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Jimenez was backstage when we arrived, predictably frazzled —"Right now I know I'm just saying 'Sure, sure, sure, sure' to everything, but I really have no idea what anyone's saying" — and surrounded by a group of performers (most of them friends) getting into "character." One performer's nipples were being carefully painted with green and red body paint; nearby, a woman named Mizuo described her flowy dress with a crepe snake bursting forth from the chest as a "Labia Dream Doll" but was quickly corrected by Jimenez' grade-school daughter Calliope ("No, you're a Lamia Dream Doll"). "I'm the Fallen Star," offered a woman named Soo-Hyuan. "I don't know what my character really is — so many of these characters are Elisa's characters. I've never fallen, even, so I don't even know what that feels like."

Back in the center of the room, Jimenez was trying to rally the troops: "I just want everyone to feel good, happy, and powerful!" She tore at one woman's dress with her teeth in an effort to alter the neckline. "If you're going to have a wound, this is a very pretty wound," she murmured to another ("The Wounded Angel"), splashing red wine onto a white dress and mashing gold leaf into exposed flesh.

Outside in the performance space the seats were arranged in concentric circles, playing cards were strewn on the floor, and latex gloves had been inflated with the words "bliss" and "bless" written on them. The crowd, mainly friends of the designer, nibbled on breakfast pastries and sipped OJ and coffee. Before the show began, Jimenez appeared on the upper level of the space, microphone in hand, explaining that she would be narrating the show with help from a friend, a high soprano, who would be singing "improvisational Puccini" by way of a score. The word "polymorphic" was used.

And the show itself? The 25-minute, 15-look presentation was comprised of models/performers, interpretive dance, and accompanying puppeteers dressed in black. Many of the designs on display were playful and presented with self-aware humor, particularly the woman who came out with her skirt over her head, her cherry patterned underwear exposed. At the show's finale, a smiling Jimenez joined the performers onstage, offering up embraces and sincere thanks. (The word "polymorphic" may have been used again.) The Hunger World was definitely a crazy place, but those on stage, at least, all seemed happy in it.

6:55
I'm in the 4th row and my swag is a bottle of volumizing hair lotion...but the rows ahead of me have extra items, more as you move closer to front row. I want to steal someone else's swag bag because I see NARS make-up. Also, because I am not someone with a town car, I bucked convention and dressed down; Anna Wintour would not approve.

People are slowly trickling in. No Wintour yet though.

7:00
So many ppl sched to be here: Anne Hathaway, all the Misshapes, all the Vogue VIPs, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Simon Doonan. They have quite the front row. I am in the section opposite the Elle group. Nina Garcia is scheduled to be here. The front row all have black roses in their seats. Maybe we're at a funeral?

7:05
I just overheard one of the FIT students who serve as ushers say, "This music they're playing makes me feel inappropriate." I have no clue what that means, but I love it.

7:10
Leigh Lezark just got here. She is very smiley. If she keeps it up, they aren't going to call her Princess Coldstare anymore.

Wintour not here yet. Garcia not here yet. Horyn not here yet. Mary Alice Stephenson is here and doing on-camera interviews? She is very tall. The front row is still pretty much empty. Some really thin girl just walked by, wearing Erin. She looks lost. And just had her picture taken.

Damon Dash is supposed to be in front row, too, but he's not here yet either.

This is taking forever. However, it smells like gardenias in here, which is lovely. Maybe black silk roses actually smell of gardenias?

Arden wohl is here, and wearing one of the Erin headpieces from last season. I never thought I would say these words: it looks cool.

7:25 PM
Anne Hathaway just arrived; She's wearing some sparkly sheath, from what I can tell, with a little maroon jacket? She looks very pretty. I like Anne Hathaway because she looks like she could be someone you might know.

Omg!!!! "Noted fashion photographer" Nigel Barker is here!!

Sarah Sophie Flicker's arrived, also wearing Erin. These girls are in front of me and the flashbulbs are making ME see spots!

Ugh I can't tell if I just got the stink eye from someone at ELLE.

Jesus Christ, forget the models - all the other girls here are crazy thin. And the fact that so many are wearing Erin and now look like they have even more juvenile bodies isn't helping.

I am totally becoming increasingly paranoid about my lack of effort in dressing up this evening. Everyone is dressed like when you used to play faeries and dress up when you were little. They all look elfin and sparkly and miniature-sized.

7:30 PM
Skeletor - aka Rachel Zoe - has arrived. All the photographers have run over to take her picture
She's wearing Erin from last season. A one-shouldered, full-skirted dress that comes past the knee;
it is gray and has sparkled. She looks like a kindergartener.

