BCBG Max Azria Fall Show

It's good to know that at least one designer isn't letting the economic climate alter his mood. Max Azria staged the first of his three shows this week with BCBG Max Azria on Friday, drawing such bold-faced names as Amanda Beard, Nastia Liukin, Solange Knowles, and Kiera Chaplin. The company is, after all, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year - proof that the brand remains a bedrock even in the hardest of times.

The same, however, could not be said of its front-row guests. "I'm always kind of frugal," said 30 Rock star Katrina Bowden. "I try to watch myself all the time." But, nevertheless, a girl's still got to splurge every now and then. "My last big-ticket item was a Gucci bag that I bought this past Christmas," she confessed, "but even that I got on sale."

Jim Shi was born in Brussels, Belgium and grew up in Paris before moving to New York City. For the past four and a half years, Shi was fashion news editor of IMG's fashion and media industry publication The Daily and editor of its sister web site, Fashion Week Daily. He has covered Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris.

PHOTOS BY PATRICK MCMULLAN