The glamorous Lauren Family - David, Dylan, Ralph and wife Ricky, and Andrew. Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

After a weekend of non stop gallery going and club hopping, I was all set to stay at home with Law & Order re-runs and a pint of Ben & Jerry's. But duty called in the form of the fashion industry's version of the Oscars, the CFDA Awards, which can make careers fly or burnish the image of a tried and true designer. This being the first awards on newly elected CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg's watch, I just knew it would be a top shelf, major glam night. And it was!

The evening began with dinner at Top of the Rock hosted by Swarovski and The Olsen Twins and unlikely combination as Mary Kate and Ashley are more known for their Boho chic look than glistening crystal and beads. But I suppose they make a good photo opp with their forlorn, waif look which frankly is getting a little tired. The twins dowdiness coupled with the sea of black evening gowns made me think this was going to be another safe night on fashion's red carpet. With all the brilliant color being shown by these designers this year why do top dogs like Donna and Vera try to fade to black?

But then the black wave parted and rock and fashion royalty glided into the room and the always natty David Bowie with the gorgeous Iman in brilliant red with a gold breastplate by Robert Lee Morris appeared. Then came Diane Von Furstenberg, in a goddess like creation of summery blues washing into pink, who looked divine and ready to rule. Ellen Barkin in a tight sequined number looked some what under accessorized – bare arms, neck and ears. Then I remembered she cashed in her treasure chest of big baubles as part of her cleansing ritual after ditching Ron Perelman. You go girl!

CFDA President Diane Von Furstenberg. Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

The awards held at the New York Public Library brought out fashion's A-List with their muses: Michael Kors with Debra Messing, Carmen Marc Valvo with Eva Mendes, and Ralph Lauren with wife Ricky a vision in shimmering gold. Donna Karan came with daughter Gabby, Vera Wang with hubby Arthur Becker, Amy Fine Collins, Aerin Lauder and Eric Zinterhofer, Harvey Weinstein with Georgina Chapman, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Anna Wintour and daughter Bee Shaffer, Heidi Klum, Kenneth Cole, Grey Gardens owner Sally Quinn and on and on.

As most of the key awards were announced weeks ago, the only real suspense was the Designer of the Year which this season went to a tie vote with master Oscar de la Renta sharing the award with my Proenza Schouler boys Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCullough. Marc Jacobs fresh out of rehab went home empty handed but sober.

Here in the Hamptons the staggering numbers for prime properties keep getting bigger and bigger but at least it's paying off for some of our friends. Good neighbors to the whole community Roy Scheider and wife Brenda Seimer have finally found a buyer for their Sagaponack ocean front home which like many of the properties in the area has been threatened by beach erosion. Word is fellow East Ender Billy Joel has gone to contract on the deal with the couple for some $18.75 million as a gift for his wife Katie Lee Joel. It seems every time I turn around Mr. Piano Man has a new address. Whatever, Cheers to all!

Uber realtor Robby Browne scores again! I recently learned that Browne was the dealmaker in the sale of the late Patricia Kennedy Lawford's magnificent Sutton Place 11-room duplex, often described by those in the know as one of the prettiest apartments in the town. In case you've been under a rock, Patricia, the sister of the late president John F. Kennedy, was a major social dynamo, a big fundraiser for a host of great causes and a grand figure in the summer colony life of Southampton until her death last year.

The very quiet and press shy hedge fund mogul Scott Bessent picked up the posh pad for $12,000,000, a little less then the original asking price but not exactly pocket change. Bessent, a former business partner of George Soros of Southampton, is very much involved as a behind the scenes player on the charity circuit. It's another high ticket for Browne who is dogged in his pursuit.

Back in the days when everyone was scrambling to jump into the wheeling and dealing of high stakes New York apartment sales and registering for their brokers license, Robby, with a Rolodex of the elite, was already the go to guy for the moneyed set. No surprise that he's been tapped as broker of the year several times and until recently held the record for selling the most expensive apartment in New York at Time Warner Center for $42,000,000. Despite his mega $$$ commissions, Robby eschews the limo trip and bicycles around the city just as he does in the Hamptons - except he wears a great suit in the Big Apple.

Hard to believe that ubiquitous mallet wielding fella astride a charging pony is turning 40! Yep, the internationally recognized icon of Americana, Ralph Lauren's Polo Player has hit the big one with no sign of slowing down. And he won't stop until he's swept across the Great Wall of China where the newly wealthy are snatching up everything with the RL label.

