During Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2013,  the hottest ticket in town this season was the formal, Mercedes-Benz–sponsored, invitation-only party to toast former French Vogue editor, Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book on Saturday, September 8 at the Frick Collection, for which tuxedos and long gowns were de rigueur.

Roitfeld mused, “It’s very different from my last party,” referring to the wild karaoke extravaganza she hosted last year at Westway NYC, a strip club on the West Side Highway for her Barneys campaign.  By contrast, this year’s party was set in the posh surroundings of the Frick Museum on the Upper East Side.  That’s not to say this wasn’t quite the bash, as evidenced by the din of broken champagne glasses, accompanied by laughter and applause and the pile of mile-high stilettos gathered in the center of the dance floor by the end of the night.  Some of the owners of said shoes included, models such as CR Fashion Book cover girl Kate Upton, Karen Elson, Karlie Kloss, Bar Refaeli, Isabeli Fontana, and Lindsey Wixson, to name a few.  Other notable guests included Roitfeld’s family:  daughter, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld; son, Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, and life partner for over three decades, Christian Restoin;  Bruce Weber, who shot the cover; Ana Dello Russo, the Clarins sisters, Alexander Wang, Stephen Gan, Riccardo Tisci,  Margherita Missoni, Alexia Niedzielski, Richard Chai, Andy Valmorbida, Alessandra Ambrosio, Karlie Kloss, Andre Leon Talley, John Demsey, Alina Cho, Italo Zucchelli, Tom Sachs, Sarah Hoover, Joan Smalls, Izabel Goulart, and Jessica Hart.

Throughout the evening, a fleet of G-Class vehicles, the stars of Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week, transported VIP guests to and from the party and parked in front of The Frick Collection for all to enjoy.  Lucky guests got a sneak peek of the CR Fashion Book before the official launch date on Thursday, September 13.

The Lounges

Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge

Dubbed the “Happiest Place in New York,” the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge provided a much needed respite for VIPs and celebrities before the shows.  Karlie Kloss, Mandy Moore, Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing, Miss Piggy, Tika Sumpter,  Holland Roden, Jay Manuel, Karlie Kloss, and Mariska Hargitay were just a few of the famous faces who graced the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge this season.

The Daily Style Sessions

Across from Lincoln Center, the private rooftop of The Empire Hotel was home to the Daily Style Sessions, an oasis for celebs and VIPs just close and far enough away from the delicious chaos of “the tents.”

Celebs including: Paris Hilton, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelly Bensimon, Dania Ramirez, Adrienne Bailon, Tinsley Mortimer, AnnaSophia Robb, Robert Verdi, Shenae Grimes, Nicky Hilton, Ramona Singer, Lauren Conrad, Caroline Manzo, Luann de Lesseps, Kevin Jonas and wife Danielle Deleasa, Jill Zarin, Lori Zaslow, Nicole Richie, and Kelly Osbourne  enjoyed Belvedere Vodka, Disaronno, and Clos du Bois Rouge and Chardonnay, jammed to music by: DJs Theophilus London, Paul Sevigny, Vactioner, Mr. Watsocn, Andrew W.K., Jimmy Jimmy, Ra Ra Riot, Wynter Gordon, and Deluka and were pampered by special beauty treatments.

The Front Row

In addition to the scads of reality stars who have become Fashion Week fixtures, this season, Martha Stewart, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Kristin Wiig, Marisa Tomei; Olympic Gold Medalists:  Ryan Lochte and Sanya Richards Ross; Hailee Steinfeld; Lauren Conrad, Penn Badgley, Olivia Munn, Oscar de la Renta, the Trump ladies: Ivana and Ivanka, a newly svelte, Kirstie Alley, Jessica Alba, Kate Bosworth, Mandy Moore, Nick Cannon, Kelly Osbourne and Paula Abdul were also spotted front row.