NEW YORK, Sep 13, 1999 /FW/ --- Today starts with a run around sorting out press tickets for tonight’s fashion extravaganza in Times Square. The event is a huge public fashion show hosted by Donald Trump and Mayor Rudy Guliani and is set to be the greatest fashion extravaganza in the greatest city of the world, but more on that later.

For the Douglas Hannant show, the first one I’m invited to today, we have to get to The Altman, a spacious building down on 18th Street. My sharp-eyed photographer notices Wayne Gretzky and wife front row as we take our seats.

Tiny votive candles line the catwalk casting a romantic glow as sand, mocha, ivory brown and beechwood tied and untied halter dresses, wrap dresses, silk basket-weave jackets, and sleek bustiers with silk crepe side silk skirts glide by. The feel was Romanesque with the tunics and strings that wrapped around the body and tied at tension points. It was pure effortless chic. The most memorable piece for me was a beaded lace halter gown, which translated to me as a cross between a bikini and a ballgown - my two favorite types of apparel!

Onward and upward, well uptown that is. We are grateful for a shuttle bus that drops us fashionistas at the Tent for the Badgley Mischka madness - a standing room only show. Its what we call a heavy door - even a contemporary of mine from THE LONDON TIMES did not have a seat, and standing room only means just that. Stand in a line if you don’t have a seat assignment (which I did not) to see if you get a seat. Then stand in line when you are told you don’t have one and stand waiting to see if they let standing room only inside.

Then its standing or crouching or other contortion you may have to assume once inside to see a damn thing! Peeking out from between the photographers den I managed to catch celebrity guests Natasha Richardson and Bernadette Peters watching enthralled as the signature column dresses in candy colors give a visceral rush to all that set eyes on them.

This is a big show with big name models; Karen Elson’s pure white skin was luminous in a white organza dress, Maggie Rizer radiated in daffodil organza and the Fred Leighton diamonds that are so much a part of this Oscar gown look. Trish Goff dazzled in a lilac taffeta gown and Stella Tennant bewitched in a raspberry aurora sequin top and white shantung pant.

Lime, sky blue, peach, champagne, turquoise, raspberry, satin, taffeta, floral printed chiffon, sprinkled beads and shantung blazed the in the flashlights. I wonder how many of these 51 gowns will find their way on to the red carpet of the Oscars 2000. If I were going, I would, beyond a shadow of a doubt, wear one of these dresses.

Scheduled right after the Badgley Mischka is Zang Toi - but the line is impossible and after the Badgley Mischka crush, a pack of us realize that we are guaranteed nothing without a seat assignment so we pause and retire to the Press lounge for a cold drink before the evening session.