Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will kick off with Michael Angel followed by BCBGMAXAZRIA, Duckie Brown, Ports 1961, Cesar Galindo, Cynthia Steffe, Yigal Azrouel, Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, This Day/Arise: African Fashion Collective, Venexiana, Lacoste, Georges Chakra, Andy & Debb, Academy of Art University, Christian Siriano, Chado Ralph Rucci, Vivienne Tam, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Thuy, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor, Tuleh, Custo Barcelona, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Jill Stuart, Tracy Reese, Donna Karan, Yeohlee, Tadashi Shoji, TonyCohen, Gottex, Badgley Mischka, Brian Reyes, Toni Maticevski, Pamella Roland, MAX AZRIA, Dennis Basso, Willow, Tibi, Narciso Rodriguez, Toni Francesc, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Milly by Michelle Smith, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Anna Sui, Doo.Ri, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Trias, Calvin Klein, Chocheng, Argentinean Designer Collections and Tommy Hilfiger.

VILLAGE CARE OF NEW YORK’S 8th ANNUAL “TULIPS & PANSIES – THE HEADDRESS AFFAIR” will be on Thursday, May 14, and I can’t tell you how excited both Daniel and I are. We had such a great time last year (photos above). And this years designers are top tier: Tory Burch, Chado Ralph Rucci, Pamella Roland, Cynthia Steffe, Lilly Pulitzer, Alvin Valley, Thierry Mugler, Zang Toi, Michael Vollbracht, b.michael and others.

Each designer will be paired with NYC’s finest floral designers including Preston Bailey, L’Olivier, Ovando and Zezé in order to create a high-fashion runway show of elaborate floral headdresses made entirely from living plants and fresh cut flowers. The event, which raises funds for Village Care of New York, a non-profit organization providing vital health care programs to people living with HIV/AIDS, is Chaired by Jack Curry, Editor of USA Weekend and TV Guide and Kelly Cutrone, Founder of People’s Revolution.

Date: Thursday, May 14th from 7 PM to 10 PM
Ticket Price: $250 (Tickets are $300 after May 4th, 2009)
Venue: Edison BallRoom, 240 W. 47th St. New York, NY
For Reservations/ticket information/online auction: please visit www.vcny.org or call Shannon Lavin at 212-337-5743.

Eugena Washington for Project Runway’s Jerell

Saleisha Stowers for Pamella Roland

Dani Evans for Project Runway’s Korto

Bianca Golden for Project Runway’s Korto

Naima Mora for Project Runway’s Joe

This past week, Top Model contestants decided to take on fashion week’s star-studded runways for the ultimate plunge! Straight from Tyra’s factory, the models were looking better than ever with a fierce take on the modeling front. Five of the contestants, Naima, Saleisha, Bianca, Eugena and Dani, stomped their pumps down the catwalk in a confidence sure to win them bold success. Several of the models appeared in the Project Runway showcase featuring designs mended by the talented Korto, Jerell and Joe, while others modeled for names like Pamella Roland and others. Though this is probably their extent of work since the judging panel, I have to admit, they don’t look half-bad.

Thanks to NYMag for the pics