Eclectic would be a kind euphemism to describe the decor of Ms. Deyn's apartment in Williamsburg's Mill Building. From the sea-shell inspired bedroom (complete with coral decals on the walls) to the hodgepodge of affected curiosities oozing rich model loftstyle, the entire thing is a travesty. A $2.5 million travesty, if Douglas Elliman broker Jared Seligman gets his way.

eknutsen@observer.com

The cavalcade of models — including familiar face Agyness Deyn — all had white paint heaped on their hair, and walked in airy looks that came in waves according to color. 

"The colors were so beautiful," Mr. McGinley told The Observer after the show. He agreed with us about the sci-fi feel of some of the clothes, which was set up by the foreboding balloon structure. "There were some pieces that kind of reminded me of Blade Runner that I liked."

But perhaps the accentuating detail that made the strongest impression was the music: a churning series of start-stop blippy and booming dub that would attack over and over again. Memorable, to be sure, though polarizing may be the better way to describe it. So we talked to M.I.A., sonic provocateur par excellence, about what she thought of the soundtrack.

"It just seemed like a Die Antwoord CD on repeat, yeah, with a bit of dubstep thrown in," Maya told us in her thick English accent. "But it was interesting. It's definitely juxtaposed with what the style of the clothing was. It was a good contradiction, I thought."

Suffice it to say that Alexander Wang makes sure the music at his show — much like the show itself — brings something different to the table. 

Jeremy Piven is claiming that a "shocking" level of mercury in his system--brought on by the over-consumption of sushi and "Chinese herbs"-- is the reason he quit his role in Broadway's Speed-the-Plow. [People]

Agyness Deyn has a 15 second cameo in a weird T Magazine-commissioned film by Surface 2 Air founder Gordon Hulf. [The Cut]

A promoter sold some New Years Eve tickets to the Eldridge without owner Matt Levine's permission. [Down By The Hipster]

Calvin Klein heiress and SNL producer Marci Klein is in the process of divorcing her husband, model Scott Murphy. [P6]

"No cameras! I can't have you shoot back here!" yelled one at the backstage entrance. The only spectators in the building whose electronic equipment cost more than their outfits pushed on through regardless, and the assistants threw up their hands. After all, Agyness Deyn and Monet Mazur had just glided through, and what do minor-league celebs matter if no one is there to photograph them?

Ms. Sui herself may have been miffed about that or something else entirely, as she dodged behind a curtain to demand answers of her staff. Emerging later, she answered reporters' questions brusquely, with a tight-lipped half-smile. Unaccountable, considering her Southwestern-themed gypsy fairyland of a show, which had the crowd bubbling with "I loved it!" and "Beautiful!"

"She has a great spirit, and she knows it, and she's fabulous," gushed one observer.

Boldly patterned, flouncy frocks bedecked with tassels and crochet ruled the evening, interrupted only occasionally by black knit hairnets and four dour matador outfits at the end; the last model looked less than thrilled to be capped with a black, tasseled fez.

This Fashion Week has an activisty spin, with the outside of the big tent spattered with buttons urging people to vote. The theme inside was activism of a more narrow kind, as baggy "SAVE THE GARMENT CENTER" T-shirts—included in the event's flowered shwag bag, along with, bafflingly, Sculptz tummy-flattening abdomen hose—proved the show's most notable fashion statement.

It's a statement that demands customizing, and Ms. Sui worked it like the pro she is, sporting a smock-like adaptation with slashes down the sides. Not so Sofia Coppola, who appeared characteristically uncomfortable as she posed for pictures with a wan smile. 

If bigger stars were present, they kept a low profile. But the show was replete with minor lights, like Billy Bob Goldstein, notable primarily for owning the mansion where Charlie's Angels was filmed.  It was the grizzled cowboy's first time at Fashion Week, and he chatted with the Daily Transom about another headline-grabber, Sarah Palin. "She's so extreme, so unfit to be president," he said. "I'm very disappointed."

Speaking of! Will the fashion industry's recent efforts to police the size of its models result in meatier mannequins this Fashion Week?

"I was hoping that it would be curvier models on the runway," said Mary Alice Stephenson, celebrity stylist and host of fashion's greatest reality show to date, America's Most Smartest Model. "I just did, this morning, a piece for CNN, everyone still says skinny models, skinny models, but I've noticed a big change. A lot of the samples that I'm working with are cut bigger, and a lot of the actresses I work with can fit into them, so that's good. But I still hope that—I'm hoping—that the models on the runway will look like they've been eating. Will be fed properly, be a little bit more mature and curvy."

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) will man sustenence-promoting booths in the tents at Bryant Park throughout Fashion Week in partnership with an eating disorders clinic.

But don't expect to see models who ate as much on their summer vacation as you did: "The bottom line is, if you're a runway model, you have to be thin," said Ms. Stephenson.

Rosanna Arquette was reportedly the friend who discovered make-up artist Paul Starr's body in his apartment on Tuesday. [Vogue UK]

Celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch has an advantage over Rachel Zoe because his new reality show on VH1 called Glam God With Vivica A. Fox, premiered last night, 18 days ahead of Ms. Zoe's Bravo show that will premiere on September 8. [WWD]

Meanwhile, Ms. Zoe said that her styling vision is significantly inspired by old Hollywood films. [WSJ]

Agyness Deyn is switching from DNA to Women Managament, but DNA will still represent her through the fall shows. [Fashionista]

Olympian Shawn Johnson is "addicted" to True Religion jeans. [WWD]

Woody Allen's new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona premiered Wednesday night at the Hotel Plaza Athenee on East 64th St.; stars Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall didn't show up. [WWD]

At the screening, Vicky Cristina Barcelona star Javier Bardem gloated over his sex scenes with Ms. Johansson, Ms. Hall and real-life girlfriend Penelope Cruz. [P6]

Mariah Carey is paying $125,000 to rent the Stone Meadow Farm in East Hampton for one week to celebrate her recent marriage to Nick Cannon. [P6]

Someone has been RSVPing for events under Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Penn Badgley's names, and now people are wondering who's playing a joke on Serena and Dan. [Rush & Molloy]

Diane von Furstenberg is teaming up with the Andy Warhol Foundation to create a resort 2008 and pre-spring 2009 collections of swimwear and other pieces featuring the artist's prints. [WWD]

Eva Mendes is pleased that her topless video ad for Calvin Klein has been banned in the U.S. (And yes, click through to see the titillating video.) [The Sun]

Freshpair.com is taking its underwear campaign to Times Square tomorrow, featuring a fashion show and cocktail hour with host Lydia Hearst—who has a thing for being snapped in her underwear—and guest Tyson Beckford. [WWD]

Kate Moss is Naomi Watts's style icon. [Vogue UK]

Times UK explains why normal people shouldn't try to copy Agyness Deyn's pixie cut. [Times UK]

Model Agyness Deyn and her boyfriend, Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., wear matching shoes. [Jezebel]

Project Runway is suddenly not looking like an automatic hit, as the contestants are lackluster this season and the show is on too early (9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.). [Portfolio via Racked]

Gisele Bundchen reportedly gave her boyfriend, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a calendar featuring "specially shot" photos of herself. [Vogue UK]

Roberto Cavalli doesn't have to walk through the streets of Saint-Tropez—he Segways! [TMZ]

The long-rumored Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen coffee table book, Influence, will come out this fall. Edited by ubiquitous fashion writer/social Derek Blasberg, it'll include interviews with designers Karl Lagerfeld, Diane Von Furstenburg, John Galliano and Christian Louboutin. [People]

Ashton Kutcher has returned as the face of Pepe Jeans. [Vogue UK]