Some of our favorite designs this season included Mercedes-Benz presents designer, Derek Lam; Diane von Furstenberg, DKNY, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, Milly by Michelle Smith, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Naeem Khan, and Carolina Herrera.

Derek Lam

Diane von Furstenberg

DKNY

Michael Kors

Nanette Lepore

Milly by Michelle Smith

Marc Jacobs

Ralph Lauren

Calvin Klein

Naeem Khan

Carolina Herrera

photo courtesy of getty images

Whether at the racy Raleigh, sophisticated Mondrian, celeb-packed Shore Club or any of our fair city’s other amazing nightclubs, New Year’s revelers were afforded plenty of opportunities for “star gazing” (sans telescope) and rang in 2009 with much fanfare and flare, South Beach Style.

The Raleigh’s Burlesque New Year’s Eve, hosted by famed New York City “Queen of the Night” Susanne Bartsch, was an outrageously raunchy affair that would have had Dita Von Teese blushing: from the gargantuan, inflatable open pair of women’s legs floating in the hotel’s iconic pool, to theatrical performances, unforgettable peep shows, strip teases, flamboyant gender-benders and freak shows including well-endowed men wearing zebra and horse heads and female strippers sizing up their (ahem) man hoods, literally, ruler in hand. Bartsch rung in the new year accompanied by designer Read the rest of this entry »