The Araks show Tuesday afternoon got off to a slow start. At 3:10 p.m., someone was still applying the first "a" in "araks" on the white wall separating the catwalk from backstage. At just past 3:30 p.m., the plastic covering the runway was removed. And this was at a show slated to start at 3 p.m. Everyone in attendance, including America's Next Top Model co-host J. Alexander (perhaps better known as Miss J), quickly forgot the delay once the show started. Particular crowd-pleasers were silk parachute shorts, white silk organza bonnets, a polka dot top with a knit collar, and viscose cotton linen turn-in collar jackets.

After the show, I approached Miss J, curious why his politically charged T-shirt (laden with buttons encouraging activism with regard to designers -- "Vote for Marc!," "Go Diane!," etc.) was absent any real political figures. Why no button for Barack Obama or John McCain? "I don't fuck with politicians," he quipped. OK, duly noted. Keeping with fashion, and seeing as designer Araks Yeramyan is known for pushing sartorial boundaries with regard to her namesake line, I asked Miss J what was one thing a woman should never wear. "Big panties!" he said loudly. Little did I know, tucked inside my Araks gift bag was a lime green thong, size XS, waiting to be discovered.