BCBG Max Azria's fall runway show, one of the first major shows to kick-off New York Fashion Week on Friday, was full of surprisingly wearable, if not contradictory, pieces for BCBG.

Typically, BCBG shows are a bit flight-of-fancy, often with dark and brooding pieces that are complex and intriguing. Interesting to look at on the runway, to be sure, but not something you could see yourself wearing. That usually happens when you see the watered-down version of the collections in stores.

This season, the BCBG runway was different. It was soft and pretty, with cashmere and satin and a serious concentration on intricate details. Among the strongest: pleats, on anything from blouse collars to dresses. The pleating wasn't over-the-top, just feminine and simple.

Another indication the collection, created by the husband-and-wife team Max and Lubov Azria, was designed to sell: It didn't stray far from a neutral palette, with shades of sand, cream, taupe, gray and nude. A few bursts of color came out in the end with a series of sultry silk satin mini-dresses in teal, goldenrod, cranberry, grape and chocolate brown.

The only real-world miss about the collection was the length of the dresses. Most were shorter than short shorts. It's one thing if the collection was designed for spring, but these dresses should hit stores for fall. Does this mean more tights and leggings for fall? Or was it simply show-time theatrics?

BCBG, who pulled in British soul singer Joss Stone and actresses Sophie Bush and Cheryl Hines for front-row seating at the show, is sold at Triangle stores such as Scout & Molly's and Belk at Crabtree Valley Mall.

Red Dress Collection

Stone and the Azria's teamed up earlier in the day as well at the fifth annual Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection, the show that's more about celebrities than fashion, but no less exciting to watch.

Each year, designers create red dresses for a celebrity, and then the celebrity hits the catwalk to strut her stuff, as part of campaign to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

This year's show, as dazzling as usual, was stolen in the end by Liza Minnelli, in a red and black sequined Halston Original pantsuit.

Minnelli took two turns on the runway: The first was to show off the glittery suit, fit only for a diva, and another to sing her version of "New York, New York" as the finale.

Yet if we're passing out awards, the "jaw dropper of the runway" goes to Allison Janney, the former "West Wing" star now in the hit film "Juno." Janney, 48, was simply stunning in a slinky red halter dress designed by Donna Karan.

The dress had all the potential to be disaster, showing ever figure flaw all the way down to the last Krispy Kreme. But because of Janney's tall, lanky physique and Karan's expert craftsmanship using a slight ruching around the waist, the dress was a perfect fit.

Of course, no one could top supermodel Heidi Klum on the runway, who wore a sexy red and black layered slip dress by Marc Jacobs.

Stone was surprising shy as she took her spin on the runway in a long, flowing red gown by Max Azria Atelier. She actually didn't even make it to the end of the runway before heading back. Singer Ashanti, meanwhile, was all sass in her red and white geometric print dress by Tracy Reese.

And it was refreshing to see two non-diva types on the runway, well, at least non-diva types on TV. Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chloe O'Brian on "24," was elegant in a Monique Lhuillier gown, and Jenna Fischer, who is better known as Pam in "The Office," glided down the runway in a tiered V-neck gown by Carmen Marc Valvo.

First Lady Laura Bush, in a cream Oscar de la Renta suit, took to the runway pre-show to send out a reminder that all women should exercise, stop smoking and eat right to help maintain heart health.