The Donna Karan Company

Last night, we met up with André Balazs—the hotel magnate behind a cartel of boutique sleeperies, which includes the Mercer in SoHo, L.A.’s Chateau Marmont and the Standards. Looking dapper in a form-fitting gray suit that had a subtle sheen, Mr. Balazs, 50, had just flown back to New York after a weekend at Art Basel Miami and was among the guests at the 12th annual holiday dinner benefiting ACRIA, an AIDS research and education initiative.

We asked Mr. Balazs about this year’s fair. “Every year it’s more and more of a circus and a phenomenon,” he told The Daily Transom while standing in Donna Karan’s Urban Zen boutique on Greenwich Street in the West Village. The store, filled with calming music and some sort of overpowering exotic incense, had been turned into a makeshift entrance, leading guests towards a larger dining space next door. “Everyone in the [art] business tells me they’ve never done better, and yet, at the same time, the whole thing is taking on an air that goes way beyond the art world or anything that has to do with art,” he said. After saying hello to a chic-looking, pink-cheeked couple walking by, Mr. Balazs, who received a joint masters degree in journalism and business from Columbia, added, “I’ve never seen such an influx of people interested in branding and using some marketing opportunity to push culture.”

Despite the recent buzz suggesting that the American-European art bubble can’t continue to inflate at its current rate without bursting, he remains somewhat confident. “I think it can sustain itself for a while,” he said.

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At last week’s 7th on Sale event at the Armory on Lexington, designer Donna Karan and über-model Kate Moss were seen in the midst of a long and intimate conversation. According to WWD, the two had a lot to catch up on. Ms. Moss was recently photographed for DKNY’s spring collection. Leaving her many DKNY runway stints in the past, this year marks the naughty cover girl’s first ad campaign wearing Ms. Karan’s wares.  read more »

As summer slammed shut last week, anticipation for fashion week was high at the DKNY jeans party. Are you excited about fashion week, photographer and director Stephane Sednaoui? "No, not at all," said the silver fox. "I hate it. When I was 18, 19, I used to sneak in every fashion show in Paris. And I know that scene so well, and I know it too much. It's a scene that I kind of avoid as much as I can."

Well, okay, at least someone was excited. "Fashion week just always has an incredible buzz because everyone's in town," said Stacey Bendet, designer for Alice and Olivia. " Everyone's getting ready to sort of get dressed up, have fun. I don't know. It's fashion! It's magical in a way. It's make believe, it's fantasy!"

Is that all there is? "The fucking love of fashion, honey," said Myron Brooks, a walking trainer who's worked with Eva Pigford. "And that's all it is, the fucking love of fashion." And you're looking forward to...? "Marc Jacobs. I'm an accessory kid. I love accessories. Marc Jacobs always comes with a hard-hitting bag. Can't wait to see it." Later that night, as we recall, the cinematographer Chris Doyle would give Mr. Brooks a very aggressive lapdance.

Model Missy Barcic was in a wee purple dress and high black heels. What show are you anticipating, Ms. Barcic? She leaned over to her date, Justin, a stellar Little Prince all grown up who walked for John Varvatos and Tommy Hilfiger.

"Baby," Ms. Barcic asked, "What show are we looking forward to?"

"What," said Justin.

"What show are we looking forward to?"

"Show?"

"Show," said Ms. Barcic.

Justin shrugged.

"Heatherette," said Ms. Barcic, finally, naming a designer for whom she would work later this week.  read more »