New York Fashion Week: Marc, Vera and Ralph

Well, Marc Jacobs there's a greatness to your greatness too. He started bang on time this season, as we all knew he would. At 7:10 he was skipping around the stage like a blue-haired smurf saying to the half-empty room, "Is there anybody outside who wants to come in?" "On time" in fashion is more about when a show ends than when it begins. Shows are meant to finish an hour after their scheduled start. Any show that starts in the first half hour of that scheduled hour is technically early as people will still be traveling from the show before. And plenty of them were as at 7:17 the show kicked off while celebs like Posh Spice were still wandering in. But this time, no one minded the mini-wait. Banquets were set up with big buckets of chilled Moet and mini bottles were handed around to those in the bleachers. On the stage models paraded past Sonic Youth, performing live.

It was pretty much a perfect show, except for the clothes which some loved and some were bored by. But at least they were clothes, in comparison to last season's ode to deconstruction.

After the show, which ended at an unheard of 7:35, some stayed to finish the champs, but I went to the airport. People had been shocked that I'd even attempt a 10:30 flight, but I could have made the one earlier had I pushed it.

Vera Wang, known for conservative little collections, went edgy this time to great success. To be honest, her bridal looks were never my thing and if I hadn't seen it before me, I wouldn't have thought she had such cool in her.

At Ralph Lauren's 40th anniversary show last season he tried to prove he wasn't going quietly into the night by showing things like canary yellow riding boots, and it wasn't cool. This show was a welcome return to the Ralph norm. It was heavily influenced by the south west -- Navajo patterns on red and black dresses, capes and coats. Alaia like swing skirts matched with red and black flannel shirts and jackets.

Nothing shocking but sometimes sticking to what you know best is the only way to go.

For those of you wondering why I didn't review Michael Kors, Rodarte or Proenza Schouler, it's because I didn't get tickets. Why didn't I get tickets? Well, usually you don't get tickets because you work for a tiny publication that no one has heard of. Not the case here -- clearly. Sometimes you don't get tickets if you work for a website. Possibly the case here. Some PRs won't give you tickets if they don't know you personally. Again, possibly the case here. And some PRs won't give you tickets if they don't like something you've written about them, their clients or both of the above. Definitely the case in one of the cases here. And no, it's not the most professional attitude.

And, now, London's Calling.