Stars flock to swim week parties, runway shows Some stylish stars kept cool in air conditioned clubs, others braved the heat and humidity watching bikini-clad models strut their stuff poolside. Maybe it was the sexy swimsuits because the celebs we spotted seemed to be all smiles at this year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim.

Bravo's Real Housewives of New York City troublemaker Kelly Bensimon hung out with MTV's The City public relations star Olivia Palermo at the Tibi fashion show. The reality TV gals had front row seats to the show held Thursday at the Raleigh Hotel.

Getting ready for a big night around town: Sex and the City hunk and part-time Miami Beach resident Gilles Marini and his wife, Carole. The 33-year-old French actor was more than happy to chat with us before heading to the L Space by Monica fashion show/afterparty Friday night at the Gansevoort.

Marini, a spokesman for Mercedes-Benz, has been keeping busy. He's set to appear in the upcoming season of Brothers and Sisters and Nip Tuck. The Dancing With The Stars runner-up also said he has surprise for fans that will take place in the next two weeks (we can only guess that it will be something that shows off his sexy side).

So what does the actor do when he's not working? ``Fun for me is spending time with my family, checking out the water . . . the mountains and just enjoying nature.'' Although the married father of two doesn't know yet if he'll reprise his role in the SATC sequel, we'd love to see him pair up with Samantha (played by Kim Cattrall). Clothing optional.

Despite the economy, organizers of both the Swimwear Association of Florida's trade show and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim are both predicting turn-outs as good or better than previous years. The trade show, which begins Saturday, is the largest of its kind in the world and entering its 27th year. About 350 exhibitors and more than 2,000 buyers from around the world are expected.

ALSO SPOTTED • Friday at the show by Miami-based Red Carter, Donald and Lisa Pliner. • At the Shay Todd show -- held at the new W Hotel and delayed by more than an hour after a brief downpour toppled part of the stage and an alarm brought out the fire department -- New Jersey Housewife Dina Manzo and photographer Maria Lankina from Bravo's set-in-South Beach Miami Social. Best part of that show wasn't the swimsuits, but watching Tara, Ink partner Nick D'Annunzio help rebuild the stage.

• Saturday night, Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan was spied alongside Ed Hardy's runway. • Olivia Palermo and Whitney Port from The Hills spinoff The City attended designer Mara Hoffman's show, Olivia posing for photos with fans and Whitney working for PR firm People's Revolution, which reps Hoffman.