Fashion Week: Shows, Galas & Rocks!

I've written more about fashion this week than I usually would, but for good reason - it's Fashion Week. Actually, that term pertains to New York Fashion Week which started yesterday and goes through the end of next week including a variety of Ready to Wear fashion shows featuring primarily American (and mostly New Yorker) designers showing their Spring 2006-2007 collections. Yes, that's right. It's not even officially fall yet but spring collections are on the runway. That's just the way it works.

So far, BCBG & Alice Roi are the biggest shows that have taken place yet. Later this week will be (roughly in order) Diane von Furstenberg, Thakoon, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Reem Acra, Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, Monique Lhuillier, Bill Blass, Derek Lam, Behnaz Sarafpour, Narciso Rodriguez, Michael Kors, Badgley Mischka, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Tory Burch, Zac Posen, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Edun.

Milan and Paris fashion weeks are September 23 - October 1 and October 1 to October 9 respectively. For you guys who have read this far, that's when the sexy Italian and French swimsuits and slinky dresses come out. Check out style.com for that action.

Here in the Bay Area, it was a different kind of fashion week - time to bring out the gala gowns for the annual San Francisco Symphony Opening Gala and San Francisco Opera Opening Gala. I usually attend the SF Symphony event but decided this year was a good year to attend the opera - MTT wasn't conducting any of my favorites and the opera sounded like a good choice. It turns out I was right, but we didn't end up going due to my prolonged recovery. (Still blogging from bed.)

In any case, the news and photos of last night's soiree made me really wish I could've been there. The San Francisco Opera (anyone know why their site is a .com vs. a .org?) performed Giuseppe Verdi's "Un Ballo in Masxhera" ("A Masked Ball") with Deborah Voight as its diva du jour. Some people even arrived in masks. David Gockley, the new Opera Director, has been getting some good press.

And for more fashion fun, Elton John hosted "Fashion Rocks" at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night, aired last night on CBS. Performers included David Bowie, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, and Gwen Stefani. Sorry I didn't give out more advanced warning on this one - not sure if/when it will be on again. Tivo is the project manager for that. I just delegate.

For Elton John fans, check out AT&T's Blue Room tomorrow night, Sept. 10 at 7pm EST for EJ's new songs from his new album, "The Captain and the Kid", to be released September 19. We have Rocket Club tickets for his concert in San Jose on the 16th if I'm feeling up to it. (I'll blog it if we go.)