We arrived (fashionably late, of course) to Arena nightclub at about 8:20 PM. The Bryant Park and Times Square areas were pulsing with the excitement of Fashion Week and we were positively surrounded by Fashionistas.

After walking the RED CARPET and posing for the flashbulbs, we were inside one of the hottest Fashion Week parties. There were giant movie screens to the left and right showing fashion highlights from the last century under sparkling fuchsia lights that adorned the ceiling, a classic medallion with a crystalline chandelier in the center, reminiscent of the history of New York City’s theater district.

Hairstylists from Ted Gibson were there, offering hot hair makeovers; suspended from the ceiling was a trapeze artist, working her limbs in and out of giant cloth ribbons; unlimited champagne and an open bar (I am a champagne girl); a dessert bar complete with chocolate fountain; and…

A sample of the new line from the up-and-coming fashion designers at Chloe and Reese!

I was so excited to check out their line. The silhouette was both feminine and chic; with clothes to wear out and clothes you can wear to the office. (Well, if your office can handle this much style!) Think ruffled plackets and satin frocks. Lace and Swiss dot blouses with sophisticated skirts. The season’s hottest colors were all present in the collection, along with your classic black, creams, and whites.

I was quick to point out that all the samples were in my size (tee hee). I got some good shots of some of the clothing on display as well as the representative from Chloe and Reese, who was decked out in a fabulous black dress from their line, paired with some great black gladiator-inspired pumps.

I cannot wait until I can find some Chloe and Reese in stores!

We met so many other beauty bloggers and got to chat with the staff from Total Beauty. We’re still reeling from the excitement (and the RED CARPET)!

The Total Beauty and AOL/StyleList.com party was the perfect way to kick-off Fashion Week! We can’t wait to bring you more behind-the-scenes news and tips!

1) Brazilian is the NEW Black- Giselle Bundchen has always been a fashion week icon, but now Brazil is really taking over the tents. Havaianas is collaborating with Rosa Cha to create a limited edition flip flop to be given out exclusively at their show on Saturday 9/6. The “Carnival” will continue that night at 1OAK when Havaianas and Vogue will toast Amir Slama’s Spring 2009 Rosa Cha collection.

As an added bonus fashion weekers will have a chance to create a pair of Havaianas, choosing from limited edition footbeds of the NYC skyline, at the “Make Your Own Havaianas” brightly colored booth inside the tents.

2) Models Do Eat- We Swear!- Because even models get hungry…Be on the lookout for Tasti D-Lite brand reps in and around the tents serving complimentary cups of New York City’s favorite guilt-free indulgence. Want more? Spoil yourself with specially made fashion week flavors: Haute Chocolate and Va Va Voom Vanilla Marshmallow.

3) It’s Not All About the Seating- alice + olivia designer Stacey Bendet once again ditches the runway, and the seats, at her Spring 2009 presentation. Inspired by romance and the days of Haight Ashbury and Woodstock, alice + olivia’s spring collection can be described as secret garden meets the early 1970’s. Mixing pastel colors, florals, and bold prints, Stacey Bendet creates a “hippy princess” vibe in alice + olivia’s Bryant Park store.

4) Step Outside of the Tents- Some of the most popular designers choose to show their creativity outside of the tents. Known for her ultra chic and innovative women’s clothing and accessories, Jill Stuart will be sending looks from the Jill Stuart Collection down the runway at the NY Public Library. Celebrities, VIP’s and NY Notables will be in attendance to celebrate her spring 2009 collection.

5) Style.com’s New Killer App- If you can’t get into the shows you don’t have to miss out on the action. Style.com’s new application , which allows users to watch runway shows on their iPhones, is now available for download on iTunes. This screams front row seats for everyone!

You can single out the knowing smiles in a crowd of faces. You can hear it as the stilettos hit the pavement, gaining excitement with every step. You can even feel it in the air.

Something’s definitely… sexier.

There’s a whole lot of activity over at Bryant Park - and that could only mean one thing: The Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week is gearing up for another round of runway perfection. The most talented and innovative designers are ready for their Spring 2009 collections to be seen and adored. They’re set to dazzle, inspire and amaze. And they’re sure to pave the way for the hottest new fashion and beauty trends.

I, for one, can barely contain my giddy excitement. During this round of Fashion Week, TotalBeauty.com is playing a major sponsorship role. As the official sponsor of the Web Editor Media Center at the Bryant Park Hotel, they’re kicking off the week in high gear with — what else? A party!

The party, “Fashion for Everyone,” is sponsored jointly by AOL’s Stylelist.com and Total Beauty and takes place on Thursday, September 4th at the chic Arena nightclub.

So what does this all mean for Beyond Beauty Basics? It means our brand-spankin’-new team of editors is poised and ready to attend the 5 fabulous Fashion Week shows we have been given access to! We’ll be bringing you, our dear readers, all of the backstage secrets, trends, and tips. We can’t tell you exactly which shows we’re covering because, well… what’s the fun in that? We love surprises!

Stay tuned!

Click here for more info on TotalBeauty.com’s involvement in Fashion Week.

Photo: via TotalBeauty.com by Getty Images

With names like Bermuda Shorts, Short Shorts, Mini Shorts, and Shorty Pants… your toes will definitely get the attention they deserve. I also love these colors for your nails. Bermuda Shorts is my favorite! I love the depth of the purple and it’s the pop of color I need for all of my summer wardrobe.

Get creative with your nails, that old pink and white French is so last year, try to add your own flavor by mixing and matching your faves. I love Short Shorts as a base color all over the nail and use the Short Pants yellow as your line at the end for the hottest new French manicure of the season!

