NEW YORK — Ever wonder what it's like to be a model? I did, so I decided to follow Jessica Stam at Anna Sui's fall 2009 show at New York's Fashion Week to see what her job is really like.

See, Jess isn't just any model. Although her name might only ring a bell because she dated DJ AM and Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, she's one of the top 10 models in the world (according to Models.com, anyway).

She's currently the face of Bulgari, has many Vogue covers under her belt and is also a Victoria's Secret model. She's only 22 but has been working the runways at New York's Fashion Week since she was 16!

With so much experience, she doesn't seem the least bit nervous as she glides into the backstage area at Sui's show and cheerfully greets the hair team and makeup artists like they're family.

Then she's whisked off to hair. "I think it's perfect the way it is," says Garren, the head hairstylist for the show, not touching a hair on her head. This is followed by a tiara fitting and some fierce makeup.

"It's a very edgy look. Lots of black eyeliner," Jessica says. "It could take anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour — depending on how long I'm willing to sit still."

All of the girls are pulled from hair and makeup for a rehearsal. "It's fun because the only people in the audience are the designer and the makeup artist," Jessica says. "They'll cheer us on and scream for us and we'll be laughing. It's fun!"

After some final makeup touch-ups, it's show time!

Jess rocks two looks: a svelte black suit with a tiara, and a dark purple skirt and jacket with a 1920s-inspired flapper hat.

"I'm used to wearing a lot of color at Anna Sui," she says, adding that "black is the new black."

After the show Jess and Anna Sui take some friendly photos. Young girls surround Jess to get pictures and autographs — after all, she is a Fashion Week star!

(Check out our Fashion Week stories about Aubrey O'Day, Richie Rich and Christian Siriano!)

That's what Christina, Micaela, Mary and I got to experience last night at the Richie Rich show at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. First we met up with Aubrey backstage, where she was getting made fabulous in hair and makeup. The backstage area could only be described as a hot mess of Richie Rich and his crew of scenesters, models, drag queens, Davis from "The Real World: Denver," Aubrey and us. Pamela was apparently getting beautified at an undisclosed locale in the hotel.

Soon we made our way out to our seats, learning that not only would we be sitting in the front row, but we'd be sitting next to super-sweet Ice-T and his lovely wife, CoCo. Um, awesome! The lights dimmed, the music blared and the models hit the stage. The clothes were decidedly Richie Rich — the guy stood true to himself for his first solo romp without former designing partner Traver Rains. Mixing bright patterns like plaid with statement costume jewelry, ruffles and sparkles may not seem realistic, but Richie designs for the fantasy of it all.

Post-show we all made our way over to Cain Luxe, where we were joined by our co-worker Nicole for the afterparty. Aubrey was fashionably late; in the meantime, the drinks were flowing, the room was filling up and I ran into a familiar face, stylist Robert Verdi, a Fashion Week staple. Aubrey eventually showed up with a large entourage, wearing only a t-shirt that sported an image of her from her Playboy spread. Always the self-promoter, that Aubrey! Alongside Pam, Richie and Ice-T, she partied the night away in a room filled with people who could only wish to be as rich and famous as they are. 

On Tuesday, we met up with Aubrey as she got fitted to walk in the Richie Rich show that's taking place later today at the famed Waldorf Astoria hotel. And, the dynamic duo gave us a taste of what Aubrey might be wearing in the show. Spoiler alert! It's either the hot pink top or the celebutante dress! Decisions, decisions!

Not only will we be going to the show with Ms.O'Day, but tonight we'll also be hitting the afterparty. Tomorrow, we'll continue our Fashion Week coverage when we go to a few more shows and have a sit-down interview with Aubrey, where she'll dish on all the latest comings and goings in her life.

Until then, check out a message from Aubrey — and check back for much more from Fashion Week!

When we were invited to join ex-Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day on her journey as a model for the Richie Rich show during New York Fashion Week, we eagerly accepted the invite; wherever Aubrey and Richie go, a party is sure to follow.

