The Inn Crowd

As the manic week hit its midway point, every major hot spot in town was crammed with fashion devotees. The Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel filled up Tuesday night with Narciso Rodriguez's nearest and dearest. Of course, they just happen to be Rachel Weisz, Claire Danes, Jessica Seinfeld and Julianna Margulies — even designer Donna Karan came by to say hi. "Everyone always says, ‘Oh, they are celebrities,' but these are my real friends," exclaimed Rodriguez.

Seinfeld is a longtime fan — indeed, her Narciso purchases precede their friendship. "I put this top on layaway in the Nineties," she said of her beaded number. These days, however, Rodriguez finds inspiration in the friendship. "The sneakers that are in the show are because Narciso watches sports with my husband," Seinfeld added. "Yes. I watched football with them on Thanksgiving," admitted the designer.

It was new mum Weisz's only fashion week appearance. Luckily, she had husband Darren Aronofsky in tow to serve as unofficial coat-check boy and bodyguard when the photographers clamored for her photo. "Oh, he's my stylist, but he only likes to wear orange," she joked of his bright-hued sweater. Amber Valletta, who hit the show but not the party, was just glad to see a different side of the runway. "I much prefer it on this side to walking the show," she said, adding she also planned to attend Proenza Schouler and Anna Sui.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Jah, Daniel Boulud and Lyman Carter's brand new boite, The Inn LW12, was being inaugurated with an intimate soiree for Rodarte's Kate and Laura Mulleavy, hosted by MAC and Interview. "This is the first time we've gone out after a show," Laura Mulleavy said. It was a treat for the young California girls to have special guest Cyndi Lauper attend the dinner. "Um, duh," Kate Mulleavy said. "We are such fans."

Lauper joined Francesco Clemente, Thelma Golden, Liz Goldwyn, Helena Christensen and boyfriend Jack Huston upstairs for an endless feast by chef Andy Bennett. The singer stuck to a vegetarian diet, however, and nibbled on pasta when she wasn't robustly playing the spoons against her water glass.

Joining in on the night's festivities, Alberta Ferretti chose to show her Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti line for the first time in America as a cocktail-laced presentation co-hosted by Paz de la Huerta, Byrdie Bell, Alexis Bryan, Olivia Palermo and Sylvana Soto-Ward. Actress Becki Newton of "Ugly Betty" fame hungrily eyed the looks being modeled on the snake-like stage, but wasn't shopping for herself.

"I keep looking at these clothes, thinking they'd be great on Amanda," said Newton of her TV alter ego.

Later, on the Lower East Side, Luella Bartley and Teen Vogue's Amy Astley hosted cocktails in the Hotel on Rivington's penthouse. As guests like Victoria and Vanessa Traina and Camilla Belle took in the panoramic views, DJ Tom Travis spun tunes while a pregnant Bartley lamented her wardrobe. "I have suitcases of clothes and I can't fit into anything," she laughed, sporting a silver and black striped Marc Jacobs, "so I had to run out and buy something."

The evening ended in the wee hours at avant-garde glossy Purple Magazine's party at the Beatrice Inn. Among those seen gadding about were Helmut Lang, Juergen Teller, Mary-Kate Olsen (with boyfriend Max Snow) and Cynthia Rowley, who was on a short break from putting together her Thursday show. "Do I look like I don't have a care in the world?" she laughed. "But my studio's only two blocks away. What's one glass of wine?"