What with all the Ugly Bettification of fashion, it's tempting to see it all as one big, campy caricature. But for those in flyover states with big Prada dreams, Friday's Red Dress Collection show at the Tents oozed reassuring familiarity, proving that style doesn't always come with a side of Miranda Priestly inflected frostiness.
If you stumbled upon the scene you would be forgiven for thinking you had accidentally landed at an afternoon matinee of Mamma Mia. Celine Dion blared from the speakers, and in the rows of folding chairs, out-of-towners (including a wide-eyed Laura Bush) rallied for some emotive standing ovations as stars in a parade of womanly Americana strutted their stuff on the runway. There was healthy American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee, chat-queen Kelly Ripa, a hard-bodied Paula Zahn, and Everygirl Rachael Ray, who patted her stomach apologetically at the end of the catwalk as is if to say, "Sorry, one too many 30 Minute Meals!" Even Claire Huxtable showed up! Phylicia Rashad gathered a rousing wave of applause as she glided down the runway.