New York fashion week has finally come to a close. Amen! For those less-fortunate editors and fashion authorities (or perhaps we are the lucky ones) that have not jetted off to London or Milan, we finally get a moment to recover.

In retrospect, we relished the young talents of Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu. The Observer will never forget the spectacle and grandeur of Alexander Wang—or the impeccable quality of Simon Spurr’s suiting. With such a busy social schedule and so many shows, it’s hard to remember all the garments we evaluated with a careful eye.

We’re still a smidgen bitter about a few mishaps with Oscar de la Renta and PR Consulting… but we forgive easily… Oscar might possibly have been the best women’s collection in town! Best of luck obtaining the financial means to swing the $15,000 price tag...

One thing we do recall in our hazy fatigue, is the undeniable fact that fur is back. Yes, yes it never really left! But honestly!

"It's so glamorous and luxe!" proclaimed Joan Rivers about fur, backstage at Dennis Basso.

Perhaps Ms. Rivers is in the right. Has there ever been so much mink, chinchilla, fox, raccoon, coyote, goat, rabbit, astrakhan, Mongolian lamb, ermine and sable shown in New York? Probably… but let’s peruse The Oberserver’s favorites— shall we?

Images: GETTY and Patrick McMullan.

"I wanted to convey a sense of strength and beauty-- this collection is about a streamlined and bold silhouette with lots of textural mixes inspired by John Chamberlain and Brancusi,” stated Som.

How highbrow! Well what ever he did worked. The women seated inside Made at MiLK Studio 2 ate it up like a Malawi at Thanksgiving! Here are a few of their WOW moments:

In lieu of a traditional catwalk at designer Peter Som’s 3:30 P.M. showing at Milk Studios on Wednesday, Sept. 16, viewers including Anna Wintour and Lynn Yaeger were pleasantly surprised with a much more relaxed and informal presentation of his Spring collection

The especially young models, perched in shiny chrome or deep-blue pumps, posed in groups of three on white pedestals while the crowd milled below them.

The liberty of movement gave the Transom ample time to speak with the designer and inquire about the benefits of showing a collection in this manner.

“The presentation was more intimate and you can see the clothes up close, “ Mr. Som said. “It felt right to me.” He described the inspiration for his patterns and colors as a “mixing up” of cruise ships, antique photographs and Japanese prints.

Outfitted in silhouettes giving an early-1950s retro look, numerous shades of aquas and deep blues gave way to grays, reds and oranges—a real rainbow of hues that ranged from desaturated to glittery. Patterns were just as varied, included uniform splotches of shiny paint and faded horizontal stripes.

On the second floor, designer Chris Benz stood awkwardly in front of a television with a sign next to it that read “Play Wii with Chris Benz.” He had a considerable amount of scruff and a boyish smile. “I thought of it in the middle of the night,” Mr. Benz said. “I can’t sing and I can’t dance, but I can play Wii. What else does anyone want to do with me?”

Mr. Benz is either really good at Wii Tennis, or everyone that shops at Saks is really bad.

Also there was designer Peter Som, who was making sketches for people in exchange for the purchase of a Fashion’s Night Out t-shirt.

There was free alcohol, centralized around the DKNY display. But not everyone was impressed.

“I’ll drink a bottle of wine at home,” Sam Finzi, owner of the Empesar Showroom on 36th Street, said. “What the hell do I need to come to Saks for?” Ms. Finzi did buy a pair of shoes, though.

 “It’s great just to expose you to what’s going on in the fall season.” Deborah Chatman, a self-described "Wall Street person," said of the vent.

A lot of people had come anticipating a promised performance by Justin Timberlake, who was supposed to come through the Bridal Salon’s glass doors and walk fifty feet over to the William Rast showcase. After about an hour of waiting around, the crowd was abuzz with murmurs of “Should we go?” Well, Mr. Timberlake finally appeared wearing…something. Who could tell with all of those people jumping up and down and snapping photos with their phones? Then he said…something else. Too much screaming to hear.

