Contributing Editor Cologne Schmidt writes:

There was something bittersweet about this year’s fashion week—it was the last to be held in the tents at Bryant Park. Even as a semi-newbie to the FW scene, this bit of news sends a little pain to my heart. I’ve lived in NY long enough to see three seasons go though the tents and nothing compares to the shows inside the white circus construction. Since 1993, NYFW has been held in this iconic location—mainly because of its proximity to the garment district. But it has since outgrown the pretty little park, and is moving to Lincoln Center and beyond.

However, to steal a quote from amNY, “People in the fashion industry are addicted to change” and “wherever fashion goes in New York City, fashionistas are sure to follow.” Designers are trying to remain optimistic about the change—and many have already embraced new venues. Catherine Malandrino was held at the Chelsea Art Museum, RVCA by Erin Wasson was held at the beautiful ABC home design store, and many designers held their shows at their flagship stores in the city.

Designer Vivienne Tam (whose show I was able to cover; more on that soon!) reflects on leaving Bryant Park: “I remember my first show there; it was the most memorable moment of my career because it was the first time the tents were at Bryant Park, my first fashion show and my first cover of WWD.”

Luckily this change like won’t affect the beauty and glamour that is synonymous with New York Fashion Week. It’s fashion in New York: the show will still go on.

An out-of-town friend just emailed me asking for recommendations on LA nightlife. Here’s our exchange:

Hi Nadine,

Hope you’re doing well. Quick question for you–I am going to be in LA this weekend with my girlfriend who is flying in from NY and we’re looking for a fun dinner spot tomorrow night. nothing too fancy, but good food/drinks and maybe some cute boys??? We’ll be staying in Beverly Hills. Let me know if you have any ideas!

Thanks,
xx

Hey!

There are a couple of great places near Beverly Hills you should check out!

Your best bet is probably the Thompson Hotel, which has Bond Street sushi and an awesome rooftop bar. There are often celebrities there, but it’s not too chichi and has nice LA and BevHills views. The cocktails are great and there are lots of cute boys lounging near the pool at all hours.

The Beverly Hilton Hotel is another great bet. You can hit up Trader Vics, and can also check out the brand new bar/lounge spot on the other side of the hotel. I forget what it’s called, since it literally just opened 2 weeks ago, but I checked it out and it was cool.

For just a straight up awesome dinner, go to Mastros, which is in the heart of Beverly Hills and oh-so-LA. Some of the best steak on the west coast, giant martinis, a piano bar, always celebrities, great people watching, very chill and down-to-earth, not pretentious at all, and lots and lots and lots of men. It’s one of my favorite places in town!

If you want to go a little further afield, head to the Roosevelt Hotel: it has an excellent burger joint (I was there just 2 weeks ago, and Lauren Conrad was having her birthday dinner there!), and the hotel is beautiful with several good spots. Teddy’s is the best lounge in town on Friday night, and the Tropicana Bar at the pool is also great. (Guys everywhere!) It has everything you’d want.

I hope that helps!

Time: there’s never enough of it, huh?  Well, except for when you’re trapped on an awkward date or with your overbearing extended family, and then it can’t zoom by fast enough!  I’ve been burning the candle at both ends the past week, hence the lack of quality posts.  Sure, I try to focus and might make the choice to, say, tip down another cup of coffee, but the next thing I know, I’m shaking and channeling my inner Jessie Spano.  “I’m so excited!  I’m so excited!  I’m so…scared!”  (Yeah, you’re welcome.)

There are a number of worthy products I’ve been meaning to bring to your attention, however, busy or not–so I’m going to rock it out here, now, in the next 8 seconds:

1) Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, $ 42: Crazy luxurious, feels like silk, paraben-free, excellent for dry skin, highly recommend if you’re seeking high-end moisture and wrinkle-fighting at a price that’s not astronomical.

2) Vera Wang Princess fragrance, $45: Delicate and feminine without smelling girly.  With notes of water lily, lady apple, pink guava, dark chocolate, precious amber, royal musk, chiffron vanilla.  (What on earth do all those modifiers mean?  We know not.)  Simply: smells great.  Not for lovers of heavy, complex, dirty scents.

Once upon a time, I was fairly obsessed with the Olsen twins and found them the epitome of fresh, young style.  (And the hair…my God, the hair!)  Then they enrolled at NYU, and soon they embraced trash-can chic, and before we knew it, everything went downhill.

Several years later, they’ve evolved way beyond the Boho thing, praise Jesus, but their style is still a bit…interesting.  Here they are at the Elle Style Awards on Monday in London: Ashley, on the left, is in Lanvin; Mary-Kate, meanwhile, is wearing Christian Lacroix.  It’s only fitting they’re wearing such creative ensembles, since they were presented with the style icon award, and they’ve not looked age-appropriate since they were about 15.

But still…they’re always so posey and self-possessed.  Watching them on the red carpet is exhausting.  I dream of a day when the two gals can just relax, take a deep breath and have fun, no aggressive fashion statements necessary.

Photo credit: David Fisher/REX

Last week, I visited the natural Arcona Spa in Santa Monica for a facial with their Basic 5 products.  I wrote about Arcona a few months back, when the brand kept coming up over and over among friends, and my experience there didn’t disappoint: read more about it here on AOL.

Meanwhile, this week, I had another amazing facial, at the La Prairie Spa at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  Holy luxury, Batman!

First of all, the Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the most glamorous places on the planet…and La Prairie’s products aren’t too shabby, either.  (Their signature item is Caviar based.  Enough said.)  My treatment was anchored around the brand new White Caviar Illuminating Cream, which costs $450, lightens, brightens, tightens and moisturizes, will bring about world peace, can solve quadratic equations, and is now sitting on my bathroom counter in bulletproof glass with an armed guard nearby.  We don’t feel worthy.

Obviously, you’ll have to take out a second mortgage on your house to afford it, but there’s no denying it is crazy glam.  The White Caviar Illuminating Cream also features pearlescent powders to diffuse light and give the skin an instant glow, and it includes rare white honey and antioxidants like a white flower complex, white wine extract, and white truffles.  (And now I’m hungry.)  In all seriousness, my skin gleamed after my facial, and I’ve been using–and loving–the cream at night, so if you have the three hundred clams to swing it and can check out the Caviar Firming Facial yourself, you’ll love, too.

Here’s Penelope Cruz on the set of a French TV show called Vivement Dimanche.  Yeah, there’s not much else to say other than: gorgeous.

Photo Credit:Benaroch/Sipa