On Wednesday night, Bergdorf Goodman and Nicole Richie joined forces to officially kick off New York Fashion Week. Richie may have sported a million different looks in her life, but she's managed to parlay it into an major fashion career—and she's been very busy at work at her Winter Kate and House of Harlow 1960 lines. While she was channeling a '40s screen siren look with her Veronica Lake waves at the party, her upcoming collection was inspired by a different decade. "The fall line I really focused on what I loved about the mod and the '60s era. There's a lot of velvets, mixing fabrics, brocades. Miniskirts, short shorts, A-lines."

This week, she's got her eyes set on some of her talented pals.  "I always love going to Proenza. I'm always excited to see what they've come up with," she said. "I love going to the Charlotte Ronson show. She's my friend, so it's exciting to watch her collection evolve."

Richie has come far since her days on The Simple Life, but that doesn't mean she's given up the tube altogether. "I watch American Idol. I love it," she said. If anyone's living the dream, it's her.