Australian designers Sass and Bide, who appeared as judges on “Americas Next Top Model” when the reality TV series went downunder, returned to New York Fashion Week this weekend with a highly personal show. 
    Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke skipped New York’s Spring/Summer fashion week in September after Middleton was diagnosed earlier in the year with cancer, just days after giving birth to her second child. Their Fall 2008 show, titled “Rainbows for Kate,” honored a friend who recently died from cancer.
    “It was a tribute to a very dear friend of mine. It was all about celebrating her life, and love, and friendship and living,” Middleton told Reuters backstage after the show.
    The duo’s collection featured sequined rainbow adorned tops and brightly colored check dresses and attracted celebrities including socialite — and sister of Paris — Nicky Hilton and “America’s Next Top Model” judges Nigel Barker and J. Alexander.
    On her own health Middleton said: “I have a great prognosis and doing really well and feeling really happy — it’s great to be back.”