Fashion

One person who was noticeably missing from the Emmys red carpet was Baltimore-native Stacy Keibler. Sure, she didn't have a link to this year's awards, but she's been a designer's dream -- being named to the New York Post's Best Dressed list for New York Fashion Week with the likes of Anna Wintour, Tyra Banks and Paris Hilton. Keibler was busy tweeting shout-outs to the Ravens as they squeaked out a last-second win versus the New England Patriots. Keibler tweeted numerous messages about the game, including this one about Torrey Smith: "So proud of you @TorreySmithWR.

Earth Wood & Fire, a new restaurant in the Bare Hills section of Baltimore County, is testament to the wisdom of keeping things simple. The menu offers a handful of salads, a selection of small plates and a daily special or two. But the partnership at this new restaurant is serious about getting the basics down pat first. The square focus is on hamburgers and coal-fired pizzas. Earth Wood & Fire isn't trying to provide culinary adventures but to be a consistent and reliable everyday dining place.

Every year, journalists, buyers and fashion lovers alike descend on the Big Apple for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, but there are just as many “off the runway” events that take place during those seven days. Let's take a look… Events : First up is Fashion's Night Out , the brainchild of Vogue magazine celebrated editor, Anna Wintour. Wintour was inspired by Paris' annual Nuit des Musees (Night of the Museums), in which participating museums stay open one May night until 11 p.m. Fashion's Night Out began in NYC in 2009 as an effort to revive the shopping and retail industry.

A car driven by an elderly woman smashed through the front of a clothing store in Owings Mills Saturday morning, injuring a shopper, but not seriously, according to Baltimore County police. The accident occurred at 11:36 a.m. at the Fashion Bug in the 11000 block of Reisterstown Road. Police said the 76-year-old driver of a Subaru Outback apparently lost control of her vehicle while trying to park it near the store. The car accelerated forward and came to a stop inside the store, police said.

Christian Siriano, Maryland's best-known fashion industry personality, might have had one of the best showings at last week's New York Fashion Week events. But the state's couture offerings did not end with him. Area designers, hair and makeup artists and models also made their mark. Their participation ranged from shows associated with household names such as Isaac Mizrahi, The Row, Monique Lhuillier and Nicole Richie, to burgeoning designers such as actress Jennifer Hudson, who released her first line of women's wear.

Anne Keane, Fashion Director at Lucky magazine, took a few moments to dish with us about the top trends she saw at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Q: What are the biggest trends you saw on the runways? A: So far I love the playful stripes at Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors. It's a little bit '60s with a fresh spin. Q: How do you recreate these trends at home? A: Pay attention to shapes and accessories. A boxy bag and sharp pointy flats were fun compliments to Marc Jacobs' striped looks.

At the Zang Toi show Sunday evening, "Real Housewife of New York" Romona Singer tweeted that she was front row with Alex McCord, Avery Singer and Sonja Morgan. She tweeted that the three of them were her "three favorite blonds. " Baltimore's Stacy Keibler was front row and center Tuesday at Vera Wang's show. A very chic Keibler, her hair pulled back, was sporting dangling earrings, a black and white patterned sleeveless dress and pointed-toe black pumps. She was joined by other notables including Rachel Zoe and Kirsten Dunst.

You'll have to wait until next year to get the looks that debuted this week on the runways of New York. But, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week works on parallel tracks. There are the trends of the collections, and then the trends of the attendees, who are among some of the most stylish people in the world. Here are several of the themes that reigned supreme off the runway this week: Studded details: We saw them everywhere from high-heels to handbags. Studs provide a nice pop of edge.

One of the best kept secrets of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has to be the VIP treatment received by American Express card members. Let's start with the American Express Skybox. Card members are escorted through a door in front of show guests - you can almost see them drool as you walk by - and up a flight of stairs to the opulent suite, which is perched above the top row of the actual runway show. The suite features a fully stocked bar, a mini stage where Q and A sessions are held between shows, and comfy seats for guests to watch each sashay and swivel on the runway.

In a year where spring collections were dominated by the usual suspects - trends such as pastels, animal patterns and ethnic prints - superior silhouettes, fine fabrics and choice of color helped designers stand out from the masses. Top designers such as Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Siriano, Tracy Reese, Vera Wang and Badgley Mischka focused on finishing touches as opposed to the flash. As a result, collections appeared to be cleaner and more polished than in some years, giving them a timeless appeal.