Mrs. Obama is signaling to the Nation to give others a chance to experience success and the American Dream. What an impressive gesture to give a young person the opportunity to succeed.

The industry is trying to redefine itself. Trying to understand, like the rest of us, what this new era means to them.

Just as the fashion in crowd has been mixing their Prada with their Target T's for some time now, J.Crew darling (and First Lady) Michelle Obama further ignited that trend and has set the tone for recession dressing.

What was really refreshing about Donna Karan's show was that the event didn't have the feeling of everyone trying to be fabulous. There was none of that frenetic buzz of insecurity, of needing to be seen.

Every fashion season in New York there's a hectic clamor to be the unofficial "official" party that launches Fashion Week, but only one usually comes out on top. This season, that party was without question.