Just ask Heidi: One day you're in!

If you're backstage with Heidi Klum and Michael Kors at the hottest ticket at New York Fashion Week — the "Project Runway" finale show — what do you talk about? Handbags, of course.

"Heidi told my sister she liked her purse [a black leather Thomas Wylde tote with a studded skull] and that she has the same one," reports Alexus Shefts, a 15-year-old aspiring fashion designer who traveled to Bryant Park from Seattle with sister Brittany, 18. "Michael told us a story about a model at his show who was posing with a purse and the strap broke. It was a $20,000 purse, and he just cut the strap off and said, 'Here's a clutch.' "

The girls' parents, Misha and Sherry Shefts, bought a "Project Runway" package for $3,400 at a Seattle SCORES fundraiser last spring. They didn't know at the time that Alexus and Brittany would get to brush shoulders with their fashion icon, Victoria Beckham. As Posh herself would say: Major! ...

THEY'RE A NONPARTISAN catering company, but Seattle-based Gourmondo would probably vote Barack Obama for Mr. Congeniality. The Democratic presidential candidate stopped by the kitchen to personally give the chef his compliments at a Gourmondo-catered private donor event in December — then followed it up with a request from his campaign to send over his lunch when he appeared at KeyArena. Not that Gourmondo is taking sides: A previous client is John McCain. ...

WHAT IS YOUR DAMAGE, HEATHER? Screenwriter Daniel Waters will appear at a screening of his cult classic "Heathers" — starring Winona Ryder and the original Mean Girls — Tuesday at EMP|SFM ($5, 206-770-2702). It's part of a new film series, "Exposed: Inside Film," that comes with a tailor-made happy hour. The featured drink for "Heathers" is the Big Blue, which may or may not include Liquid Drano. Suggested snack: Barbecue CornNuts, natch. ...

JUST BEING NEIGHBORLY: After setting up shop just down the street from Safeco Field, Seattle nail salon Butter London sent bottles of nail polish in navy blue "Mariner" and invitations for manicures to the wives of all Seattle Mariners players. Personally, we'd like to see that color on J.J. Putz. More importantly, Opening Day is March 31. ...

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS ROUNDUP: New Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard having his first Seattle dinner at Waterfront Grill ... Ricki Lake dining at Earth & Ocean restaurant in the W Hotel ... Mia Farrow at the Bellevue Westin ... Musician Kenny G having dinner with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz at Barolo Ristorante ... Kendra Wilkinson from "The Girls Next Door" with a large entourage (but no Hef!), also at Barolo ... Barack Obama walking on a treadmill while reading a newspaper at Allstar Fitness downtown.

Girl About Town appears every Sunday in Northwest Life. Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com