Damon Dash is one seat over from Rachel Zoe. I wish they were next to each other. I would love to know what they talk about.

Okay, show starting. [Finally. -Ed.]

Wow whatever song this is, I think I love it.

Opening look is awesome - totally Marc Jacobs early punk: Long coat, black knit hat, long dress.
Second look is short flowery dress with black blazer. It's all totally grunge.

Ah, now here's a more erin-esque look: Some black pants with a high-waist in silk, with a silk black blouse. And a cape-coat.

Erin's entire show last season was in shades of white; it appears she's playing with shades of black now. This collection is totally in direct relation to last season. Also, several Asian and black models so far!

There's this chartreuse silk dress now. The faux Chanel suit out now I don't dig as much.

Teen Vogue is gonna have a field day with this collection.

There are all these really trippy florals mixed in. It's all flowy, but not shapeless. And the dresses are shorter, not floor-length. Not hippy-dippy as Tim Gunn would say. Also, sequins abound!

The pants are really awkward, but clearly it is intentional. They kinda bunch at the bottom.

It's funny, because obviously the models are all young, so the clothes look strangely appropriate for 14-year olds. 14-year olds with expense accounts. We'll totally be seeing this on Gossip Girl.

The palette's expanded into reds, maroons, purples; little princess necklines and ballet skirts. I wonder what this all will look like on someone older? And by that I mean my age. [23. -Ed.]

This one dress now is fierce: Really architectural, black. One shoulder. Super short.

Now were into long dresses in the florals again, and I think they're really cool. And she"s closing with white. The girls look half-dead, half-possessed.

Everyone is whispering and murmuring about this one model who looks terrifying. She's like a ghost. Possessed. And near death. Really, really thin. But also with a crazy look in her eyes.

Ending with the white was really eerie after all the black. It definitely made a strong statement. It evoked something almost emotional. The dark looks all looked...alive. The white made you feel like you've died, somehow.

It was one of the strongest emotional reactions I've ever had to a show: My stomach literally did a flip when that scary model came out in the first white look.

I did see Wintour, by the way, but she snuck out immediately at end. As for the music, the last song was CSS. I'll find out who did the other music by morning.

1:10 PM
Ok in my seat @ duckie. Swag is a men's shaving kit (with a brush and everything) and a box of RIT dye. Mine is kelly green. I am going to try to spy in other people's bags to see what color they got.

Hmm, Guy next to me got green too. He seems super puzzled by the dye. Dude, aren't we all.

In the front row are these people I was chatting with before: A middle-aged-ish woman and her 13-yr old niece. The older cousin is friends with the designers and they met her cousin and invited her to the show
This is her first-ever fashion show, she told me, and the other kids in school are all really jealous. I am glad her first show is menswear. Now she'll just think fashion is cool and fun and quirky and not about anorexia. Also this crowd seems more...oh, how shall I put it? It's more gay men and less bitchy women.
As opposed to the usual 50-50 split at most shows. Subsequently, there is an air of bonhomie, as opposed to silent judgment, in the air

1:15
Ooh the music is starting. It almost sounds funereal; Lots of organ, think fast-paced phantom of the opera. Ok they're taking the plastic off the runway...

If I were a gay man, this music would make me want to dance around in a g-string and do poppers. Everyone's swaying in their seats to the music. If I didn't know better, I would think this was an episode of Pinky & The Brain. And that the music is here to make us never want to stop swaying in unison so the Brain can take over the world.

1:30
Ok lights are going down...it's starting...They turned the music all the way down. There's a very slim, tailored suit with an full blouse underneath. Very cool. And a wool coat I want for myself! Ooh and this hooded grandpa sweater in green. I would totally wear that.

Everything's in black and grey and green is the only color. Haha, someone just whistled at one of the male models - and considering we're sitting here in silence, it was awkward.

Ah - a purple hat! And a purple suit that almost looks like a dress from behind?

These slouchy knit caps are fierce. I even think I could talk my boyfriend into one of those

1:35 PM
A sheer crochet sweater, however? Not so much. Same goes for the glittery sweater. And the blouses being shown underneath the suiting

And...it's over. I think my straight man would wear the plaid shirt, the windbreaker-puffy jackets, and I would beg him to try one of those hats. And I want a hat and that green sweater for myself, all the way!
Gender roles: who needs 'em?

P.S. Overheard by a fellow attendee exiting the show: "I loved all the papery weirdness!"