February 2, 2007—The Roseland Ballroom looked more like a club opening than a fashion show, Friday night. But my guess is that Kimora Lee Simmons –model, entrepreneur, and a hip-hop-chic style icon – wouldn’t have had it any other way. The list of who’s-who in the front row, combined with a packed house of press, created a perfect mix for the unveiling of Kimora’s KLS Collection, an upscale line in keeping with the street-style philosophy of the more modularly priced Baby Phat.

A majestic portrait of Moscow’s Saint Basil Cathedral provided the perfect backdrop for the imperial, Russian-themed frocks that came down the runway. Long-legged models in oversized fur hats with fur trim stiletto boots mixed with Baby Phat’s high-waist pencil skirts, puffy sleeved sheer blouses, and opulent velvets in scarlet and crimson. For fall the gaudy quotient rises with gold stitch detailing and metallic brocade patterns on jeans, metallic mini-mini dresses and glittery rhinestone. I would expect nothing less from this lavish woman. The imperial theme was perfect, because Ms. K clearly fancies herself as a modern Romanoff tsarina. We just wish she could downplay ghetto-fabulous a bit more because there were some true moment of pure glamour.

Celebrity Sightings: Britney Spears, Nicky Hilton (still a brunette), David Katzenberg, Russell Simmons, Vivica A. Fox, Robert Verdi, Phillip Block and Damon Dash

Color Palette: rich browns, taupe and tweeds; gold, silver, and gunmetal

For The Bagista Who: craves a liquid silver bag and can’t let go of the excess hardware trend

>>MORE SHOWS