Barack Obama’s social secretary takes in the New York shows

Desiree Glapion Rogers (above, right), President Barack Obama's social secretary, was in the front row next to American Vogue editor Anna Wintour (above, left) for the Carolina Herrera show - one of several New York Fashion Week shows she managed to attend, including the day's big hit, Marc Jacobs.

Jacobs's new collection went down a storm. His show had had been hotly anticipated following reports of dramatic cuts in spending and a slashed guest list. In the event, Women's Wear Daily praised Jacobs for managing to recreate a time when "fashion was fun."

In its view, the designer had "tapped into that world, delivering an over-the-top ode to the New York Eighties that did what fashion is supposed to do: put people in a good mood. Make that a great mood. A riotously terrific mood."

Catherine Horyne of the New York Times was equally impressed with the collection which featured everything from grey sweaters boasting intricate zip-detail to party dresses that defied convention. "The collection, in all its bad-girl, wet-dream vividness, recalls Jacobs's early career", she said, and noted that the show, which started two minutes early, was indeed a much less lavish affair this year - Jacobs is reported to have trimmed his guest list by 1,200 people.

Quite what the President's glamorous diary keeper was doing at the shows was the subject of much gossip: Donna Karan and Thakoon were also on her list and it was assumed she was scouting on behalf of the First Lady.

Meanwhile, celebrities flocked to see Justin Timberlake's clothing line William Rast. The 28-year-old singer's actress girlfriend Jessica Biel was spotted in the front row, as was Paris Hilton. Timberlake launched his label in October 2006. Last night's collection featured an array of leather biker jackets and hot-pants and was another success for the star in what has been a good week: he has just topped GQ magazine's poll of the most stylish men in America.