Just have fun, your nails are an accessory to your outfit and moods so let your individual style shine through. Enjoy!

I am talking about the Bliss/Philips Bikini Perfect Deluxe Spa Edition. This is the next generation in at home hair removal. When the luxury spa brand Bliss partners up with the electronic grooming guru Philips you know you are going to get a fabulously effective tool. The package may say Bikini, but the options are limitless. You can really use this on area of the body that you want the hair gone.

You will get six attachments for every level or precision hair removal you need. You will also get a trial-size of Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter and Body Scrub as well as five Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads. This is the perfect way to get the at home spa experience without spending a lot of money.

Hats are your summer accessory must have, but are a totally personal choice to how you want to show off your style. Here are some of our favorites that help give you some ideas.
The Kokin Floppy Ribbon Hat comes in black or white trim and you can find it at Bergdorf Goodman. It is absolutely fabulous and extremely durable, this will last all season into next!
The Juicy Couture Visor is so cute and can be worn with just about anything! You will definitely be the cutest girl out on the golf course with this sassy pink hat. Remember, hats are very personal, so style it up the way you want to show off.

Don’t forget about the summer must have! The Fedora Hat! All the celebs are sporting this one on set, off set, shopping, whatever! It is such a great way to cover up a bad hair day!

…and with Indiana Jones being all the rage among the guys, a fedora for him isn’t a bad idea at all!

At the age of 22, Yves Saint Laurent began his career as a fabulous new designer for Christian Dior. His iconic designs and countless contributions to fashion have paved the way for many young designers and inspired many around the world to become a part of the incredible world of fashion and beauty.

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty has become a destination for the latest trends and perfect combinations to achieve any desired look. YSL Beauty continues to use innovative tools and be the first to launch the latest in techniques for all of your beauty needs. YSL launched Touche Eclat, which is now a staple in the industry for all eye brightening products to follow.

Intense attention to detail and passion for women is expressed in all of Yves Saint Laurent designs as well as his entire beauty line. YSL Beauty embellishes the designer’s respect and love for all women with its gorgeous packaging and sophisticated color stories.

The fashion and beauty of Yves Saint Laurent has always been a personal favorite and I will continue to turn to his lifetime as an inspiration. Yves Saint Laurent quickly became a fashion icon from the moment he stepped onto the design scene, and his memory and love and devotion to all women and their beauty will live on forever. We will all miss Yves Saint Laurent but his unparalleled sense of color and beauty will continue to be inspiration to all designers and lovers of fashion throughout the world.

Check out these gorgeous eye shadows! You get a perfect palette of warm and cool shadows. There are five shadows in each and you will love to blend them all for your look.

You will also find three lip palettes in 3 Neautral Lips, 3 Warm Lips, and 3 Cool Lips. I couldn’t pick a favorite, I am obsessed with lip color. They are all gorgeous!

The new creamy lipsticks are limited and exclusive as well, but lets take a look at the packageing, I love it! You will not only have a new MAC shade of creamy lipstick, but they all have a sheer beige pearlized core. Naked to the Core, Pop Circle, Inner Hue, and Rose Go Round are the four new and limited editions lip colors.

Another favorite of mine is the exclusive brush sets of 5 basic and 5 advanced brushes. The basic brushes come in a trend red nylon bag, and the advanced brushes come in either a green nylon or purple nylon bag.Everyone loves pigments and you will have 6 to choose from at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Royal Flush, Gilded Green, Tea Time, Jardin Aires, Circa Plum, and Steel Blue are all the colors of the collection.

Richmetal Highlighters are all frosted and some have a gold pearlized hue to them. Female, Deep Deposit, Quick Flash, Rose Bullion, Dark Influence, and Positive Charge are the 6 colors that will all be available and remember are limited colors so be sure to stock up!

Don’t forget about your new Colour Form Powder! Sun Centered and Play Around Pink, I need both! I actually collect compacts so when a limited edition comes out, I am all over it!

Remember, the best part about the Anniversary Sale at Nordstrom is you can pre-order your favorites in cosmetics so definitely check in with you MAC counter to be sure you don’t miss out on this gorgeous exclusive collection! Enjoy!

TotalBeauty.com, one of the top destinations for anyone who has a love for the beauty industry, partnered with Intelligent Beauty to host the most incredible and info packed summit since the beginning of beauty blogging! I personally had the oppotunity to meet the faces behind the beauty blogs that you visit daily, as well as some of the the Total Beauty brand partners: L’Oreal, Murad, IQderma, Redpoint, and Raw Natural Beauty.

I have to take this opportunity to thank TotalBeauty.com because it is the people that I have met that inspires us here at Beyond Beauty Basics and shows us that we can make a difference in this ever changing world of beauty. TotalBeauty.com has welcomed over 120 beauty bloggers into their community and we are proud to be one of them. CEO and founder of Total Beauty, Emrah Kovacoglu, mentioned that the goal of Total Beauty is to educate and support their beauty blogger partners through “building the best beauty community on the Web”. This passion for the success of Beauty Bloggers around the globe is why we do what we do and I am so honored to be a part of this incredible network!

We at Beyond Beauty Basics got a special sneak preview on some of the new upcoming products from Redpoint, IQderma, Dr. Hirsch’s new diet program SENSA, Lisa Hoffman Beauty, and lots of other must have new brands. Be sure to check back to learn more about what these new and innovative makeup and skincare products have to offer with one-on-one personal testimonies of efficacy and how to use them to maximize results! See you soon!

Also a special thanks to Steven Barston, photographer extraordinaire, for his amazing photos and full coverage of the entire Total Beauty event!

photos: Steven Barston for ibinc.com