(Check out Aubrey's options and place your vote, after the jump!)

So, when I — along with my fellow MTV-ers Akshay, Christina and Lisa — showed up to the Richie Rich studio downtown where Aubrey was being fitted, we weren't sure what to expect. The clothes were a fantastic mix of pink and prints and ruffles and sparkles ... which is always expected from a Richie Rich collection.

Much like the clothes, Aubrey sparkles — the girl knows how to show up to a shoot, be professional and always, I repeat, always show everyone the time of their lives. She, along with her partner-in-crime Richie Rich, took a mundane task like trying on clothes and made it super fun.

She tried on a few different looks — one was a very hot pink top that Richie said reminded him of Barbie. The duo paired it with hot pants and left just the right amount to the imagination.

She also tried on a ruffle dress that had a special "Celebutante" print embroidered on it. It was a bit more demure, but just as exciting.

Aubrey and Richie decided to leave it to her fans and the MTV readers to decide which outfit Aubrey should wear in the show on Wednesday, so get to voting!

If you happened to look over at Kanye West's blog in the past week, you know that he had the time of his life at Paris Fashion Week. He sat front row at many of the shows. He even said he's changing his name to Martin Louis the King, Jr. And he took a lot of pictures — sort of like that girl on Facebook who constantly updates her profile with pictures from the night before.

But what's most importantly (that's a line from "Kanye's Workout Plan," not bad grammar, by the way) is that he had the chance to collaborate with Louis Vuitton and design a pair of sneakers. His kicks were even featured on the Louis Vuitton runway.

He told Dazed Digital that the sneakers were inspired by science-fiction. "They've got a sci-fi influence with this flap up at the back," West said. "It came from a scene in 'Dune' where there was this jacket with a huge collar. Also, Japanese pop art."

West didn't stop there, however. He designed a pair of high-top sneakers as well. They feature a pink sole and two straps across the ankle and top of the foot. I'm not sure what inspired these, and I'm not going to even guess — did you really see anything "Dune"-inspired from the sneakers on the runway?

West also took the time out to design a shoe for the ladies. "I couldn't do a collection without including the ladies ... I used to shop for the perfect sneaker for my girlfriend," he wrote in all caps (adjusted for your reading pleasure). "It may not seem like it sometimes, but I do it for the 'hood!!! I go hard! I begged them to make these!!!"

He typed that mad hard on his MacBook Air for you, ladies.

Think Heidi Klum spent last night glued to her TV watching herself on the finale of “Project Runway”? She must have set her TiVo, because the supermodel was nowhere near her television — the non-couch potato was out and about at L.A.'s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, specifically Christian Audigier's American Lord fashion show. "It's a very fun show!" Klum exclaimed. "I already put my order in — I loved all the little blazers."

If you are unfamiliar with Audigier's name, you are probably familiar with his Ed Hardy gear — those clothes are hard to miss, especially in the celebrity world. Last night was no exception, and like any loud and jewel-studded fashion show, the audience included many stars — among them the tween queen herself, Miley Cyrus.

I've never been backstage at a fashion show before, and I learned quickly that the atmosphere is pretty out of control. The champagne was flowing, beautiful people were everywhere, eager FIDM students were busy safety-pinning models into their complicated outfits and, of course, clothes, shoes, makeup and hair products as far as the eye could see.

The show, like the collection, was pretty out-there. It was complete with a grass runway, models using Great Danes as accessories (no, that's not the latest purse or anything — I do mean the dogs) and dancing London guards.

What I didn't know about fashion shows was the level of craziness that ensues after the whole show is over. When it came time for me to interview Heidi Klum with Christian Audigier backstage, I couldn't help but notice that she was being followed by an ever-growing crowd of cameras and photographers. "You have to come on and they have to design a shirt for you!" Klum said to Audigier of her hit reality show.

What I didn't notice while the three of us were talking was the crowd of photogs around us — it got so big that when the interview was over, I was stuck in what felt like a camera swamp.

