Well, this photo might give you a reality check. Clearly these two twiggy blondes are thin – and thick – as thieves again, at the Rachel Zoe hosted soiree at the Byron Williams salon for colorist Tracy Cunningam (whose clients include Renee Zellwegger, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Kidman). The salon on Civic Center Drive in BH was packed with real celebs – Rose McGowan, Nicky Hilton (we love her beret look, Jenny McCarthy, Jordana Brewster, Tori and Dean, and of course Nicole in a long funky Chinese dress) – and a ton of wanna-be’s, who were all dying to get their faces in front of the Bravo cameras shooting for the second season of “The Rachel Zoe Project.” Tracy, a bit overwhelmed, wore a gold Burberry brocade mini, and tried her best to kiss everyone hello – but she got pulled all over the place by well-wishers and photogs. Not a bad coming out party. We liked Lisa Rinna’s, Karen Zambo’s turquoise sheath – very classy and chic, in a sea of black mini’s.

Calm down now – the Commes des Garcons for H&M does not arrive into the Sunset Plaza and Beverly Center H&M locations until Thursday, November 13th at 9am (we are setting our alarms now) – and we strongly advise that if you are interested in the women’s pieces or men’s or both, you get there by Friday latest, or it will all be gone. But there are other doings afoot at H&M: on Tuesday night, the brand hosted a holiday – we’re taking EARLY holiday – party and shopping event at the Sunset Strip store. Attendees were treated to 25% off and a team of Christmas gift-wrap specialists – and the economic woes of the country and the big exalted prices of European brands are doing nothing but making H&M MORE popular. Mischa Barton stayed for the whole event, wearing H&M’s most popular holiday dress – a short black leather babydoll dress with a bow back, and the HOT new Commes des Garcons detailed black coat. “I’m a huge fan of H&M,” she admitted. “True fashion is about mixing high and low, and I love to put H&M pieces with designers pieces – and of course, I live for their designer collaborations. They’ve made themselves into a true fashion brand.” Sporting long long blonde hair extentions and a red feather clip on her hair, she joined the shopping fray, and found lots of new pieces she liked. Michelle Tractenberg, Garcelle Beauvais, Mena Suvari, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler – who recently appeared on “Entourage”  - were also dressed in H&M – but still shopping like mad.

But when three of Hollywood’s chicest girls – Nicky Hilton, Nicole Richie and Mandy Moore – showed up to shop, there was a slight gasp in the store. If these ladies are shopping H&M – and wearing H&M – well – really, who needs Barneys? (Those who love Givenchy, Lanvin and Dries van Noten, that’s who.) It’s certainly worth looking at how these girls put the pieces together. And if you’re a friend of theirs, Fashion Rules has a hint for you: you are getting H&M for Christmas!!!

The Melrose Place family has a gem of a new neighbor: Neil Lane. The Diamond Man finally opened his La Cienega boutique, right above Monigue L’hulier’s store, just slightly north of Melrose Place, on Wednesday night. And it shows just what rocks can buy, with his turnout: Kate Walsh, Rachel Griffiths (in an American flag shirt for the election, even though she’s Australian), Debi Mazar, Tori Spelling, Carmen Elektra, Dana Delaney, Nicky Hilton – it had a high density of celebs for a store opening, but then, Lane has surpassed Martin Katz as the king of Hollywood award shows and diamonds. Lane was in a tiny antiquary mall on Beverly Boulevard for many years, where he created birthday gifts for Annette Bening and Goldie Hawn, but when a fire ravaged the building, he decided to get serious about a real boutique that befits his celebrity clientele. No recession visible here. There were diamonds and gowns galore, just in time for November sweeps and the tv ratings blitz – and time to start planning those Golden Globe and Oscar jewels.

One of the more important events that is truly Hollywood when it comes to fashion is the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Event – which is happening again, this Thursday night September 25, honoring the absolute King of Shoes, Manolo Blahnik, who will be flying in from Paris to honor we Angelenos with his well-shod presence.

His predecessors who’ve received this award are an impressive group to be number with: Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, Donatella and Gianni Versace, James Galanos, production and costume designer Milena Canonero (“Marie Antoinette”), Salvatore Ferragamo, and photographers Mario Testini and Herb Ritts.

Lucy Liu, starring this season in “Dirty Sexy Money,” will present Monsieur Blahnik with his award, and “Mad Men” star January Jones and L.A. fashions star China Chow will also be involved with his presentation. Hilary Duff, Tori Spelling, Molly Sims, Kim Kardashian, Nicky Hilton, Jennifer Morrison, Chelsea Handler, and Lily Collins are also expected. Apparently, Manolo is very touched by China Chow’s involvement – he was friends with her late mother, famed fashionista Tina Chow. After all, his fabulous footwear career spans 30 years.

Four hundred guests will celebrate Manolo by toasting to this week’s DVD release of “Sex and the City” (the tv show that put M.B’s name – and heels – on the map), looking at an exhibition of some of his classic shoes from the movie “Marie Antoinette,” from the Brit tv show “Absolutely Fabulous,” from “Sex and the City,” sketches of shoes, and collaborations with designers, including John Galliano.

The master will also signing shoes at Neiman Marcus on Wilshire in Bev Hills on Friday morning at 11 am – and there are sketches on view along both Wilshire and Rodeo Drives all week.

Not only do we love that Manolo’s are sexy, make the legs and feet look so much better than they do, and that they are made in varying heel heights – we LOVE that they are, somehow – also comfortable. Almost nothing on earth looks THAT good and feels that good, too.

I feel like I simply have to rush into Neiman’s and snag that kitten heeled satin slide with big black bow JUST to get a signature on Friday. I’ve never had anybody sign a SHOE before. Does that mean I could never have them cleaned?Might be worth it. – Merle Ginsberg

*These fall collection Manolo Blahniks are all available at NeimanMarcus.com.

Nicky Hilton in Ports 1961- she looks fabulous!!

                Melanie Charlton Fascitelli and Lake Bell

To get celebs like Nicky Hilton and Lake Bell to come out in support of an event – in this case, Ports 1961 and Elle Magazine’s little shop-a-thon for closet counseler Melanie Charlton-Fascitelli’s new book “Shop Your Closet” – Ports gave each of the celebrities hundred dollar gift cards. And with seventy off in the store, they went for it – big time. Meanwhile, they will all be able to hang their new purchases in a more organized way, thanks to the book. Charlton-Fascitelli’s company Clos-ettes has offices in LA and NY, and she has reorganized the closets of many a celeb, including Liv Tyler and Juliana Margulies. Meanwhile, Nicky Hilton’s got a great midsummer look going: we love the dark hair with the white ruffly dress.