Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Fashion designer b. Michael walked down the runway an hour before his show last night, instructing his models on how to strut and where to stop for poses.

He wasn't in the tents at Bryant Park across the street, where many designers have shown their spring 2008 collections during New York's Fashion Week. He was in the lobby of the U.S. headquarters of HSBC Holdings Plc, a Beaux-Arts building on Fifth Avenue.

At the end of its business day, the bank transformed the space for the 50-year-old designer's 30-minute show. More than 200 white folding chairs appeared on either side of the catwalk. The balcony took on sound and lighting systems. A zone near office cubicles and teller windows morphed into the hair and makeup station.

By 6 p.m., that area was bustling as specialists gussied up 20 models. Celebrity hairstylist Oscar Blandi noted that ``hair and makeup can work in the smallest of places and in the biggest of places.''

Michael, hyper-casual in jeans with holes at the knees, a white tunic and white sneakers, surveyed his designer outfits, inspected the models and did several TV interviews.

The event was a promotion for HSBC's global service, HSBC Premier, aimed at wealthy customers. For an account minimum of $100,000, Premier handles all financial needs, from checking, brokerage and retirement accounts to mortgages.

``It's important for us to have people come to our house, if you will,'' said Linda Recupero, HSBC executive vice president, group public affairs. And Michael happens to be a corporate client of HSBC.

``It's a win-win situation,'' Michael said. ``They want me to be a bigger customer, and I want to be as well.''

`No Sleep'

Several days earlier, the designer sat in a chic bar downstairs from his showroom in Manhattan's Garment District. In the days leading up to the show, ``there's no sleep, no anything. Your mind is in overdrive,'' he said.

The actress Cicely Tyson walked in, wearing camouflage pants and large round sunglasses. She needed a fitting for a dress she would wear at Oprah Winfrey's California fund-raiser for Barack Obama. Michael fretted that he was supposed to attend as well but had to stay behind to finish sewing.

``I'm like the ultimate queen'' in his clothes, Tyson said at the bar. ``I trust him implicitly.'' She attended last night's show at the bank.

The designer received hearty applause and many air kisses for his collection, which he described in an interview as ``all about cut and silhouette. It's not about hiding under frou frou. It's very straightforward.''

Mary Wilson, Supreme

He showed 40 pieces, including silk chiffon dresses, shawl- collar jackets and high-waisted pants. He also launched a menswear line. The crowd went wild when Mary Wilson, one of the original members of the Supremes, strutted down the runway wearing a chocolate-colored gown with a floral print.

Michael, who has dressed Beyonce and Halle Berry, specializes in made-to-order couture available at his showroom, Neiman Marcus and a few retail partners. Prices for gowns start at $10,000; a men's custom dress shirt is $250.

Neil Lowe, chief executive of the b. Michael Fashion House, said the company is trying to expand to ready-to-wear through licensing agreements. It is close to one agreement, he added, but he declined to name the potential partner.

HSBC and Michael both considered the show, which took six months to plan, a success. HSBC's Recupero said the bank would do it again. ``It was incredible,'' she said. ``It was a great crowd.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Mary Romano in New York at mromano6@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 12, 2007 15:12 EDT