Check out how designers at New York’s Fashion Week are using technology for inspiration, on the runway, behind the scenes and for business.

In its most obvious cameo, technology showed up at Vivienne Tam’s Spring 2009 show on Tuesday, where models sashayed down the runway clutching slim, red HP notebook computers instead of evening bags.

The limited-edition computer, which she called a “digital clutch,” featured the Tam collection’s signature red peony print on its cover. It will be available early next year, sometime around the Chinese New Year, Tam told a Reuters reporter backstage before her show Tuesday night.

She added that the peony’s petals on the laptop cover symbolize multi-tasking, which is synonymous with being a woman in today’s tech-oriented society she said.

HP said it’s the first time a fashion designer has partnered with a computer company, though others are teaming up with mobile phone companies.

LG Mobile Phones said on Thursday it is partnering with budding fashion designer Christian Siriano, who made the media spotlight for winning Season Four of Bravo television’s popular reality show “Project Runway”.

At Siriano’s fashion show on Thursday, he will show a scarf designed for LG’s newest phone, the LG Lotus.

Polo Ralph Lauren Corp recently unveiled a mobile phone technology that allows consumers to scan barcodes found in magazine ads and shop from their phones.

Other designer houses, including Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, and Zac Posen, are now using technology offered by Fashion GPS, which uses global positioning technology to keep track of inventory and samples. DKNY also used a barcode technology for invitations and seating for its fashion show, asking guests to r.s.v.p. on line and then scanning their invites at the show.

But Karan did have some uninvited guests, so maybe the system is still evolving.

Depending on how you look at it, technological advances can both help and hurt our free time. On one hand, it gives us more time to do the things we love, like shopping and going to fashion shows. But it also means we can now work from cocktail parties and black-tie events without toting a clunky computer.

(With reporting by Jan Paschal and Michelle Nichols)

Also in the basket:

Accessories playing big at New York’s Fashion Week

Walgreen sues San Francisco over tobacco sale ban

Designers say “green” fashion sustainable

 Retailers reprogram workers in efficiency push — WSJ (subscription required)

(Photo: Courtesy of HP/Vivienne Tam)

Check out what it costs National Football League fans to attend games.

The latest NFL season got under way Thursday night as the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants opened their season with a win (pictured right). For their fans, there were some changes that affected their wallets.

The average ticket price to attend an NFL game rose almost 8 percent to $72.20, according to Team Marketing Report, a Chicago-area sports marketing firm. And if a family of four wants to take in a game played by the Giants, get ready to shell out almost $500 for tickets, beers, hot dogs and other items.

The increases are de rigueur nowadays as the various North American leagues continue to report record attendance and revenues, but cracks may be starting to appear as some fans have begun dialing back spending amid high prices for gasoline and food, and rising unemployment.

As long as the market will bear it, however, fans of the NFL and other professional sports will have to budget for the increases if they want their game-day fix.

Also in the basket:

Altria in advanced talks to buy UST: source

Economic woes set tone for spring NY Fashion Week

Saks gets cold shoulder on Iceland buy (New York Post)

(Photo: Reuters)