As I was trying to push my way out of the crowd, two rowdy photographers got in a fistfight over getting a shot of Heidi, and I somehow got caught in the middle. One of them accidently pushed me down, but luckily I fell into a huge pile of Audigier clothing — nothing like clothes fresh off the fashion-week runway to break your fall.

For the convenience of those of us who didn't get into the tents, the folks at Vanity Fair compiled a list of what was played in Bryant Park last month: lots of Santogold, lots of Lykke Li, lots of Ting Tings, lots of Brazilian Girls. And even some Gershwin!

And because she seemed to be so popular, this seems like a good opportunity to share this little interview with Santogold about her love of music and fashion.

September in New York City means it's time for the fashion-week tents to go up in Bryant Park. And it means I am bound to geek out. Fashion week is a hot mess of fancy clothes, models, Anna Wintour, celebrities, fashionistas and drag queens. It's my dream come true!

This year, I had a very short time span to get myself, along with my fabulous fashion week crew, credentialed for the shows. I wouldn't have the opportunity to hit up my usual four shows a day, but it gave me the opportunity to chill with some of the coolest people around: MTV News' Jim Cantiello, Christina Garibaldi and our lovely shooter Mary Taylor, as well as our celebrity correspondent, the amazing Sweet P from the fourth season of "Project Runway."

We all finally hit up the tents on day six of fashion week (that'd be Wednesday). Although we got uninvited from the Phillip Lim show (I'm going to remember that, Phil!), we did have the opportunity to film Jim and Sweet P in a pedicab discussing fashion. Is there any other way to discuss fashion except in a green-friendly pedicab? I thought not. We also hit up the Mercedes-Benz lounge, where I indulged in cheese, while Jim and Sweet P talked shop — clothes!

Thursday, oh fabulous Thursday! I spotted Alex and Simon from "The Real Housewives of New York" and Whitney's sister, Alexis Houston (OK, those sightings were only mediocre). But — wait for it — FABIO was there! This all went down at the Malan Breton show. The clothes were amazing! Beautiful, feminine, soft, wearable. The florals, and I am not a floral kind of gal, rocked my socks. And those black cocktail dresses — to die for! I want something, you hear that, Malan? I did manage to wrangle myself a gift bag, which is one of the best perks of fashion week.

Next, we went off-site to hit up Christian Siriano — the show, not the man. The scene was full of downtown fashionistas and "Project Runway" fanatics, including MTV News' very own "PR" blogger Rya Backer. For a fan of the show, it was the place to be: Tons of past contestants graced our presence, and the amazing Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn stopped by to chat us up. Although most of the posse (myself included) couldn't get into the show, we went backstage beforehand, and I got a peek at the clothes. They were beautiful and soft. There were tiered gowns and lots of slate gray and black with peeks of wild colors like lime green. It was a fabulous collection for the ladies who lunch. Hey, Christian, I want to be one of those ladies.

I was disappointed that we didn't get into the show because it meant we couldn't get a gift bag. I took two at Malan's show, and karma caught up with me, I suppose! I left the rest of fashion week (more "PR" stuff, including the season-finale show!) in the very capable hands of my crew! Mostly, because I had real work to do. Until next season, Bryant Park! Au revoir!

2 highlights for me from last night:

1. As soon as I tossed to the big show, all of us (producers, stage managers, writers, camera men) huddled around the TV set on the pre show stage to watch the Britney performance. Of course, I ran out of battery on my camera, but the look on everyone's face was priceless. The gasping, the "oh-my-godding"......watching her teeter and totter on stage. SPEECHLESS!

2. Me running through the Palms with my luggage shoving and pushing the crowd, frantically looking for a ride to the airport. I ran over Ludacris with my roll-away luggage. PRICELESS! Sorry Luda!

Ok, fashionistas....I hope u approved of my outfit.....and here's some love from backstage at Marc Jacobs in New York.

Model backstage at marc jacobs. She's gonna have fun brushing that out tonight.

Me blogging on my bberry backstage.

Big kiss!

xoxo