After a slow start, New York Fashion Week picked up steam this weekend. We've included some of the shows after the jump, including Michael Kors, Y-3, G-Star and Obedient Son.

Our favorites from this weekend? Definitely Buckler and art world darling Patrik Ervell.

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Ellen Barkin and her lips hosted last night's Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, where Proenza Schouler tied with Oscar de la Renta for the prized womenswear top honor.

Oprah Winfrey, meanwhile, presented Ralph Lauren with American Fashion Legend Award. During his acceptance speech, Lauren told the crowd, "Stick to your guns and enjoy what you're doing. … American fashion is just starting." Not by the looks of these stunning guests…

Stars turned out dressed to the nines, and then some.

The world's most stylish fashionistas, singers, actors and hangers-on made their way to The Metropolitan Museum of Art last night for the Costume Institute's Gala. This year the institute honored the late, great French designer Paul Poiret. Poiret's stunning designs drew on both Oriental and art deco aesthetic, but constantly revolved around his favorite flower: the rose.

Our invitation must have gotten lost in the mail, so we had to live vicariously through press images. Shame, because we would have loved to pick Tom Ford and French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld's respective brains. Oh well, there's always next year.

Take a look at some more shots, after the jump…

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It's been over 48 hours since Out Magazine's annual Out 100 awards: the standard length of time needed to digest all the homo happenings. We must say, we haven't seen that many gay luminaries since…well, since last year's Out 100.

We must admit, it's all a bit of a blur. Good thing we brought along our crafty camera man, Ted, who chronicled all of editor Andrew Belonsky's misadventures. While some people were more than happy to talk to us, others were a little reluctant (that's an understatement). And, as you'll see, most people didn't even know who the fuck we were. Nice, huh?

Watch as Anne Hathaway says she could bench-press our fearless editor, designer Michael Kors brags about knowing everyone, Out EIC Aaron Hicklin lets us in on the secrets behind the selection process, Noah's Arc's Wilson Cruz gripes about not being admitted into the VIP area, Kelis hypothesizes on why the homos love her and Michael Lucas gives us shit for all the nasty comments (and, it seems, attempts to win Belonsky's ice cold heart).

We also managed a few words with Claire Danes. She really wasn't in the mood to be interviewed, but Cruz and Hathaway totally used peer pressure to make our dreams come true. Thanks, homies.

Oh, yeah, and we totally chickened out on flirting with Choire Sicha. We were so close, but he looked really busy (read: intimidating).

Bradford Shellhammer phones in a Project Runway recap:

Ok so Rich, Will Wikle, and I ventured to Bryant Park this morning for the Project Runway final show. Seen: the Heatherette Boys, Kara Saun, Jay McCarroll, Austin Scarlett, Debra Messing, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, Anne Hathaway, way too many Queer Eyes, and Heidi Klum.

Like last season the top four designers showed their collections, though one of three has already been eliminated. Below is my recap of the final show.

Daniel Vosovic: Daniel V. is clearly the favorite to win and the reaction from the crowd was insane: They went B-A-N-A-N-A-S. What for, I don’t know. On the show his work has been strong and the most consistent of the group. But the mop-headed hipster let me down big time. His clothes were boring. The colors were safe. The fit was horrible. Many dresses puckered and wrinkled and his beautiful finale dress fit so badly that you could slide your hands in the gapes on the models back.

Kara Janx: Kara was the day’s biggest surprise. Who would have known she had a personality! Seriously, she was spunky and almost rock-and-roll. Her collection was the most wearable and colorful of the bunch. The color-blocked dresses fit perfectly. The colors recalled Jay McCarroll’s winning collection from last year, but much more sensual and refined. If she makes the top three, she is clearly the one to beat.

Chloe Dao: Poor Chloe. I was expecting this to be a fight between Daniel V and Miss Chloe, but sadly her collection was the worst. Gone were the cute, feminine blue dresses and what she showed was way too fussy and at times offensive. There was a lot of visible boob and I am not talking about the sexy, D&G sort of way. It was like night of the living prom dresses with exposed nipples made from bad curtain fabric. Not a chance to win.

