Partying Vegas-Style for Palazzo, Barneys   Mandy Moore Hilary
Swank and Claire Danes  Mandy Moore, Hilary Swank and Claire
Danes.  Photo By WWD Staff   Women in togas and men wearing
loincloths, looking as if they had escaped from Caesars Palace,
stood preening on ledges on either side of a huge waterfall as
orchestral renditions of rock songs such as "Born to Run" played
in the background. At one point, acrobats descended from the
ledge on red cords tied to their ankles.   A cast of bold-faced
names paraded down a red carpet and into a celebrity holding
pen, while others wandered into Barneys to check out the merch.
"This is the most brilliant, hilarious, fun opening," said
Barney's creative director, Simon Doonan, standing beside
"Desperate Housewives" star Nicolette Sheridan. "I feel like
Margaret Mead. I'm studying Las Vegas. It's such a cross section
of people."  Hilary Swank sat in a corner with some friends,
refusing to speak to the press and prompting some to wonder why
she came out at all. But Mandy