s creative director and the driving force of Fashion Week El Paseo

“This is surreal” was the spontaneous reaction that popped from the lips of Susan Stein when she walked into this year's expanded big white Fashion Week tent a few weeks ago.

As creative director and the driving force of Fashion Week El Paseo, Stein's words were not only correct but were a prophecy.

The enlarged tent just off El Paseo on Larkspur was only the beginning. After five-years, this year's Fashion Week took off with dramatic increases in attendance, income, merchant participation and economic benefits for the entire valley.

Our team of stylish society reporters, armed only with bulging closets and overflowing shoe racks, worked tirelessly throughout the week to bring you these gems and glimpses from the more than 18 fashion week events held in at least five venues in seven days, as well as more than 40 in-store El Paseo events.

The two best events to attend if you were short on time or money were the opening and closing shows.

Opening: March 20. Saks Fifth Avenue drew a sold-out crowd of more than 650 to see the best of the best from famous designers around the world. Top trends: vibrant color, longer skirts, 1970's-style pants, trench coats, open-weave knits, flap bags and stacked bracelets. Cuistot provided an elegant after party.

Closing: March 28. Designer Oliver Tolentino's runway show was over the top impressive — flattering, wearable, vibrant colors and designs with inventive and eco-friendly fabrics on great models who strutted and twirled, nonstop, two at a time, for more than a half hour. What a portfolio! And what a great after party at Ace Hotel.

Most of this year's major events made generous donations to a charity. One of the more successful evenings was The Girlfriend Factor reception, “Wine, chocolate and Shoes,” that raised substantial funding for its women's scholarship fund.

That event preceded The Fashion Runway Bar, an event that has been part of Fashion Week for six years.

The runway was packed with fashions from 17 El Paseo merchants and designers including Tommy Bahama's, White House/Black Market, She She, V&G Hip Wear, Cactus Flower Shoes, El Paseo Jewelers, Chelsea Taylor, bebe, Tink, Josie's She She Kids, Don Vincent, BbOne and Eileen Fisher.