The fashion world is always buzzing when New York Fashion Week comes around. It’s one of four main fashion weeks on the calendar, the others being London, Paris and Milan. Other American cities receive attention for their runway shows, such as Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle and St. Louis but the semi-annual Big Apple event is the jewel in the crown.

The Spring 2009 Collection had its show in September 2008 and the Fall 2009 Collection had its week in February 2009, as is the usual sequence of events. The first ever New York Fashion Week took place in 1943. Then, it was called Press Week and it was the first event of its kind in the world. The intention was to promote American designers, who then began to compete with the dominant French industry. In 1993, the event moved its location to Bryant Park in Manhattan and set up camp in large white tents. However, it is on the move again as a bigger venue is now needed and the 2010 show will be hosted by Damrosch Park at the Lincoln Center. Following a sponsorship deal with Mercedes-Benz, the show is also now referred to as the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Buyers, fashion journalists, and other people associated with the industry descend on New York Fashion Week in excitement, all eager to see the new trends. There are always celebrities in attendance too and the press is keen to get their pictures for the magazines. Famous faces spotted at the September 2008 show included Claire Danes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lauren Hutton and Serena Williams. Admission to the show is by invitation only and each designer takes responsibility for compiling the guest list.

There are up to 100 designers, putting their collection on the runway at New York Fashion Week. In addition to the models, there is a behind the scenes army of make up artists and hair stylists. The atmosphere is electric as the music starts to play and the cameras start flashing. The clothes that are seen at this event send ripples through the fashion world. Many careers are dependent on the success of the show and the fashion industry in the city is worth millions of dollars. When the week is over, everyone can relax at the after show parties.

Collections in February 2009 included Nicole Miller, Lacoste, Charlotte Ronson, Duckie Brown, Anna Sui, and Calvin Klein. The week was opened by celebrity models, including Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter and several US Olympic champions, strutting their stuff on the runway in the Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection, which is designed to raise awareness for heart disease. The fall show follows a tradition of promoting charity. Other actresses to participate included Hilary Duff, Patricia Arquette and Tori Spelling. An economic downturn is, of course, much in people’s minds, but Fashion Week was a roaring success and a credit to everyone’s hard work.

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