Santino Rice: Many think Santino is the next eliminated and his speech before the show kind of alluded to that theory: he spoke about PR in the past tense. But if he is indeed still in the running I think he impressed everyone in the room. He did not “Santino” anything! The colors were muted, the fabrics flowing, and his over stylized design sensibility was checked at the door. What were left were sleek, elegant dresses that were everything Santino is not: understated and pristine. It could be his.

It is either Kara or Santino. And if I’m wrong, then blame Nina Garcia.

We’d be remiss if we did not follow up our Blogging Project Runway post from last week with information on Tim Gunn’s blog. Tim Gunn is Chair of the Department of Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design. He is also our favorite part of Project Runway. Yes, we love Heidi and her broken English. We love Nina Garcia and her bitchy comments. We love Michael Kors, for you know, being Michael Kors.

But it is Gunn’s one-on-ones with the designers that take the cake. His catch phrase of “make it work” has become a staple of our own lexicon. He reads some of the designers to their faces and they have NO CLUE. Now when faced with a challenge we all, in true Tim Gunn deadpan delivery, declare “make it work.”

He sure has made his blog work. It details what is right and what is wrong about each design every week. And to make us even happier, he’s begun recording podcast recaps of each show. They’re so going on our iPod.

Tim Gunn is the best thing on television. Even if you’re not fashion fairies like we are, you’ll dig him.

Tim’s Take: Blog & Podcast [Bravo]

photos by Adam David Cohen

Reality television shows usually have room for one or two big personalities in each series. This season’s Project Runway, which unbelievably we’re loving more than season one, is full of those personalities. However, Santino Rice definitely steals the show. The Los Angeles designer caught up with Bradford Shellhammer to discuss the show, his sexuality, and who really was the world’s first supermodel.

What are your New Year's resolutions?
To live, to learn, to love, and to leave a legacy! Persevere, keep trying new things…to keep evolving. To change my world!

Some of the self-proclaimed "faggoty boys" from the show told us 
you're this season's Wendy Pepper. Why would they say such a thing?
My mom says they're just jealous, but she's been saying that to me since I came out the snatch! I think those guys were just being "cute," they know damn well that I’ve got talent and I’m the real deal. I think it's funny though, really man, nothing's sacred, including me! I'll take the piss out of myself before I let some bitter opinionated faggots try to read me!

Is Janice Dickinson really the world's first Supermodel? Do you care?
I'd say what about Veruschka, Penelope Tree, and Twiggy! What about Lauren Hutton, Cheryl Tiegs, Jerry Hall…….Patti Hansen!!!!! I'd say and think of a lot of other names before her file came up in my brain! But god bless her. Shit. People gotta eat and as far as her 15-year-old audience is concerned, she could tell them she invented the "blow-job" and no one would really question that! And yeah, I guess I do care, I’m a caring kind of guy!

What designers do you consider inspirations?
Any designer who is creating their vision, creating a body of work, I find them hugely inspirational. Yohji Yamamoto is the shit! I love him, and I’ve seen many successful collections by many designers and you can't help but store some of that in your memory bank.

Which do you absolutely hate?
Hate is a pretty strong word, especially directed toward someone who's actually doing something with his or her life, I hate idleness, and I hate mediocrity! I can't justify hating on another artist, regardless of what I think about their shit!

After the jump Santino tells us whether he's into guys or girls.

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There are few things gayer than velvet. Spandex and lace come to mind. But get all your preconceived notions about velvet out of your head. It is not just for prom dresses anymore.

A velvet blazer is a great closet staple and has surprising versatility. It can be dressed up and dressed down. It is appropriate with a shirt and tie equally as it is when paired with a turtleneck and jeans. Every designer has shown velvet jackets recently. Whether Michael Kors or H&M, the velvet blazer is a trend that looks like it's staying.

Choosing the right color is the most important decision. Choose black, chocolate, or red if you make the holiday party circuit. These colors appear a little more sophisticated. If you want less flash and something more casual we say go for camel, browns, greens, or mustard yellow. These earth tones don't appear too dressy and look great with a new pair of boots and classic Levi's.

The Gap has a great velvet cord jacket, in black or brown, for only $88. If you can drop a few more bucks then check out Neiman Marcus. They have a large selection of designer velvet jackets, from Etro and Juicy Couture, in bold colors. And as always thrift shops and eBay are perfect places to find vintage pieces.

You could also opt for velvet trousers, but that might be too gay. Even for us.