Fashion Week September 2009 The Circus is Coming to Town Written by Wendy R. Williams Photographed by the New York Cool Photographers Opposite Photo: Diesel February 2009 Fashion Week Photo Credit Katherin Wermke

Custo Barcelona February 2009 Fashion Show
Photo Credit Katherin Wermke

Fashion Week is roaring into New York. The tents are up in Bryant Park for the invitation-only IMG Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. And all over the city, non-tent-showing designers (either too big or too small for the tents) are preparing their shows. And all around the world, magazine editors and store buyers have packed their bags and left for New York, where they will be dazzled once again by the exuberance and talent of the New York fashion world.

New York Cool will be there for it all. We have a team of five writers and photographers covering Fashion Week this February with photographers flying in from San Francisco and Miami.

Dries Van Noten

September 2009's Spring 2010 Fashion Week will be rung in by the Couture Council's Awards Luncheon at the Cipriani on September 9, 2000. This year's award recipient is Dries Van Noten.

Here is a quote from the Couture Council's press release:

"Dries van Noten will receive The Couture Council of The Museum at FIT’s fourth annual Artistry of Fashion award at a benefit luncheon at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York city on Wednesday, 9 September 2009. FIT’s glamorous annual gala luncheon, will be hosted by its founding Couture Council chairs Liz Peek, Yaz Hernandez, and Sarah Wolfe, and founding luncheon chair Charlotte Moss. The event, for the fourth year in a row is the first event of New York’s fashion week. For information about tickets, contact:
Victoria_guranowski@fitnyc.edu

A lot of the excitement will center around the tents at Bryan Park where Mercedes Benz Fashion Week will be holding court. Over seventy designers plus accessories designers will present their wares during the invitation only Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. For more information, log onto: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

For the first time this year it is possible for an outsider with the help of the W Hotel and a big dollop of cash to buy their way into the tents. Here is a quote from the W Hotel press release:

"W Hotels of New York proudly announces their most fashion-forward offer, the Catwalk Package. This limited-time, exclusive package offers style aficionados the opportunity to view a runway show at Bryant Park, relax in style backstage at the W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge, and enjoy the best of Fashion Week in true W Hotels style. In addition to these benefits, a portion of all proceeds from the sale of each package will be generously donated to Dress for Success.

“The Catwalk Package is a unique way for W Hotels to set itself apart from other luxury hotel brands by offering our guests the once-in-a lifetime opportunity to be a part of Fashion Week. With the Catwalk Package, our guests are able to enjoy Fashion Week as celebrities and models do-in the lap of luxury,” says Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels.

Fashionably exclusive at W New York – Union Square, the Catwalk package includes:

- Two Stylish Cocktails in the W Living Room Before Leaving for the Show
- *Two VIP Tickets to a Runway Show at Bryant Park. This season, tickets to the following shows are available: BCBG, Nicole Miller, Lacoste, Herve Leger, Custo Barcelona, Carolina Herrara, Tracy Reese, Badgley Mischka, Max Azria, TIBI, Nanette Lepore
- Two VIP Passes to W’s exclusive W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge, which will offer a sneak peek at new W properties such as W South Beach, W Retreat & Spa-Vieques Island and W Barcelona.
- Late 3 PM Check-Out
- A Fabulous Suite

*Tickets are subject to availability. Pricing starts from $969 per night based on double occupancy. To book, call Sasha Proano at 917-534-5946. For more information, visit www.whotels.com/catwalk." For more information about this package, log onto New York Cool's Fashion News.

American Express is also offering access to their cardmembers for the Philip Lim Mercedes Benz Fashion Week show. Click here for details.

For "Fashion, Fashion, Fashion," be sure to show up for Fashion Night Out on Thursday, September 10th. Stores and boutiques will be staying open until 11PM and many of them are offering special events and even cocktails.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week may be the giant in the room, there are three other fashion week sponsors during fashion week: Style 360 at the Metropolitan Pavilion; Couture Week at the Waldorf Astoria; and Nolcha Fashion Week.

Fashion Designer Malan Breton
Photo Credit Mary Blanco

Style 360 will also be rolling out the red carpet during Fashion Week. Style 360 will feature invitation only shows and parties for three days and three night at the Metropolitan Pavilon in Chelsea. Style 360 is know for the blending of fashion and products and this year will be no different. Here is the Style 360 Schedule:

Saturday, September 12

6:00pm — Abi Ferrin presented by Toni & Guy

9:00pm-12:00am — Oral-B Pulsonic kicks off STYLE360 with an Exclusive Celebration featuring opening designer Abi Ferrin, Caravan and many surprise celebrity guests, at The Gates
Sunday, September 13

10:30am — Liquid Metal Collection

2:00pm — Caravan presented by Oral-B and hosted by Maria Menounos

7:00pm — Kristin Davis Collection
Monday, September 14

11:00am — Malan Breton presented by Rado

2:00pm — Rebecca Minkoff

7:00pm — Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne

9:00-12:00am — Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne After Party at The Gates
Tuesday, September 15

10:00am — WALTER presented by Kipling

12:30pm — The Pink Dress Collection, presented by Clarisonic, benefiting the Greater New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

2:30pm — Geren Ford presented by Tide Total Care

7:00pm — Gen Art Fresh Faces

9:00pm-11:30pm — Closing Night Party at What Goes Around Comes Around SoHo

Couture Fashion Designer
Andres Aquinos
Photo Credit James Bluck

Also rocking the runway during Fashion Week, will be Couture Fashion Week at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Click here for more information.

Celestino at 2008 Nolcha Fashion Week
Photo Credit Belkis Carrasco

The third "fashion week" is sponsored by Nolcha Fashion Week. It will take place September 14-17, 2009 at the Carlton Hotel and the Bohemian National Hall. Click here for more information.

And to whet your appetite for fashion week, here are some of our favorite looks from last February 2009's Fashion Week - the clothes you will be wearing when it finally becomes cold again.

African Fashion Collective Photo Credit Katherin Wermke	Tadashi Shoji Photo Credit Cindy Ord
Rebecca Taylor Photo Credit Cindy Ord	Thuy Photo Credit Cindy Ord
LaCoste Photo Credit Katherin Wermke	Carlos Campos Photo Credit Belkis Carrasco
Terexov Photo Credit Cindy Ord	Diane Von Furstenberg Photo Credit Katherin Wermke

Diesel February 2009 Fashion Week
Photo Credit Katherin Wermke