For her show this season, Elise Overland will drape models in jewelry by artist Alexander Calder, provided by his grandson. [FWD]  

That music video that Halston is doing instead of a runway show this season is not so exclusive after all. [Racked] 

During Fashion Week, People's Revolution publicist Kelly Cutrone will have a breakfast routine of "latte, Marlboros, meditation," will be snacking on gum and possibly wearing a head scarf. [WWD] 

To promote Running in Heels, its new reality show, Marie Claire (along with Maybelline New York) will offer Fashion Week guests free taxi rides from Bryant Park on Feb. 19. [FWD] 

Peter Som has split up with Creative Design Studios, which has been funding Mr. Som's collections. As a result, the designer will not be putting on a runway show during New York Fashion Week. [WWD]  

Phoebe Philo, who in September 2008 took over as the designer at Celine, is reportedly not getting along with LVMH management. [FWD]

The ecommerce site eLuxury, which is also owned by LVMH, will shut down its retail operations over the next six months to focus on transitioning the Web site into an online luxury magazine. [WWD] 

Versace doesn't plan on lowering its prices to appeal to the masses and instead will keep their price points right where they are to maintain a sense of luxury and exclusivity. [Vogue UK]

The young designers of Proenza Schouler approached Mr. Rodriguez. "Did you see Michelle Obama in his dress?" cried Lazaro Hernandez. "Really major!"

"They have a fabulous new bag line," deflected Mr. Rodriguez. Mr. Hernandez asked if Mr. Rodriguez was designing the inaugural gown. "It would be nice to think so," he said modestly. Mr. Hernandez said it may be hard to get Ms. Obama in Proenza Schouler, because "she's probably going to be wearing Narciso every day!"

The actress Juliette Lewis was sipping a cocktail in a silver sequined Phillip Lim jumpsuit. "Omigod cue the music, I love this song, MGMT, it's this band... Anyway, I am finishing a record, a solo record, so it'll just be me. Oh, you probably don't know," she said. "I've been doing music for the last five years. You have to check it out on the internet!" (Her band is called Juliette and the Licks, and its former members include Hole's Patty Schemel and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl).

"I'm about to start another movie that Mark Ruffalo's directing, he's one of my favorite actors," she continued. "It's going to be yummy and independent, and James Franco is in it. I didn't act for like three years because I was just touring the world [with the band]."

Ms. Lewis had arrived at this fashionable gathering via Mr. Lim, a new friend. "He invited me, I'm his guest, and I'm wearing his clothes. It's a new love affair, between him and me," she said. Mr. Lim was not up for an award, so they were supporting his friend, whose name had escaped her. She swatted at Mr. Lim, standing nearby in a suit and red boutonniere. "Who's your friend we're rooting for?" (Richard Chai, he said). "Richard Chai!" she said. Mr. Lim indicated they should circle the room.

Nearby, Coyote Ugly actress Piper Perabo was overheard grilling her date, designer Peter Som: "There is an important question I need to ask. Are you single?" she said.

"Yes," said Mr. Som.

"I am too," said Ms. Perabo, somewhat discontentedly.

Eventually the crowd moved towards dinner: Vogue editor Anna Wintour, CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg, Harvey Weinstein and designer wife Georgina Chapman, actress Rose Byrne, tennis player Maria Sharapova, Gossip Girl's Blake Lively and Penn Badgley, Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa, designer couple Damon Dash and Rachel Roy (stepping out in the midst of tabloid flutter about their alleged bankruptcy) and André Leon Talley in an oversized black pea coat which said: "THE NEW AMERICAN DREAM" in gold on the back.

Charlize Theron introduced the evening's keynote speaker, Dior designer John Galliano.

"You should get that," she said, when someone's cell phone rang during her speech.

She explained that Mr. Galliano was born in Gibraltar, son of a homemaker and a plumber-"not Joe the Plumber."

