

Many of the pieces I saw were favorites that I saw in Fashion Week coverage from February - I especially loved John Varvatos and Marc Jacobs…but that is what the problem was for me.

With the exception of Peter Som, the handful of designers showed only two or three pieces in the respected categories. After they were done, I was just craving more. It made me feel incomplete. I wanted to see each of the designer’s entire collection - story and all. It would’ve been nice to have 2 or 3 designers show their entire collections rather than a potpourri of bits and pieces.

But who am I to complain?

There is a major difference in seeing these garments in a picture and live on the runway. There’s a whole other level of admiration: the movement, the detail, the color and of course, the beautiful (and a tad bit “realistic”) faces of the models.

There were clearly crowd favorites. Of course, headlining models, Naomi Campbell and Gemma Ward caused an uproar of applause, but when Alek Wek came out in Nanette Lepore the audience clapped until their hands fell off and when Wek flashed a smile, people started screaming uncontrollably.

But the most hoots and hollers went to Tyson Beckford when he came out in the sporty gray get up by John Varvatos, his bedroom eyes pierced every woman (and some men) in the audience to the point of tantric enlightment. When he came out in the Zegna, women started to scream at the top of their lungs until their heads were about to explode.

SF designers, Samii and Quen got to show great pieces and proved they can hang with the best of them. Samii gave a line of fantasy-like forest gowns, while Quen pushed the envelope with unique detailings - especially with the golden emperor-like gown.

So - you might ask: Do I have any picutres? Even though my camera ran out of juice, I managed to get three from the runway:

Once again, I must reiterate: I AM NOT A PHOTOGRAPHER - I AM A JOURNALIST.

I’ve seen many of the pieces showcased online - but it was a treat to see them embodied with life. The trends were all apparent: autumnal colors, wide-leg trousers, wispy fabrics in solid colors, dresses with pockets, etc…etc…

In a way it was a dream come true. In another way, it was a dream that was incomplete. Hopefully this September I will get to see more of this fabulousity at NYC’s Spring Fashion Week 2007.

Meanwhile, enjoy these pictures…

I must preface this post by saying that my camera ran out of juice in the midde of my evening - which made me very upset.

Nonetheless…

I met up with my fellow fashion maven, Jessica Yadegaran of the our sister paper, Contra Costa Times for an evening that I have been anticipating since Naomi Campbell and I became lifelong friends (click here and/or here to refresh your memory).

I am talking about none other than FASHION WEEK LIVE!. Fresh out of Houston, TX, the style spectacle finally brought it’s New York Fashion Week charm to SF - and I was all smitten.

Since Kari wasn’t able to go due to last minute obligations, Jessica’s fabulous friend Farnoosh came along and we were just a trio of fabulous fashionites.

When we got to the Fort Mason Center, we followed the trail of finely dressed patrons to the Festival Pavilion where we got to take a peek backstage. We saw racks of clothes awaiting to see the light of the runway, models grazing the food table, other media professionals, steamers ridding all garments of any wrinkles and some other people who were fancy enough just to hang out and look pretty. And before my camera completely died on me - I got to take some pics:

Then to my surprise, I caught a glimpse of a famous male model - someone who I didn’t expect to be there. Apparently, he may have been a last minute addition…

If you don’t recognize him - it’s the one and only oily variety bohunk, Tyson Beckford. He looks as surprised to see me as I am to see him.

Then of course, I saw my dear Naomi. She looked like she was in a makeup zone, so I didn’t want to disturb her. Then again, I don’t even think she would’ve remembered me:

And then, I got another pleasant surprise. Although I knew Alek Wek was going to be there, she just popped in out of no where and I got all giddy:

Her striking features are much more admirable in person than in any photo. A still image does not do any justice to her adorable beauty whatsoever.

To add even more delight to my backstage experience, I got to chat briefly with the featured designer of the evening, San Francisco native, Peter Som.

Originally, Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein was supposed to showcase, but due to an emergency, Som was willing to transport his special guest stardom in Houston to SF - and I thought it was more fitting since he’s from here.

He said he was very excited to show a generous amount of his fall 2007 collection that night - as was I. Som, much like many designers, played it simple in what he was wearing - a gray glen plaid blazer, white button down shirt and black slacks. As he was talking to Jessica and I, he was extremely modest about his work and he was excited about the Fashion Week Live! show in general and how it brings NY Fashion Week to people who can’t be there for it.

Most of all, he was clearly excited to be in his hometown of SF (he currently lives in NY, family in the Bay Area). The one place he HAS to go every time he is here?

“I have to go to R & G Lounge in Chinatown,” he laughs. “I just have to!”

He also goes beyond the Bay Bridge and hangs out in Berkeley with his sister. It’s nice to know that he isn’t solely about SF - not that that’s a bad thing.

After we left backstage and went into the main entrance, the Festival Pavilion was about to bust at the seams with some of SF’s most fashionable people. We were elbow to elbow in a potpourri of style: jeans, ball gowns, cocktail dresses, evening shorts, business suits, hoodies and there were even Abercrombie and Fitch-esque guys in yellow DHL delivery uniforms. This was clearly a gratuitous attempt at shameless hot-bodied advertising.

The champagne was being poured, finger foods were being served and thousands of mile-a-minute conversations filling the air.

I, on the other hand, lost Jessica and Farnoosh in the sea of Chanel and was staying put after trying to swim through the sea to find them - I’d knew we’d reunite in the stands at the show - something that I will give you more of later….so STAY TUNED!