Cynthia Rowley took it down a notch at Fashion Week this year, going the classic and demure route instead of her usual indie-style quirkiness. She still put her idiosyncratic stamp on things: Wave and scallop patterns appeared in unexpected places, and the increasingly popular eyeball design appeared on a brooch or two. Still, from the new venue (a stark white Chelsea space instead of the opulent Gotham Hall) to the lack of an encore, everything pointed to a more restrained attitude from the normally adventurous designer.

No riding out on a bicycle this year? Nope, instead the show ended with an abrupt last tick from the enormous clock at the end of the runway. A new more serious direction for the designer, or just a temporary change in mood due to the Sep. 11th date or the poor economy? I guess we'll find out during the Fall 2009 show.

Cynthia Rowley 2009 from Keith on Vimeo.

Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2009

Last week, following two painful hours watching the new "90210," I vowed only to sacrifice brain cells on Tuesday evenings for worthwhile ends. Hence my decision to attend the Spring/ Summer 2009 Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti presentation last night at Eyebeam. What, you might ask, constitutes a fashion "presentation" versus a "show"? From what I could tell, the difference is that guests were ushered into an area with standing room only, as opposed to being seated in rows. The setup was beneficial insofar as it allowed me to poach glass after glass of white margaritas, and tasty hors d'oeuvres from the wait staff, but it made it difficult to see the full-length silhouettes of the models. But being appropriately buzzed by the time the nubile nymphettes began their parade, I didn't really care. Between sips, what I did see were a lot of flowy garments in a pretty palatte of purple, olive green and muted earth tones. I was also able to identify a few of the other attendees, including Alberta and Massimo Ferretti, Teen Vogue's Amy Astley, and Zelda Williams, aspiring actress and daughter of Robin. For more fashion related news, check out our shopping guide.

Several weeks ago we alerted you to the Target Bullseye Bodegas, four pop-up shops that will be up from Sep. 12-15. I went to a preview event this morning and generally liked what I saw. There are 22 designers currently collaborating with Target, and visitors to the bodegas will get a crack at the merchandise before it heads out to stores across the country. The John Derian homewares (below) were by far the most impressive items for sale, followed by the $50 Anya Hindmarch bags. From our previous post:

The Bullseye Bodegas will be open from 10am-10pm from September 11-14, and are located in midtown (101 57th Street at 6th Ave), Union Square (813 Broadway between 11th and 12th Streets), Soho (489 Broome Street between Wooster and West Broadway) and the East Village (325 Bowery at 2nd Street).

More pics after the jump ...

Fashion Week isn't just for people like Anna Wintour and her army of Voguettes. You, too, can partake in the fun--and do some good in the process. NoGoodForMe.com, long one of my favorite fashion blogs, is hosting a charity event called Spirit Animal House. At said event you will find the Indie Fashion Lounge, where the work of 40 designers (including Mociun, Susan Cianciolo, Feral Childe and more) will be showcased, all of whom have donated items which will be raffled off to guests. Also, boutiques like Clarabella, Dangerous Mathematicians and Sodafine will be setting up a fashionable mini-market.

Performances by Speck Mountain (pictured) and Ver Sacrum, plus DJ sets by NoGoodForMe's bloggers, provide the non-shopping-related fun. All proceeds go to three animal causes: Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition, PAWS/LA, and the Animal Rights Kollective.

Show starts tomorrow, Sep. 9th, at 8pm at Pianos in the Lower East Side. $8 to see the bands, free to peruse the Indie Fashion Lounge.

You have goals! Ideas! Ambitions! And a growing list of "Things To Do While Living in NYC," which you started with the best intentions but have since neglected in favor of a longer, more important list of Ways to Get Drunk in the City. Lucky for you, there's a fun, easy way to scratch "walk across the Brooklyn Bridge" off that dusty old list. Head over to the bridge at 6pm tonight for Fashion Indie's No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn fashion show. There you'll find a crowd of spectators eyeing the procession of models and previewing looks from labels like Love Brigade, Brooklyn Royalty, Mandate of Heaven, New York Couture, all of which will be featured during the next 8 days of Fashion Indie Week Brooklyn.

For more fashion-related news, check out our coverage of New York shops.