Fashion Nyc School

While many US students enrolled in sports or music camps this summer, a rising number of girls invested their time instead in a new type of program centered on catwalks and haute couture - fashion camp.

In New York, where about 169,000 people work in the fashion business, a group of 35 girls aged between 13 and 16 paid $1,095 each to join the first season of Fashion Camp NYC, comprised of five days of lectures, seminars and store visits.

CREEPY CAMPUS

PARENTS of incoming New York University freshmen may be jolted by "The ABC's of NYU" in the school's Washington Square News student paper. A description of Bobst Library makes no mention of its educational resources but in stead reminds everyone that two undergrads leaped to their deaths from the 10th floor a few years back. It adds: "Not to be outdone in notoriety, the building's two lower levels, which boast dozens of computers . . . have become a common meeting location for in dividuals who frequent the personals section of craigslist."

LOTS TO CELEBRATE

NEWSWEEK reporter Dana Thomas would normally be in St. Tropez this time of year with her French husband and adorable 6-year-old daughter. Instead, she was at Indochine Wednesday night celebrating the rave reviews for her book, "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster." Raising a glass to her were publisher Web Stone, publicist Bobby Zarem and BlackBook editor Steve Garbarino, who has known Thomas since they went to high school in Radnor, Pa. Garbarino had much to celebrate as well. He's getting married to stunning stylist Maddy Simpson Sept. 8 at the Chateau Marmont in L.A.

Teen fashionistas try industry for size at summer camp

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - While many U.S. students enrolled in sports or music camps this summer, a rising number of girls invested their time instead in a new type of program centered on catwalks and haute couture -- fashion camp.

Enrollment in fashion-related majors at schools like New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons The New School of Design has risen in recent years, partly due to the popularity of reality television series based on fashion such as "Project Runway" and the hit movie "The Devil Wears Prada".

So fashion camps held in New York, Ohio, California, Alabama and Canada were seen as giving teenage girls with a passion for fashion the chance to see whether they wanted to seriously pursue a job in the highly competitive industry.

In New York, where about 169,000 people work in the fashion business, a group of 35 girls aged between 13 and 16 paid $1,095 each to join the first season of Fashion Camp NYC, comprised of five days of lectures, seminars and store visits.

LOWBALL OFFER

DISNEY honchos still plan to turn their made-for-TV hit "High School Musical" into a real movie, but they may have to do it without the TV version's major stars, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. A tipster says Disney is "only offering them $1 million each. Zac and Vanessa aren't going to do it." A studio spokesperson told us, "We are still in negotiations with the entire cast, but we don't comment on the specifics of negotiations."

BACK TO POLITICS

BOB Kerrey is leaning toward another U.S. Senate run in Nebraska, if his secret conference call yesterday to administrators at the New School was any indication. Kerrey, the former Nebraska governor and senator who's now president of the Greenwich Village university, made the call to address rumors swirling over his political ambitions. "It sounds like he's thirsty to do it. He was upbeat and patriotic and wanting to serve his country," a source told Page Six. "It looks like he's just waiting to see if the Nebraska seat will be vacated by [Republican Sen.] Chuck Hagel."