Don't be surprised if you come across a good looking architect at your next garage sale.
Peter Cook, late of The Hamptons Golden Couple as in Brinkley and Cook, has just bought Glamour Magazine publisher Bill Wackerman's Sag Harbor house. Unfortunately, Bill wouldn't sell it to him furnished and since Christie tossed him out with little more then a shaving kit, he needs to buy everything and fill the domicile from scratch. Peter, I have some spare towels – and glasses – and a couple of bottles of lovely Petrus…

Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori of Japan. Photo by Rob Rich

Ex-Mrs. Calvin Klein, the beautiful Kelly Klein was feted at Hotel QT to celebrate the re-release of her stunningly photographed photo book Pools which is already in all the bookstore and gift shop windows from Manhasset to Montauk. Toasting Kelly poolside were Donna Karan, Fern Mallis, hotelier Andre Balazs, and Vogue editrix Anna Wintour.

It didn't take long for the newly crowned Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori of Japan to make the Hamptons scene. The statuesque, raven haired beauty the first Japanese contestant to win the coveted crown was dancing the night away at The Pink Elephant as guest of Rocco Ancarola, just days after her big night. No surprise to her escorts, as Riyo has been studying dance at her mother's dance school since she was a toddler. Her lifelong ambition is to be the first Japanese Rockette in the history of Radio City Music Hall! Are you listening Don Hewitt? Until that happens the gorgeous gal will be focusing on her role as spokeswoman for HIV/AIDS awareness particularly with the Latino Commission on AIDS, Global Health Council and one of my pet charities God's Love We Deliver. Welcome aboard Riyo!

Meanwhile our own Miss USA, Tennessean Rachel Smith was soundly booed when she appeared on stage in Mexico City for the final round in the competition for no other reason then being an American gringo. So tasteless was the audience response that host Mario Lopez chided the crowd "en Espanol" for their shocking display of bad manners.

All things aside, I can tell you right now it's already turning into a scent-sational summer with whole lotta great new fragrances to go with the brisk sea air and sunshine. Reed Krakoff and his gang at Coach are launching their first fragrance and I hear it's a winner!

Don't know how he missed me, but never once did I see Leonardo DiCaprio at Dune last week despite reports that he and his posse were working the club scene the whole weekend. Buzz is Leo and his pals have taken a place deep in the woods of East Hampton. Supposedly it is chockfull of all those toys boys love – pool, hot tub, media center and bars aplenty. I'll believe it when I see the "King of the World" with my own peeps!

The Weinstein Brothers, as in Oscar grabbing Bob and Harvey, are back with their old pal Woody Allen and have picked up Woody's new suspense drama, Cassandra's Dream with Euan McGregor and bad boy Colin Farrell. The Weinsteins scored big with The Woodman including Bullets Over Broadway and Mighty Aphrodite which snared Mira Sorvino an Oscar. Woody hasn't done as well with Focus Features and Dreamworks the last few years with forgettable flicks like Scoop and Match Point. Heres's to ya Woody. Maybe The Cinema Society will do the premiere out here.

I am truly envying my funny Italian yenta sister from East Hampton, Angela La Greca. Not only did she get to produce for all these years those hilarious and often blistering "Hot Topics" segments on the much, much talked about The View, but she was cool enough to travel with her BFF Meredith Viera to NBC to become Meredith's producer on the show - before the proverbial s--- this the fan with Rosie O'Donnell and Elizabeth Hasselbach. Now in the ultimate fantasy, she gets to put Meredith in the hot seat at the 92nd Street Y's prestigious Lecture series next week. She'll be interviewing Meredith! I can't wait to sit in the front row and lobe a few "Star" questions – I mean don't you want to know the real skinny on Mrs. Star Jones Reynolds.

If you pop into one the ubiquitous Starbucks that are cropping up like mushrooms after a spring rain, you may hear what you think is a throwback to the 70s with Paul McCartney's old band Wings piped into the latte splashing café. Close, it is Sir Paul but with a new group, new record label and a new CD being distributed exclusively through Starbucks 10,000 stores in 29 countries. Yes, Starbucks! Beginning this week, Paul's new disc, Memory Almost Full, will be played around the clock until lingerers finally buy one, a deal he cut in London with upstart indie label Hear Records who sealed the commercial pact after Paul severed ties with longtime label EMI.

And if you think Paul at 64 is not in touch, know that he debuted his first video for the new CD on YouTube just like any garage band or would be Aretha. The part time Amagansett resident looks to make some big bucks for himself and for his East Hampton neighbors Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and his wife Sherri who are huge music fans. Last year, the couple hosted with Candice Bergen and hubby Marshall Rose a fundraiser at their Lily Pond Lane house for the Jane Goodall Institute, which oversees environmental and educational projects in Africa and elsewhere. The big draw was a private concert by Sarah McLachlan.