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By Lesley Kennedy
Photos by Joe Mahoney

So many editors, writers and bloggers at New York Fashion Week take their runway shows so seriously. Me? I love a great catwalk scene as much as the next guy or gal, but I also appreciate some quirkiness. Which is probably why I was one of the few fashion editors to to skip Badley Mischka in order to view the Snuggie runway show.

Here’s what I wrote for my other gig over at StyleList.com. I felt bad for making photographer Joe Mahoney come with me, but he walked out with his very own Snuggie — so totally worth it! He really wanted Winkers, but settled for the blanket with arms. Enjoy:

Oscar! Carolina! Marc! Snuggie!

Oh, yes, fashionistas, Snuggie made its New York Fashion Week debut Tuesday, asserting to the style world that blanket is the new black.

No longer just available in classic Snuggie blue, the blanket for fall ’09/winter ’10 will come in a slew of shades, prints and logos. And, not to leave anyone in the family out, they’ll come in kids sizes (sold with slipper socks!) and different shapes for dogs.

“He can change the channel! He can read! He can text his friend,” runway show emcee Ross “The Intern” Matthews declared of a Snuggie-clad pooch.

On the Snuggie runway? Camel, deep forest green, leopard and zebra prints, tie-dye, black, camouflage and covered in collegiate logos (48 schools available at collegesnuggies.com).

Oh, and don’t forget purple.

“What do those fancy designers call it?” Matthew asked. “Screw it. We are Snuggie. It’s called purple, people!”

And, for those who like a little luxe in their loungewear, there’ll be a new micro-plush version — complete with pockets to store your remote control — in colors like chocolate brown, berry red and deep navy.

You may laugh, but with more than 5 million Snuggies sold, and with the brand launching soon in Australia, England, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Italy, they’re doing something right.

The icing on the cozy cake? Each fashion show guest walked out with their own Snuggie.

“You may end up asking winter to stick around an extra month,” Matthews quipped. We just might!

Related posts:

1. Oh, Lord – Snuggie at Fashion Week!
2. GALLERY: NY Fashion Week – Michael Kors
3. GALLERY: NY Fashion Week day five – Carlos Miele
4. New York Fashion Week – Christian Siriano, Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson
5. GALLERY: NY Fashion Week, day 8 – Isaac Mizrahi