Mr. Galliano himself wore a black top hat covered in daisies and a black vest over black bejeweled pants. He was shaking from nervousness as he recounted, via TelePrompter, his rise in the fashion industry. "My first collection was called ‘Afghanistan repudiates Western ideals,'" he said, to laughter. "Prophetic."

Mr. Galliano and Ms. Theron announced the evening's winner, 24-year-old Alexander Wang, who would take home $200,000. The ebullient, black-clad designer mounted the stage and kissed both the presenters. "I can't believe I just kissed John Galliano!" he swooned into the microphone. Ms. Theron tapped him on the shoulder. "Oh! And Charlize Theron! To think that five years ago I was reading about this event in a magazine in my dorm room."

Heidi Klum's three children get regular coaching lessons in soccer from David Beckham and in tennis from Roger Federer. [Vogue UK]

Designer Peter Som confirmed that he is departing as the creative director of Bill Blass. [WWD]

In April, Bravo filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Company to prevent Project Runway from going to Lifetime. Now Harvey Weinstein filed suit against Bravo, accusing the network of not promoting season five of the show after the move was announced in order to sabotage the show's ratings. [Reuters] 

Since then we've learned that Carolina Herrera nearly lost her mind when Renee Zellweger showed up over 25 minutes late to her Monday morning show. And Monday's 1 p.m. Thakoon show was reportedly held up for 57 minutes due to Kanye West’s late arrival. 

When we ran into Thakoon Panichgul at Gramercy Park Hotel, where the designer was attending a Vogue party thrown in honor of Maria Sharapova’s collaboration with Cole Haan, he denied that Mr. West had anything to do with it. 

"It wasn't the celebrity. It was all about a model who was running late from a previous show," he said. "It just gets more and more crammed every year, and we have to wait for the models, so what are you going to do?”

Dylan Lauren, who grew up a Fashion Week brat through her father Ralph Lauren's shows, offered her take.

“Yes, the shows should start on time, but it's really hard because there are so many variables," she said. "You have to wait for the models and the editors to get there from the last show. I think people know by now that everything will start a little late." 

But Katie Lee Joel, with whom Ms. Lauren was chatting, said that while the shows may always begin late, she is always punctual and is a "stickler" about those sorts of things. 

"It's a domino effect really," said designer Erin Fetherston, who had her show last Friday. "Your show can't start on time if no one is released from the previous show on time. The rule is you have to start within the hour." 

Ms. Sharapova, the host of evening and a guest at both the Herve Leger and Peter Som show this week, offered a view from the other side of the runway. 

"If you're there to see the show, you're going to wait until the show starts," she said. 

And Mr. Som, for whose show Ms. Sharapova brought along gymnast Nastia Liukin, suggested that the cause is rather hopeless.

"You get an A for effort for being conscious of it and trying to begin on time," he said. "You don't want to keep people waiting too long. It's not… polite." 

"It's an ideal, but we can dream can't we?" 

Anna Sui has designed a T-shirt that says "Save the Garment District" with e-mails and names of New York officials on the back to raise awareness about the struggle of companies to stay in business in the neighborhood. [Vogue UK]

Patrick Robinson has brought khaki back to The Gap. [NY Times]

Gemma Ward is not retiring to pursue a full-time acting career as was recently reported. According to Ms. Ward herself, she's only 20, for God's sake! [The Cut]

Steve and Barry's, which carries lines by Sarah Jessica Parker, Venus Williams and Amanda Bynes, was bought by Bay Harbour Management for $168 million. [WWD]

Jane Birkin will join guest designers like Carine Roitfeld, Kirsten Dunst and Sofia Coppola for luxury knitwear line Lutz & Patmos. [Nylon]

Peter Som loves the way you wear his clothes. [Vogue UK]

DKNY is working with food rescue program City Harvest to paint the company's trucks in the label's fall 2008 colors of apple green, teal, purple and cobalt. The label will also design a special necklace that will be featured in its stores, the proceeds from which will go to the nonprofit. [WWD]