TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Jenny Peters

FASHION PARADE: Angeleno fashion mavens braved downpours, chilly temperatures (both outside and in the main tent), snarled valet parking and trampling crowds, all to be the first to see the fall 2006 collections on display at Smashbox Studios in Culver City all last week. It was the semi-annual Mercedes-Benz L.A. Fashion Week, which kicked off last Sunday afternoon with Kevan Hall's glamorous gowns and matching (real) furs, and closed late Thursday evening with Collection bebe's odd combination of see-through blouses (worn braless and leaving nothing to the imagination) paired with bubble-butt bottoms.

It seems that a memo went out among the designers showing off their wares that fall 2006 is going to be an awfully unforgiving season for the average woman. Trends like super-slim, high-waisted cigarette pants cinched with wide belts (shown by bebe, Louis Verdad, Juan Carlos Obando), short dresses or rompers with "tulip" or "bubble" skirts (Sue Wong, Verdad, Hall, most of bebe's show), and cropped leggings under dresses (scattered throughout) are the latest, and all are looks that only the super-skinny could love.

Plenty of those stick-thin women made the scene, however, as Hollywood's trendsetters descended en masse on their favorite designers' front-row center seats. Paris and Nicky Hilton graced the Louis Verdad show, while Mischa Barton and Stacy Keibler made the Collection bebe scene. Lara Flynn Boyle chose the Jennifer Nicholson show, and even Cher turned out, for the racy Agent Provocateur lingerie collection.

There were more forgiving looks, however, like the jewel-tone, lavishly embroidered beauties (gowns perfect for black-tie events) from Sue Wong, and Kevan Hall's classic "Mahogany" gowns inspired by the old Diana Ross flick that would be perfect choices for the stars with curves who also dotted the weeklong event.

Anjelica Huston picked Collection bebe, Paula Abdul went with Jennifer Nicholson, Christina Aguilera checked out the naughty Agent Provocateur looks, while Brooke Burke went with the more casual jeans offerings of Antik Denim and Eve took in the Taverniti So Jeans program. Denim ruled for most of Tuesday, in fact, as Buffalo and Yanuk also showed, all four companies confirming the reality that for Angelenos, high-end jeans are considered as runway (and red carpet) worthy as ball gowns.

One recent trend was not in evidence during L.A. Fashion Week, oddly enough. Considering that this is the capital of the movie world, one would have expected to see at least a smattering of entertainers on the runways, mirroring the recent New York shows where names like Lindsay Lohan and Mary J. Blige hit the catwalk. But that was not the case.

"I don't like movie stars on runways, I think movie stars should stay in films," Kevan Hall explained, clearly reflecting most designers' attitudes toward the mixing of the two worlds. "Runway models know how to handle the clothes, they know how to walk, they have the figures. I don't like actresses on runways! I think they bring down the show. I don't mind a beautiful actress on the cover of Harper's Bazaar or Vogue, I realize that helps to sell magazines. But I think that a designer's vision is best seen on a model."

Most of the male movie stars who made the trip to Culver City seemed to agree, from Matthew Perry's enthusiastic grins at Louis Verdad to Stephen Dorff and Danny Huston's mesmerized looks as the Collection bebe bubble-butt skirts pranced by.

And the big daddy of them all even came out to play, as Jack Nicholson cheered on his daughter Jennifer's show on Wednesday night. Of course, Jack had his male priorities in line, first attending the L.A. Lakers game, then making his way to the Westside. Which meant that the Jennifer Nicholson presentation took the prize for the never-on-time reality of the fashion show world.

Scheduled for a 9 p.m. start, the models didn't roll until 10:15 p.m., leading one bored fashionista to sniff, "I can't believe we have to wait for Grandpa to get here!"

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) A model, complete with headdress, teeters down the runway at the Sue Wong show at Smashbox Studios.

(2 -- color) Fur was back on the runway at the Kevan Hall fall show in Culver City.

(3 -- color) Jack Nicholson applauds in the front row at daughter Jennifer Nicholson's presentation for fall.

(4 -- 5 -- color) At left, a Yanuk model; above, Christina Aguilera takes in the autumn lineup.

(6 -- color) A model saunters down the catwalk in Collection bebe's new bubble skirt.

Photos by Getty Images