New York Fashion Week Day One Report

What a day.

The normal hijinks and high spiritedness of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week this time included notes of sad poignancy Thursday as news filtered into the tents at Bryant Park that designer Alexandre McQueen had been found dead from what is now being reported as a suicide.

Ironically, a New York presentation of his collection had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Not surprisingly that event was canceled.

Still, there were collections to savor as designers continued to reveal their visions for the Fall-Winter 2010-2011 season.

Collections from Thursday you'll want to keep an eye on included BCBG Max Azria and Farah Angsana.

The Heart Truth Collection, which raises awareness about heart health with a runway full of celebrities glammed up in red frocks by top designers, was the essence of high spirits and full on glamour. Celebrities included Joan Collins in Stephane Rolland, Jordin Sparks in Badgley Mischka, Kim Kardashian in Marchesa, and Regina King in Tracy Reese. And who didn't love it when Olympian Dara Torres in a Rachel Roy creation, carried her high heels down the runway.

On the not so successful side of things, there was Ports 1961, which veered wildly between chic and hot mess. On the chic side, there were a series of terrific knit pieces. On the hot mess side, there were all sorts of oddities created in the name of artistry - backless coats and a dress with a sculpture on the back that looked like a pile of excrement.

Here's a look at some of the winning looks and moments of the day: