La Vie Privée

(PARIS) By most accounts, the Armani Privé shows in Paris are less manageable affairs than the brand's superbly-orchestrated runway spectaculars churned out twice a season in Milan. After all, the VIP section in the Palais de Chaillot is more difficult to quarantine than Armani HQ's in-house theater designed with fashion shows in mind. At this morning's show, an unusually large crop of A-listers arrived in Paris to support Mr. Armani. Leading the charge? Megan Fox, who was immediately trounced on by the camera crews. In fact, the journalists were so preoccupied that Cate Blanchett arrived completely unnoticed from a backstage entrance, followed closely by Elsa Pataky. "Hello, hello, hello," Blanchett murmured and nodded, making her way halfway down the front row where no less than 5 imposing bodyguards safeguarded her seat. Pauvre reporters! That didn't stop the television cameras from descending--or Glenda Bailey from pulling some high-level strings to dart behind and greet the girls.

PRIVÉ, BY THE NUMBERS!
5 bodyguards
14 television cameras strangling the catwalk before the show
2 handheld video recorders employed by bloggers
1 "faux Cate Blanchett" who resembled a mix of the actress and Uma Thurman
1 strongly-worded conversation in broken English between an Eastern European journalist and a French bodyguard
1 lucky fan (and couture client) in her mid-sixties who snapped a close-up of Blanchett with her Nikon
4 steps seen by the audience that the models walked down
4 sequined pantsuits that closed the show to the tune of "Moon River"
1 legitimate front-row seat afforded to Godfrey Deeney
3 rows sat in front of Anna Piaggi
9 looks that walked down the runway before the crowd started applauding
55 total looks
53 looks that incorporated some kind of sparkle
10 lighting technicians hanging from the rafters to guide the spotlights to hit the models at each point on the runway
200+ smaller gel lights hanging from the ceiling
2 fans waved by front-row guests
1 of which was decorated with a bullfighter motif
2 nods given by Mr. Armani at the end of the runway
1 full bow to close the show
1 endorsement from Megan Fox. "I thought it was really great!" she enthused.