StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

The winning dress, that is (scroll down to see the whole story): Black silk chiffon with ivory straps and waist ties by DINA BAR-EL. (this miracle-in-a-garment-bag greeted me upon my arrival at the Beverly Hilton).

This picture was taken by a Fox News correspondent from Tampa at about 11am, waaaaaay before the big event began.  And, I am proud to report that I hit two of the big trends of the night: black and white (Debra Messing, Sandra Oh) and plunging necklines (Marcia Cross, Minnie Driver, Eva Longoria).  My STYLE SPY-sense was tingling...

Next, back to the hotel for a costume change (into a sexy, floor-grazing kaftan/kimono by Issa -- a must-have label, maker of amazing dresses), then off to the CBS bureau (in a stretch limo originally slated to pick up "Ugly Betty's" Eric Mabius, which I scored at the last minute due to a scheduling snafu) to watch the red carpet arrivals on a live feed.

Q: WHO IS YOUR PICK FOR BEST-DRESSED AT THE EMMYS?

    *answer here AND cast your vote by clicking this link*

Made it to the airport.  Talk about traveling in style (even though I was in coach!)...Check out the view (and the logo...who knew?)

Dress update:  packed one of the four gowns I showed you (any guesses?) but got word that there would be a few more dresses waiting for me at my hotel in LA (woo-hoo!).

Okay, so less than 36 hours till the Emmys.  My first instinct:  call everyone I know to see if I could borrow a dress. Thanks to VH-1's uber-stylist Alana Kelen, by 8pm Friday night I had about fifteen dresses to choose from, which I quickly narrowed down to four.

Hot pink duchesse satin from Badgley Mischka (my Italian Grayhound WIlhelmina 
really likes this one) ...

Canary yellow, asymmetrical knee-length from Feraud (love at first sight, especially after seeing all the crayon-box colored, asymmetrical neckline dresses that stormed the runways during Fashion Week)...

Ballet pink silk shantung from b. Michael Couture (dresser of Beyonce)...

And a royal blue chiffon strapless, also from Badgley Mischka (have you seen their  new lingerie ads with Teri Hatcher?  Wowza!).

But before trying anything on (remember the post fashion week puff I mentioned?), I bolted to the gym and pleaded with my new trainer Alex Reznik (former trainer to elite Russian soldiers) to pleeeeeeaaaaaaaase work some of his Russian magic and get me into instant Emmy shape.  I have only been working with Alex a few weeks (I found him via a Women's Wear Daily article), and in that short time I discovered he is not just a trainer but also a nutritionist, physical therapist, psychologist and life coach (though he may not yet realize it).  Despite his hardcore fitness background, he does not believe in the "no pain, no gain" mantra. To wit, his countdown advice:

1.  Don't workout like crazy before a big event -- it's likely you will injure yourself.

2.  The most important thing to do:  get enough sleep.

3.  Don't try anything new (crash diets, intense exercise regimes, unfamiliar foods).

4.  Don't stress, because it will show in your face and in the way you carry yourself on the carpet.  Spend the majority of your free time meditating.

5.  Avoid salt, processed foods, soda, pasta and all the things you should avoid anyway.

6.  For a temporary yet effective toned look and posture boost, do a series of sun salutations or a few tricep dips on the edge of a chair just before going to the event.

I left Alex feeling reinvigorated and surprisingly calm...until I got home and tried on the dresses.  Nothing fit.  Too big, too long, too droopy, too short, too something-isn't-quite-right.  I tried my best to focus on Alex's 4th piece of advice.

15 hours till take off and still no dress.

Countdown to...THE EMMY'S??

Just when I was about to kick back, relax and do some fall-cleaning after a frenzied fashion week, I learned (Friday morning) that I would be flying out to LA (Saturday morning) for the Emmy Awards (Sunday afternoon).  Don't get me wrong -- I was THRILLED.  But, as I am red-carpet-perfection obsessed (MUST BE IN PERFECT SHAPE! MUST HAVE PERFECT DRESS!), I was a smidge panicked. 

The plan was to hit the red carpet for a Fox News Channel live shot Sunday morning, hit a super-hot People Magazine party, and then prepare for the MAIN event, a live fashion wrap-up on the CBS Early Show, on Monday morning at 5:08am PST.  My Monday morning wake-up call would be jangling at about 1:30am.  Ouch.

I hadn't even thought about packing (my L.A. wardrobe is way different from my New York wardrobe), plus I didn't have a carpet-worthy dress.  And, searching for carpet-worthy dresses less than 24 hours before departure when you're not Katherine Heigl is a bit of a challenge.

So not only was I recovering from fashion week puffy face (champagne, early mornings, late nights,more champagne) and workout withdrawal (who has time for the gym during fashion week?!), but now I needed to be red-carpet ready in all ways in less than 36 hours....

Stay tuned...

A gargantuan hand-carved shell on the subway... A Lucite disco ball on Madison Avenue... An amorphous mound of 18-karat gold in the front row at New York Fashion Week... And a Kenneth Jay Lane turquoise-encrusted octopus...right here!

image from vivre.com

SCENES FROM DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

The legendary designer chats with me backstage about her Spring '08 collection, which she says is about "escape."  While von Furstenberg had exotic, volcanic travel destinations in mind for the clothes, she admitted that she simply does yoga to escape.  Check out her show invitation below.

Alek Wek -- supermodel, author and designer -- chatted with us backstage and then walked in the show.

Who says the skinny jeans trend is over? Definitely not the models who walked the runways during New York Fashion Week.  When they're not wearing the latest designer fashions, they're wearing pin-thin denim, in gray, black or classic indigo.

AT THE WALK-THROUGH FOR CALVIN KLEIN...

...PREPPING FOR ZAC POSEN

Backstage with It-designer, media darling, CFDA award winner and all-around impressive guy: ZAC POSEN

Daytime neutrals, bold-colored gowns and asymmetrical necklines (a HUGE trend all week) made an impact in Posen's collection, which he described in the show program as "An homage to early American settlers and their insistence on simplicity and craft." (See video clips from the collection and hear from Zac right here on instyle.com).

Brian Atwood designed the shoes for the show (note the killer heel and metallic detailing), and I found a pair backstage after the show that just happened to be my size.

Kind of like being in a candy store (there were edible confections, too -- scroll down to drool).  I snapped these just before the show. 

Yummy BAUBLES...

Luscious LUCITE-HEELED SHOES...

and the designer herself, decked out in BOLD BANGLES AND BIG RINGS!

Anna introduced her FLIGHT OF FANCY perfume...



...amidst trays of colorful petit-fours.

Gift bags filled with make-up (I got a tiny pot of sparkly cream blush that I can attach to my keychain), a groovy t shirt and a sample of the fragrance awaited showgoers.  Ever hear the phrase "the calm before the storm"?  Well, you're looking at it...these are the rows of empty seats moments before hundreds of guests arrive.  See our video coverage here!