Fashion World Flips for Nastia! Gold-Medal Gymnast Liukin Makes the Rounds With Maria Sharapova

On Monday, Sept. 8, Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin arrived at the Gramercy Park Hotel, her parents in tow, for a Vogue/Cole-Haan event honoring the tennis player Maria Sharapova. Ms. Liukin was excited—giddy, almost—but perhaps also a tad intimidated. Dressed in a marbled, off-white bubble dress, Ms. Liukin had attended her first Fashion Week show, Peter Som’s spring 2009 collection, just that morning. While seated in the front row next to Ms. Sharapova, she was introduced to Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

“It was … um … I don’t know,” said Ms. Liukin. “I was just so scared, knowing who she was, but she was very nice.

“I was not expecting the amount of attention that I’ve been getting,” Ms. Liukin continued. “This morning I sat by Maria and I said, ‘How long is the actual show?’ And she said it was only like 10 minutes, and I was really surprised. It’s all about the pre-show and the pictures and the interviews, so now I kind of know what to expect for the rest of the week.”

At the party Ms. Liukin was brought around to guests like 15-year-old actress Taylor Momsen—as usual looking way beyond her years in leather pants and a new ’80s haircut—and designer Erin Fetherston. She posed for photos with Ms. Sharapova, who towered over her in a floral sun dress with capped sleeves. Her publicist supervised. Model Irina Lazareanu, socialite Zani Gugelmann, and Kelly Klein milled about the room.

Word around town has been that athletes like Ms. Liukin and Ms. Sharapova have become the new front-row celebrities at Fashion Week. But Ms. Sharapova isn’t having any of it.

“Celebrity is a word that I don’t like to use in my vocabulary,” she told the Transom. “I happen to have a huge passion for fashion. A tennis career only lasts for so long and as a businesswoman I have to think ahead to the future.”

Speaking of new celebrities, we wondered if the fashionable Ms. Sharapova had any tips for Republican running mate Sarah Palin.

“I haven’t seen TV in the last few weeks, and I’ve been trying to stay away from politics. I saw her speak for a little but I wasn’t really paying attention.”

But Katie Lee Joel—wife of Billy—was more articulate. “I think Vogue should do a story and take her hair down, lose the glasses and mess her up a little bit,” she said of Ms. Palin. “It’s that librarian thing where you want to rough her up a little and see what happens.” 

As for her Fashion Week plans, Ms. Joel—whom the Transom spotted chatting with candy store owner Dylan Lauren—said she’s steering clear of the shows this year. “It’s always just so much effort to get all dressed up in the middle of the day, then go wait around for an hour and watch a 10-minute show,” she said. “I love seeing the fashion, but this year I think I’ll just log onto Style.com.”

Ms. Lauren, dressed in a sheer floral top, is also keeping her schedule rather light. “I don’t go to everything,” she said. “I’m very particular about my dad,” designer Ralph Lauren.

Peter Som, whom the Transom found later that evening, was also rather shy on the topic of Ms. Palin. “No comment!” he exclaimed. “I’ll talk about Michelle Obama if you want to ask me about her.”

Ms. Wintour made an appearance at around 8:15 p.m., wearing a white coat of purposefully crumpled fabric over a silver dress. And as the tightly packed crowd parted for her like the Red Sea, she held court in the center, chatting with Mr. Som and designer Thakoon. (“Hello Erin,” she said to Ms. Fetherston.)

By 8:30, Ms. Wintour was making her way toward the door and the room began to buzz with whispers that perhaps it was time to head to the Marc Jacobs show. After all, what if he pulled last season’s stunt and began on time?

ialeksander@observer.com