The first New York
Fashion Week in 1943 (then called Press Week) was the world's first
organized fashion week. It was designed to attract attention away from
French fashion during World War II, when industry insiders were unable
to travel to Paris to see the fashion shows. As fashion has evolved, so
has the New York event, now branded Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and held
in February and September each year. It's one of four major fashion
weeks held around the world, along with London, Paris, and Milan. Each
year, the 232,000 attendees at the two New York Fashion Weeks account
for more than $466 million in direct visitor spending and contribute to
$1.6 billion in annual tax revenue to the city's fashion industry. More
than $40 million annually is spent on meals at local restaurants;
nearly $30 million on taxis, Town Cars, and public transportation; and
an additional $56 million at area hotels. This is a look behind the
scenes, behind the fashion. --
Paula Nelson (Editor's Note: Monday, February 21, is President's Day. We'll return with Wednesday's post.) (
36 photos total)
A
model prepares backstage at the Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2011 fashion show
during Mercedes-Benz Fashion week at The Theatre at Lincoln Center, in
New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for IMG)
2A
model has nail polish applied backstage before the fall 2011 collection
of designer BCBG Max Azria is shown. (Associated Press)
#3Models
are at different stages of readiness before the Vena Cava Fall 2011
fashion show at Milk Studios. (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)
#4A woman cleans lint from a dress before a show during the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
#5Models wait backstage before the Rachel Comey Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
#6Backstage at the Jenni Kanye Fall 2011 presentation at Industria Studio 6. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images)
#7A
model plays a video game as her hair is styled backstage before the
fall 2011 collection of designer Peter Som. (Richard Drew/Associated
Press)
#8A model reads while having her hair done before the Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
#9Shoes and a look chart, backstage, before the Vena Cava Fall 2011 fashion show, at Milk Studios. (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)
#10Fashion
show attendees arrive for the start of fashion shows at the Mercedes
Benz Fashion Week in New York . (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
#11A
guest is surrounded by media as she arrives for the viewing of the Fall
2011 collection of Luca Luca in New York. (Associated Press)
#12A seating chart rests on the floor before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection.. (Lucas JacksonReuters)
#13Models participate in the walk through before the BCBG Max Azria Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
#14Designer
Raul Melgoza reacts during an interview backstage before showing his
Fall 2011 collection Luca Luca. (Associated Press)
#15A model chart backstage before the start of the fashion show of designer Jason Wu. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
#16Models
are given their instructions during a run through before the Luca Luca
Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
#17 A model presents a creation from the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
#18Photos of models are seen backstage at the Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
#19Models walk out on the runway at the end of the Perry Ellis fashion show. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
#20A fashion show attendee arrives for the start of fashion shows. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
#21A model backstage before the start of the fashion show of designer Jason Wu. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
#22Models pose at the Katie Gallagher Fall 2011 fashion show at Milk Studios. (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)
#23Men discuss lighting before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
#24A couple embrace backstage at the Luca Luca Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
#25Boots
and the runway schedule adorn a table backstage before the fall 2011
collection of designer BCBG Max Azria. (Associated Press)
#26Models take part in a walk-through before the Rachel Comey Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
#27South
Korean designer Son Jung-wan speaks to a model wearing one of her
creations from the Fall 2011 collection during a fitting and model
casting. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
#28A
model waits to be auditioned during a fitting and model casting by
South Korean designer Son Jung-wan. Top designers present their Fall
2011 collections during New York's Fall 2011 Fashion Week from February
10 through February 17, 2011. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
#29Models look in the mirror backstage before the start of the Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
#30Dresses, backstage before the Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2011 Fashion Show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
#31A model presents a creation at the Richard Chai Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
#32A
worker checks the lighting inside the fashion tents prior to the start
of Mercedes Benz Fall/Winter 2011 Fashion Week. (Brendan
McDermid/Reuters)
#33A
make-up guide rests on a desk backstage before a showing of the Tadashi
Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
#34Backstage at the Jenni Kanye Fall 2011 presentation at Industria Studio 6. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images)
#35Models participate in a walk-through before the Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
#36Stools backstage before the Cynthia Steffe Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
#