Live competition equals drama and excitement, two qualities that, to MJ Diehl, make great fashion. To open Style Wars, the event producer and her business partner, Roman Milisic, created an impromptu armored bodice composed entirely of "We Heart Our Customers" hangers and packing tape, on stage, live. The result, though definitely not durable, looked a bit like something Gareth Pugh might create, were he homeless and living perched beneath a dry-cleaner.

The fashion world doesn't take to cheek and enthusiastic camaraderie easily, which is the crux of House of Diehl's now-traveling, two-year old competition: a fashion show that has hit three continents and most American cities, taking the winners from each locale and pitting them against each other for what Diehl calls a "ready-to-wear rumble." She hosts every city, and its Diehl's spark, plus a team of witty local, ever-changing judges (this time included Isabella's model daughter Elettra Rossellini and Jenny Shimizu, of Angelina Jolie fame) that preserves a sense of authenticity that flirts with the gimmicky. From New York, Diehl and Co. head to Atlanta, LA and then San Francisco. The winners from each city will face off for a final battle and a chance at larger exposure.

"Some call it the 8 Mile of style," Diehl says. "We ask stylists to transform Hefty bags into Herve Leger." Like a rapper herself, Diehl speaks in over-the-top metaphors ("In the real world, you have a budget tighter than Shrek in a speedo" or "It's like WWD meets WWE") and fuels the competitive aspect of the show. "It's like an emcee battle in the sense that designers go head-to-head on stage, and they have four-and-a-half minutes to do serious style or serious damage." With industrial tubing, tin foil and phone cords as fodder, this may be the only fashion show where judge Rebecca Weinberg (of Sex and the City) reprimanded a contestant for "stapling a paper towel to a bustle."