Last Thursday, Neimans Mazza Gallerie hosted a super-fab chic and greet with hauter than hot designer Jason Wu. The champagne cocktails were bubblin’, the appetizers were delish and the clothes…well, the clothes nearly rendered Mimi speechless. Nearly, just nearly.

Remember my Wu gabfest following his September show? Well, lemme tell you, flippin’ through style.com doesn’t have a thing on the real deal. It was absolute magic to touch and feel and see the actual fashions that Wu showed in NY just months ago. And being able to gush ad nauseum with fellow fashionistas took the whole experience to another level. I mean, normal people can only discuss the life-altering beauty of a white, chiffon trench for so long. As a unit, the S/S and Resort lines for 2010 conveyed a feel of funky-femme. Wu displayed frocks that were tailored to perfection for a classic lady-like fit, but reached a level of high-fashion with offbeat prints and neon-hued cross-stitching. His use of texture, color, print and silhouette grabbed each of the senses. Plenty of classic-sexy sheaths and full printed skirts induced “MObama” moments. And while I seemed to find a new favorite piece with each passing nano-second, a few definitely tugged at my sartorial heartstrings.

The saffron one-shoulder embellished mini was begging for an equally punchy-hued shoe to complete the showstopper effect. And its next-door neighbor, an equally sexy mini made of foil strips with a chiffon overlay is the reason to throw a Holiday shinding. I mentioned the chiffon trench earlier, but it was a literal piece of fashion heaven. Long and flowy, but made wearable with impeccable structuring, this jacket was the most versatile of either collection. It was paired with a TDF blush lace minidress, but I was dying to throw it over ripped-up skinny jeans, a plain tee and crazy shoes. Another fave was a black sweater laced with the most intricate rainbow beads, giving it the effect of a chicster’s lite brite.

O, and as for the talented Mr. Wu? He was totally unassuming, but completely engaging. Like many other designers I’ve met, he was way sweeter than you would ever think. But what impressed me most was not his kind nature- o, no, this is about fashion, HighEnders- but the thoughtful way he talked about his designs and work. It was neither scripted, nor reeking of a sense of entitlement. Instead, he spoke as if each piece were his favorite, as if he could rattle the most minute details about each skirt, blouse and frock- from conception to retail. Wu’s passion for design was obvious, but it was his display of brains and beauty that truly captivated me.