By Maria Esteves – February 23, 2013

Despite the heavy snow and high winds that swept New York, the shows were packed with thousands of fashion attendees during New York Fashion Week February 7-12, 2013. In conjunction with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2013 Collections, runway shows, presentations, and special events held at studios, showrooms, museums, hotels, and in the tents at Lincoln Center by emerging and innovative designers included CANDELA,CHRISTIAN SIRIANO, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, MONIKA CHIANG, PROJECT RUNWAY, SERGIO DAVILA, TIMO WEILAND, TRACY REESE and VERA WANG. Due to an overwhelming success, front-row seats were reduced to avoid a fire risk at some venues.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York (MBFWNY) presented by IMG Fashion, is the world’s premiere semi-annual fashion platform for emerging and innovative designers. With over 100 shows held back to back and after-parties each evening until the morning, MBFWNY is the forefront of fashion design, manufacturing and retail for industry professionals. Since 1943, New York Fashion Week gave American designers a chance to showcase their work. Fashion NYC 2020 (http://www.nycedc.com/resource/fashionnyc2020) will enhance New York as an international fashion leader.

MBFWNY TRACY REESE Fall 2013 Collection at Lincoln Center, Fashion
attendees at Tracy Reese runway show Fern Mallis, left, and American
fashion designer Jeffrey Banks, Sunday, February 10, 2013.

MBFWNY PROJECT RUNWAY Season 11 Team Fashion Show
Fall 2013: host Heidi Klum, Friday, February 8, 2013.

MBFWNY CANDELA F/W 2013 Presentation at Lincoln Center,
designer Gabriela Perezutti with models, Thursday, February 7, 2013.

MBFWNY SERGIO DAVILA F/W 2013 fashion
show at Lincoln Center, backstage with designer
Sergio Davila, Thursday, February 7, 2013.

MBFWNY TIMO WEILAND F/W 2013 runway show at
Lincoln Center, backstage with designer Timo Weiland,
Thursday, February 7, 2013.

NYFW CHRISTIAN SIRIANO F/W 2013  Collection: Front row attendees at Christian Siriano runway show fashion director Nick Wooster, center, with designer Patricia Field, and actor/producer/designer Robert Verdi, Saturday, February 9, 2013.

MBFWNY MONIKA CHIANG F/W 2013 Presentation at Lincoln Center,
designer Monika Chiang and national makeup artist Tarek Abbas,
Lancome, Friday, February 8, 2013.

MBFWNY PROJECT RUNWAY Season 11 Team
Fashion Show Fall 2013: Fashionista show attendee.

NYFW F/W 2013 Patricia Field’s Birthday Party at T@TOY:
DJ Johnny Dynell, Sunday, February 10, 2013.

NYFW F/W 2013 Patricia Field’s Birthday Party at T@TOY: host
Christina Visca and friend, Sunday, February 10, 2013.

NYFW F/W 2013 DO NATURALS Launch Party at SOHO House:
founder Ayo Hart, left, and executive director Judith R. Factor,
DO NATURALS, Wednesday, February 6, 2013.

MBFWNY Fall 2013 Collections at the tents in Lincoln
Center: premiere artist Bella Pilar, PAPYRUS.

MBFWNY Fall 2013 Collections Samsung Galaxy Lounge: from left-right, brand ambassadors Micaela Piccolo, Dewan Tarek and Ella Jane New assist VIP attendees with the latest Samsung’s mobile devices (smartphones/Note II, tablets, web based cameras).