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. 

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

Models are at different stages of readiness before the Vena Cava Fall 2011 fashion show at Milk Studios.

A woman cleans lint from a dress before a show during the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

Models wait backstage before the Rachel Comey Fall/Winter 2011 collection show.

Backstage at the Jenni Kanye Fall 2011 presentation at Industria Studio 6.

A model plays a video game as her hair is styled backstage before the fall 2011 collection of designer Peter Som.

A model reads while having her hair done before the Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2011 collection. 

Shoes and a look chart, backstage, before the Vena Cava Fall 2011 fashion show, at Milk Studios.

Fashion show attendees arrive for the start of fashion shows at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York .

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

A seating chart rests on the floor before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection..

Models participate in the walk through before the BCBG Max Azria Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

Designer Raul Melgoza reacts during an interview backstage before showing his Fall 2011 collection Luca Luca.

A model chart backstage before the start of the fashion show of designer Jason Wu.

Models are given their instructions during a run through before the Luca Luca Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

A model presents a creation from the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

Photos of models are seen backstage at the Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

Models walk out on the runway at the end of the Perry Ellis fashion show.

A fashion show attendee arrives for the start of fashion shows.

A model backstage before the start of the fashion show of designer Jason Wu.

Models pose at the Katie Gallagher Fall 2011 fashion show at Milk Studios.

Men discuss lighting before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

A couple embrace backstage at the Luca Luca Fall/Winter 2011 collection show.

Boots and the runway schedule adorn a table backstage before the fall 2011 collection of designer BCBG Max Azria.

Models take part in a walk-through before the Rachel Comey Fall/Winter 2011 collection show.

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.

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.

Models look in the mirror backstage before the start of the Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

Dresses, backstage before the Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2011 Fashion Show.

A model presents a creation at the Richard Chai Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

A worker checks the lighting inside the fashion tents prior to the start of Mercedes Benz Fall/Winter 2011 Fashion Week.

A make-up guide rests on a desk backstage before a showing of the Tadashi Shoji Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

Backstage at the Jenni Kanye Fall 2011 presentation at Industria Studio 6.

Models participate in a walk-through before the Tommy Hilfiger Fall/Winter 2011 collection show.

Stools backstage before the Cynthia Steffe Fall/Winter 2011 collection show.