Roberto Cavalli, above, with shrinking violet Jennifer Lopez.

Fifth is always a little hectic, overrun with Botox babes and ladies who hardly lunch. Last Friday, though, things got downright chaotic. With an abundance of fashion types in town for fashion week (What's that? You hadn't heard?), Roberto Cavalli threw open the doors to his new flagship store, a multi-level fluorescent time-warp, equal parts camp and catwalk. To wit: Julie Newmar was in attendance, as were other fashion eccentrics, like Phillip Bloch, Zelda Kaplan, and Patrick McDonald.

Dirty pretty things swarmed the entrance, which was white save for neon Just Cavalli scroll, and a red (and we mean red) carpet. Petra Nemcova sashayed inside, while Mena Suvari posed with Nicky Hilton. Not to be outdone, Michelle Trachtenberg vamped it up alongside Lydia Hearst. Music moguls like Mary J. Blige, Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez (minus El Cantante) rubbed shoulders with star photographer Ellen von Unwerth and always fierce Tyra Banks.

The party quickly became a little too hot. Literally, despite the decided cool of the setting, partygoers started seriously schvitzing. The champagne had a difficult time finding its way to thirsty attendees who seemed to be drowning in a sea of celebrity.

On our way out��������after grabbing the gift-bag filled with sunglasses and silver cuff links, of course��������we spotted Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth, who apparently couldn't take the heat either. While walking to the metro together, she complained about being volleyed around by photographers "without manners." Someone had spilled champagne down her leg, to which we explained that grapes were great for the skin. Without a beat, in her finest black Cavalli jacket, Neuwirth wondered, "Well, at least I think it was champagne." Indeed, we both thought the event had gone to the dogs. ��������Nick Haramis

Photo courtesy of Patrick McMullan Company.