New York Fashion Week: Behind the scenes

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)

A model has nail polish applied backstage before the fall 2011 collection of designer BCBG Max Azria is shown. (Associated Press) #

Models are at different stages of readiness before the Vena Cava Fall 2011 fashion show at Milk Studios. (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images) #

A woman cleans lint from a dress before a show during the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

Models wait backstage before the Rachel Comey Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters) #

Backstage at the Jenni Kanye Fall 2011 presentation at Industria Studio 6. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images) #

A model plays a video game as her hair is styled backstage before the fall 2011 collection of designer Peter Som. (Richard Drew/Associated Press) #

A model reads while having her hair done before the Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Eric Thayer/Reuters) #

Shoes and a look chart, backstage, before the Vena Cava Fall 2011 fashion show, at Milk Studios. (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images) #

Fashion show attendees arrive for the start of fashion shows at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York . (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images) #

A guest is surrounded by media as she arrives for the viewing of the Fall 2011 collection of Luca Luca in New York. (Associated Press) #

A seating chart rests on the floor before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection.. (Lucas JacksonReuters) #

Models participate in the walk through before the BCBG Max Azria Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) #

Designer Raul Melgoza reacts during an interview backstage before showing his Fall 2011 collection Luca Luca. (Associated Press) #

A model chart backstage before the start of the fashion show of designer Jason Wu. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images) #

Models are given their instructions during a run through before the Luca Luca Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters) #

A model presents a creation from the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

Photos of models are seen backstage at the Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters) #

Models walk out on the runway at the end of the Perry Ellis fashion show. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images) #

A fashion show attendee arrives for the start of fashion shows. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images) #

A model backstage before the start of the fashion show of designer Jason Wu. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images) #

Models pose at the Katie Gallagher Fall 2011 fashion show at Milk Studios. (Joe Corrigan/Getty Images) #

Men discuss lighting before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

A couple embrace backstage at the Luca Luca Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters) #

Boots and the runway schedule adorn a table backstage before the fall 2011 collection of designer BCBG Max Azria. (Associated Press) #

Models take part in a walk-through before the Rachel Comey Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters) #

South 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) #

A 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) #

Models look in the mirror backstage before the start of the Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters) #

Dresses, backstage before the Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2011 Fashion Show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters) #

A model presents a creation at the Richard Chai Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters) #

A worker checks the lighting inside the fashion tents prior to the start of Mercedes Benz Fall/Winter 2011 Fashion Week. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) #

A make-up guide rests on a desk backstage before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) #

Backstage at the Jenni Kanye Fall 2011 presentation at Industria Studio 6. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images) #

Models participate in a walk-through before the Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters) #

Stools backstage before the Cynthia Steffe Fall/Winter 2011 collection show. (Eric Thayer/Reuters) #

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